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Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Shillong

Coordinates: 25°34′N 91°53′E / 25.567°N 91.883°E / 25.567; 91.883
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For the Church of North India diocese based in Shillong, see Diocese of North East India.

Metropolitan Archdiocese of Shillong

Archidioecesis Shillongensis

Ka Jyllaniam Bah Shillong
Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians
Location
CountryIndia
TerritoryEast khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi District
Ecclesiastical provinceProvince of Shillong
MetropolitanMetropolitan Archdiocese of Shillong
HeadquartersArchbishop House, Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Laitumkhrah, Shillong
Statistics
Area5,196 km2 (2,006 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2021)
1,233,000
346,060 (28.1%)
Parishes43
ChurchesApprox. 3000 - 3500 chapels
Information
DenominationRoman Catholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established1934; 90 years ago (1934)
CathedralCathedral of Mary Help of Christians in Shillong
Secular priests189
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
Metropolitan ArchbishopVictor Lyngdoh
Map
Website
shillongarchdiocese.org
Statue of Mary Help of Christians on the facade of the cathedral

The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Shillong (Latin: 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 8 zones [w.e.f 01st January 2025] in the 2 districts. The rural parishes are usually divided into sub districts and further into "Balang shnong" or village churches (which are further divided into blocks for better management ) 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 (Catholic Managing Committee)/ village level and Small Christian communities or Kynhun Balang barit (KBB).

History

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Cathedrals

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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

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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

Bishops of Shillong
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

Ecclesiastical Province of Shillong

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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:

Parishes

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The Archdiocese of Shillong comprises 43 parishes divided into 8 zones ( wef from 1st January 2025) :

Zone 1

  • St. Dominic Savio Church, Mawlai (1938)
  • St. Joseph's Church, Mawkhar (1951)
  • Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Pynthorumkhrah (1997)
  • Church of the Visitation, Mawprem (2002)
  • St. Anne's Church, Mawtawar (2024)
  • Our Lady of Holy Rosary Church, Mawïong (2024)


Zone 2

  • Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Laitumkhrah (1890)
  • St. Paul's Church, Upper Shillong (1965)
  • St. John the Apostle Church, Laban (1974)
  • Divine Saviour Church, Nongthymmai (1974)
  • Mary Queen of Peace Church, Mawñianglah (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)
  • U Khrist U Syiem Church, Madanrting (2024)

Zone 6

  • Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Nongpoh (1953)
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Umkadhor (1985)
  • St. Francis of Assisi Church, Byrnihat (1999)
  • Lum Sinai Church, Umden (2006)
  • St. Francis of Assisi Church, Umsiang (2023)

Zone 7

  • Epiphany Church, Mawbri (1972)
  • Church of the Ascension, Umsohlait (1972)
  • Mary Mother of God Church, Umsning (1977)
  • St. Paul's Church, Mawlasnai (2009)
  • St. Francis Xavier Church, Umbir (2013)


Zone 8

  • Sacred Heart Church, Nongmensong (2010)
  • Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Mawpat (2012)
  • St Rose of Lima Church, Umpling (2024 )
  • St. Dominic Savio Church, Nongrah (2024)
  • Mary Help of Christians Church, Mawpdang (2024)

Saints and causes for canonisation

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YouTube Channel SASCOM [Shillong Archdiocese Social Communication] https://youtube.com/@sascomshiillong8175

References

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  1. ^ a b "Saints & Blessed – CCBI". Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  2. ^ "1890". newsaints.faithweb.com. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
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Wikisource has the text of a 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article about Apostolic Prefecture of Assam.

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

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