Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Shillong

The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Shillong (Shillongensis) is a Roman Catholic archdiocese with its jurisdiction in the two district of Ri Bhoi and East khasi Hills State of Meghalaya, in northeastern India. The Archdiocese of Shillong is also the metropolitan diocese of the Province of Shillong, an ecclesiastical province in Northeast India. It serves 346,060 followers in 43 parishes under 7 zones in the 2 districts. The rural parishes are usually divided into sub districts and further into "balang shnong" or village churches while urban parishes are divided into CMCs and balang dong in the district. The Archdiocese usually organised programmes,teaching and worship at Diocese level, Zonal Level, Parish level, CMC/ village level and Small Christian communities or Kynhun Balang barit ( KBB).

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
The Catholic Church's presence in the northeastern region of India, particularly in Assam and Meghalaya, has been marked by a succession of ecclesiastical leaders. Beginning with Apostolic Prefects overseeing the early missionary efforts, the hierarchy evolved to include bishops and later metropolitan archbishops.

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 Shillong Archdiocese serves not only as an ecclesiastical seat but also as the metropolitan Archdiocese of the Shillong province. A province within the Catholic Church is a grouping of dioceses under the authority of an archbishop. In the case of the Shillong province, it comprises the Shillong Archdiocese itself, along with the Tura Diocese, Aizawl Diocese, Agartala Diocese, Jowai Diocese, and Nongstoin Diocese. This arrangement reflects the hierarchical structure of the Church, wherein archbishops oversee the administration and spiritual welfare of multiple dioceses within their respective province.

The Archbishop of Shillong though have no ruling power over the other dioceses but in disputes within a diocese of the province, the diocese may seek assistance from the metropolitan archdiocese of their ecclesiastical province where the metropolitan Archbishop may intervene under canon law.

The Province of Shillong comprises the following suffragan dioceses that has Shillong as its metropolitan see:
 * Agartala
 * Aizawl
 * Jowai
 * Nongstoin
 * Tura

Parishes
The Archdiocese of Shillong comprises 43 parishes divided into 7 zones:

Zone 1
 * St. Dominic Savio Church, Mawlai (1938)
 * St. Joseph's Church, Mawkhar (1951)
 * St. Paul's Church, Upper Shillong (1965)
 * St. John the Apostle Church, Laban (1974)
 * Church of the Visitation, Mawprem (2002)
 * St. Anne's Church, Mawtawar (2024)
 * Our Lady of Holy Rosary Church, Mawïong (2024)
 * Mary Queen of Peace Church, Mawñianglah (2024)

Zone 2
 * Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Laitumkhrah (1890)
 * Divine Saviour Church, Nongthymmai (1974)
 * Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Pynthorumkhrah (1997)
 * Sacred Heart Church, Nongmensong (2010)
 * St. Mary's Church, Mawpat (2012)
 * St Rose of Lima Church, Umpling (2024 )
 * St. Dominic Savio Church, Nongrah (2024)
 * U Khrist U Syiem Church, Madanrting (2024)
 * Mary Help of Christians Church, Mawpdang (2024)

Zone 3
 * St. John Bosco Shrine, Sohra (1931)
 * Resurrection Church, Pynursla (1957)
 * Blessed Sacrament Church, Laitlyngkot (1983)
 * Mary Queen of Peace Church, Laitkroh (2003)
 * Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Laitkynsew (2004)
 * St. Mother Teresa Church, Nongshyrngan (2016)

Zone 4
 * U Khrist Jingshai Church, Marbisu (1950)
 * St. Francis Xavier's Church, Mawsynram (1976)
 * Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary Church, Dangar (1993)
 * St George's Church, Wahlang (2002)
 * Sacred Heart Church, Diengïei (2007)
 * St. Stephen Church, Sawsymper (2008)

Zone 5
 * Good Shepherd Church, Jongksha (1972)
 * Holy Cross Church, Mawkynrew (1987)
 * Divine Mercy Church, Mawryngkneng (2003)
 * St Joseph's Church, Laitkor (2004)

Zone 6
 * Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Nongpoh (1953)
 * Mary Mother of God Church, Umsning (1977)
 * Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Umkadhor (1985)
 * St. Francis of Assisi Church, Byrnihat (1999)
 * Lum Sinai Church, Umden (2006)

Zone 7
 * Epiphany Church, Mawbri (1972)
 * Church of the Ascension, Umsohlait (1972)
 * St. Paul's Church, Mawlasnai (2009)
 * St. Francis Xavier Church, Umbir (2013)
 * St. Francis of Assisi Church, Umsiang (2023)

Saints and causes for canonisation

 * Ven. Stephen Ferrando
 * Servant of God Constantine Vendrame, SDB
 * Lorenz Hopfenmuller (Otto)

Sources and external links

 * GCatholic.org, with incumbent biography links $[self-published]$
 * Catholic Hierarchy $[self-published]$
 * Archdiocese website