Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Shillong
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Shillong (Latin: Shillongensis) is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in the state of Meghalaya, in northeastern India. The Archdiocese of Shillong is the metropolitan diocese of the Province of Shillong, an ecclesiastical province in Northeast India. It serves 342,169 followers in 36 parishes in the districts of East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi of Meghalaya.
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Shillong Archidioecesis Shillongensis शिलांग के सूबा | |
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Location | |
Country | India |
Ecclesiastical province | Province of Shillong |
Statistics | |
Area | 5,196 km2 (2,006 sq mi) |
Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2020) 1,219,370 342,169 (28.1%) |
Parishes | 36 |
Information | |
Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
Rite | Roman Rite |
Cathedral | Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians in Shillong |
Secular priests | 189 |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Metropolitan Archbishop | Victor Lyngdoh |
Website | |
shillongarchdiocese.org |
History
- Established on 15 December 1889 as the Apostolic Prefecture of Assam on territory split off from the Diocese of Krishnagar
- 9 July 1934: Promoted as Diocese of Shillong
- Lost territory on 12 July 1951 to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dibrugarh
- Lost territory on 16 January 1964 to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tezpur
- 26 June 1969: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gauhati–Shillong
- 22 January 1970: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Shillong–Gauhati
- Lost territory on 1 March 1973 to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tura
- Lost territory on 5 December 1983 to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Diphu
- Lost territory on 30 March 1992 and renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Shillong to establish the now Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Guwahati
- Lost territory on 28 January 2006 to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nongstoin
- Lost territory on 28 January 2006 to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jowai
Cathedrals
The cathedral of the Archdiocese is the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, in Shillong. It was built over 50 years ago. This place of worship stands on the very site of the first Church built by the German fathers (Salvatorians from Germany).
The earlier 1913 building – the Church of the Divine Saviour – was a wooden structure. It was destroyed in the Good Friday fire of 10 April 1936. Built by the first Catholic missionaries to set foot on these hills, the Salvatorians from Germany, it was the first Catholic Cathedral in what was then the Mission of Assam.
Ordinaries
- Apostolic Prefects of Assam
- Fr. Otto Hopfenmüller, Salvatorians (S.D.S.) (1890)
- Fr. Angelus Münzloher, (S.D.S.) (1890 - 1906)
- Fr. Cristoforo Becker, (S.D.S.) (1906 – 1921)
- Fr. Louis Mathias, S.D.B. (December 15, 1922 – July 9, 1934 see below)
- Bishops of Shillong
- Louis Mathias, S.D.B. (see above 9 July 1934 – 25 March 1935), later Metropolitan Archbishop of Madras (India) (1935.03.25 – 1952.11.13) and Metropolitan Archbishop of (renamed) Madras and Mylapore(India) (1952.11.13 – 1965.08.02)
- Stephen Ferrando, S.D.B. (26 November 1935 – 26 June 1969); previously Bishop of Krishnagar (India) (1934.07.09 – 1935.11.26), later Titular Archbishop of Troina (1969.06.26 – 1978.06.21)
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Gauhati–Shillong
- Hubert D Rosario, S.D.B. (1969.06.26 – 1970.01.22 see below), previously Bishop of Dibrugarh (India) (1964.07.06 – 1969.06.26)
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Shillong – Gauhati
- Hubert D’Rosario, S.D.B. (as above 26 June 1969 – 30 March 1992 see below)
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Shillong
- Hubert D’Rosario, S.D.B. (as above 30 March 1992 – 30 August 1994)
- Tarcisius Resto Phanrang, S.D.B. (2 August 1995 – 5 May 1999), previously Titular Bishop of Corniculana & Auxiliary Bishop of Shillong (India) (1990.06.11 – 1995.08.02)
- Dominic Jala, S.D.B. (22 December 1999 – 10 October 2019)
- Victor Lyngdoh (28 December 2020 – Present)
Ecclesiastical Province of Shillong
The Province of Shillong comprises the following suffragan dioceses that has Shillong as its metropolitan see:
Parishes
The Archdiocese of Shillong comprises 36 parishes divided into 7 zones:
Zone 1
- St. Dominic Savio Church, Mawlai
- St. Joseph's Church, Mawkhar
- St. Paul's Church, Upper Shillong
- St. John the Apostle Church, Laban
- Church of the Visitation, Mawprem
Zone 2
- Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Laitumkhrah
- Divine Saviour Church, Nongthymmai
- Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Pynthorumkhrah
- Sacred Heart Church, Nongmensong
- St. Mary's Church, Mawpat
Zone 3
- St. John Bosco Shrine, Sohra
- Resurrection Church, Pynursla
- Blessed Sacrament Church, Laitlyngkot
- Mary Queen of Peace Church, Laitkroh
- Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Laitkynsew
- St. Mother Teresa Church, Nongshyrngan
Zone 4
- U Khrist Jingshai Church, Marbisu
- St. Francis Xavier's Church, Mawsynram
- Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary Church, Dangar
- St George's Church, Wahlang
- Sacred Heart Church, Diengïei
- St. Stephen Church, Sawsymper
Zone 5
- Good Shepherd Church, Jongksha
- Holy Cross Church, Mawkynrew
- Divine Mercy Church, Mawryngkneng
- St Joseph's Church, Laitkor
Zone 6
- Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Nongpoh
- Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Umkadhor
- Mary Mother of God Church, Umsning
- St. Francis of Assisi Church, Byrnihat
- Lum Sinai Church, Umden
Zone 7
- Epiphany Church, Mawbri
- Church of the Ascension, Umsohlait
- St. Paul's Church, Mawlasnai
- St. Francis Xavier Church, Umbir
- St. Francis of Assisi Church, Umsiang
Saints and causes for canonisation
- Ven. Stephen Ferrando[1]
- Servant of God Constantine Vendrame, SDB[1]
- Lorenz Hopfenmuller (Otto)[2]
References
- "Saints & Blessed – CCBI". Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- "1890". newsaints.faithweb.com. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
Sources and external links
- GCatholic.org, with incumbent biography links [self-published]
- Catholic Hierarchy [self-published]
- Archdiocese website