Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Shillong

Archdiocese of Shillong Archidioecesis Shillongensis
Location
Country	India
Statistics
Area	5,196 km2 (2,006 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2006) 886,794 230,150 (26.0%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Cathedral	Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians
Current leadership
Bishop	Dominic Jala, S.D.B.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Shillong (Latin: Shillongen(sis)) is an archdiocese located in the city of Shillong in India.

History

• December 15, 1889: Established as the Apostolic Prefecture of Assam from the Diocese of Krishnagar
• July 9, 1934: Promoted as Diocese of Shillong
• June 26, 1969: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gauhati–Shillong
• January 22, 1970: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Shillong–Gauhati
• March 30, 1992: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Shillong

An Archdiocese is a “diocese” or area under the jurisdiction of an Archbishop. In all there are 33 church districts or “Parishes” in the Shillong Archdiocese. The Cathedral Church 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. The Cathedral Church of Mary Help of Christians is the principal place of worship of the over 3,00,000 strong Catholics of the Shillong Archdiocese which covers the districts of East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi of Meghalaya.

Leadership

• Archbishops of Shillong (Latin Rite)
  • Archbishop Dominic Jala, S.D.B. (December 22, 1999 – present)
  • Archbishop Tarcisius Resto Phanrang, S.D.B. (August 2, 1995 – May 5, 1999)
  • Archbishop Hubert D’Rosario, S.D.B. (March 30, 1992 – August 30, 1994)
• Metropolitan Archbishops of Shillong – Gauhati (Latin Rite)
  • Archbishop Hubert D’Rosario, S.D.B. (June 26, 1969 – March 30, 1992)
• Bishops of Shillong (Roman Rite)
  • Bishop Stephen Ferrando, S.D.B. (later Archbishop) (November 26, 1935 – June 26, 1969)
  • Bishop Louis Mathias, S.D.B. (later Archbishop) (July 9, 1934 – March 25, 1935)
• Prefects Apostolic of Assam (Latin Rite)
  • Fr. Louis Mathias, S.D.B. (later Archbishop) (December 15, 1922 – July 9, 1934)
  • Fr. Cristoforo Becker, S.D.S. (1906 – 1921)
  • Fr. Angelus Münzloher, S.D.S. (1890 - 1906)
  • Fr. Otto Hopfenmüller, S.D.S. (1890)

Suffragan dioceses

• Agartala
• Aizawl
• Jowai
• Nongstoin
• Tura

Source

• Giga-Catholic Information
• Catholic Hierarchy
• Archdiocese website

Coordinates: 25°34′N 91°53′E / 25.567°N 91.883°E / 25.567; 91.883