Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Shillong
| Archdiocese of Shillong Archidioecesis Shillongensis शिलांग के सूबा | |
|---|---|
 Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians | |
| Location | |
| Country | India |
| Ecclesiastical province | Shillong |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 5,196 km2 (2,006 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2012) 886,794 271,000 (26.8%) |
| Information | |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians in Shillong |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Dominic Jala, S.D.B. |
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Shillong (Latin: Shillongen(sis)) is a Latin Meteropolitan archdiocese in Meghalaya state, northern India.
In all there are 33 church districts or “Parishes” in the over 3,00,000 Catholics strong Shillong Archdiocese, which covers the districts of East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi of Meghalaya.
History
- Established on December 15, 1889 as the Apostolic Prefecture of Assam on territory split off from the Diocese of Krishnagar
- July 9, 1934: Promoted as Diocese of Shillong
- Lost territory on 12 July 1951 to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dibrugarh
- Lost territory again on 16 January 1964 to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tezpur
- June 26, 1969: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gauhati–Shillong
- January 22, 1970: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Shillong–Gauhati
- Lost territory to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tura on 1973.03.01 and again on 1983.12.05 to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Diphu
- March 30, 1992: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Shillong
- Lost territory on 28 January 2006 to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nongstoin.
Cathedrals
Its cathedral episcopal see is the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, in Shillong, in the city of Shillong. It was built over 50 years ago. Since it also has the “cathedra” – the seat or throne of the Bishop – it is known as a Cathedral Church. 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 April 10, 1936. Built by the first Catholic missionaries to these hills, the Salvatorians from Germany, it was the first Catholic Cathedral Church in what was then the Mission of Assam.
Ordinaries
(all Roman Rite; so far members of a Latin congregation)
- 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 July 9, 1934 – March 25, 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. (November 26, 1935 – June 26, 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 June 26, 1969 – March 30, 1992 see below)
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Shillong
- Hubert D’Rosario, S.D.B. (as above March 30, 1992 – August 30, 1994)
- Tarcisius Resto Phanrang, S.D.B. (August 2, 1995 – May 5, 1999), previously Titular Bishop of Corniculana & Auxiliary Bishop of Shillong (India) (1990.06.11 – 1995.08.02)
- Dominic Jala, S.D.B. (December 22, 1999 – ...)
Ecclesiastical province
Apart from the Archdiocese itself, it comprises the following suffragan dioceses:
Sources and External links
 |
Wikisource has the text of a 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article about Apostolic Prefecture of Assam. |
Coordinates: 25°34′N 91°53′E / 25.567°N 91.883°E