Tura, Nov 2: The month-long golden jubilee celebrations of the establishment of the Tura Catholic Diocese in the Garo Hills region began on Thursday. The 50 years establishment of the Catholic Church in Garo Hills would be widely celebrated by the faithful across the Garo Hills region and beyond.

It is to be mentioned here that the All Souls’ Day, also known as the Day of the Dead, which is observed by the Catholics on November 2nd every year worldwide, was observed a day prior on November 1, 2023 at the Catholic Cemetery, Cherangre in Tura in view of the month long golden jubilee celebrations of the Tura Catholic Diocese.

The first Catholic missionaries to reside in Tura were Father A. Pianazzy and Father L. Rocca, who were members of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB). They arrived in Tura in 1933. Following the arrival of European and South Indian missionaries, who worked diligently to spread the Gospel in the Garo Hills region, a pivotal moment occurred when Pope Paul VI elevated Tura into a diocese on April 7, 1973.

At that time, the diocese had around 42919 Catholics spread over the entire Garo Hills and the Goalpara and Kamrup districts of Assam.

During the six years that Msgr. Marengo served as the Apostolic Administrator, significant developments took place in the diocese. At the beginning of his tenure, there were six parishes and a total of 21 priests, consisting of 16 religious and 5 diocesan priests. He opened eight new parishes, expanding the presence of the Church in the region.

On February 8, 1979, Saint Pope John Paul II took significant action by relieving Bishop Orestes Marengo of his role as Apostolic Administrator and appointing Rev. George Mamalassery, a member of the diocesan clergy, as the first official bishop of Tura. This appointment marked an important transition in the leadership of the diocese.

Bishop Mamalassery’s initial priority was to establish a more spacious seminary building so that local vocations to the priesthood can be promoted.

Bishop George Mamalassery’s 28-year tenure as bishop was marked by extensive growth and development in the Tura diocese. During his long and dedicated service, he achieved numerous milestones like:
Opening of New Parishes: Bishop Mamalassery opened an impressive 24 new parishes.

Development of Infrastructure: In the existing and newly established parishes, he constructed churches, presbyteries for priests, hostels for both boys and girls, convents for religious sisters, schools, and dispensaries.

Involvement of Religious Congregations: Bishop Mamalassery invited 14 more women’s religious congregations to serve in the diocese. Additionally, he welcomed the Claretians, Capuchins, Jesuits, Franciscan, and Montfort brothers.

After he turned 75 years old on April 22, 2007, Bishop George Mamalassery, the long-serving bishop of the Tura diocese, retired. Following his retirement, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Andrew R. Marak, a member of the local clergy, to succeed Bishop Mamalassery as the new bishop of the Tura diocese.

Bishop Andrew R. Marak, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Bishop George Mamalassery, continued the mission of expanding and strengthening the Catholic Church in the Tura diocese. He carried on the legacy of opening new parishes, emphasizing the importance of reaching out to the local Christian community and fostering their faith.

In 2020, Fr. Jose Chirackal was appointed as an Auxiliary Bishop, further expanding the leadership team of the diocese to meet the needs of the growing Catholic population.

In the Golden year, the diocese boasts a substantial Catholic population of 3,40,175, distributed across 47 parishes. To take care of this large and diverse community, the diocese is served by 114 priests. Of these, 58 are part of the diocesan clergy, while the remaining 56 priests belong to seven different religious congregations.

The presence of religious women is also significant, with 316 sisters from 31 different congregations actively serving within the diocese. Additionally, there are eight Montfort brothers residing in two communities, contributing to the various ministries and services offered by the Church.

In the field of education, the Diocese of Tura has been at the forefront of providing quality education to thousands of children and youth in the region. This includes institutions like Don Bosco College in Tura, Loyola College in Williamnagar, 22 higher secondary schools, 53 secondary schools, and more than 100 primary schools and hostels. The impact is significant, with over 65,000 students currently studying in Catholic educational institutions in Garo Hills. This commitment to education has not only increased literacy rates but has also contributed to the overall socio-economic development of Meghalaya.

They also made a significant and invaluable contributions to healthcare and social services in the region. These contributions have been pivotal in uplifting and caring for the well-being of the local community.

In the realm of healthcare, the Diocese of Tura has played a significant role. Holy Cross Hospital in Tura, along with 34 dispensaries and the 5 Primary Health Centers managed by the Diocesan Social Service, Bakdil, have provided essential healthcare services to the people of Garo Hills. The RSM Nursing School affiliated with Holy Cross Hospital in Walbakgre is a prominent institution contributing to the training of nursing professionals.

The Diocese of Tura has also been actively involved in numerous welfare programs aimed at assisting marginalized and vulnerable populations, particularly during challenging times like natural calamities and health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The promotion of cooperative societies and self-help groups led by church personnel has brought about substantial positive change in the community, enhancing economic and social well-being.

Read: Nongkrem Dance: CM Conrad extends Shad Nongkrem greetings to the people of Meghalaya

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