Tura, July 8: Thousands of Catholic faithful across Garo Hills will today give an emotional farewell to their beloved bishop George Mamalassery as he takes the last journey from the Sacred Heart Shrine to the Cathedral Church where he shall be laid to rest.

And the sadness and farewell goes beyond the boundaries of man made landmarks as several thousand more Garos, Hindus and even muslims who were touched by the good deeds of the late bishop will shed a tear for the love and care he provided them and their families, almost fifty years ago.

As a young parish priest located at Dalu border town in Weat Garo Hills, overlookong Bangladesh, Bishop Mamalassery was at the forefront of the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971 providing shelter, food and clothing to hundreds of fleeing refugees from the neighbouring country.

With the East Pakistan army committing a genocide on minorities, particularly simgling out hindus, christians and even moderate muslims who were opposed to the then Pakistan Government, frightened men, women and children sought refuge in India, particularly Garo Hills.

Dalu became the largest refugee zone of the war in this part of the region and the Indian government under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had their hands full looking after the suffering and frightened refugees.

Father George Mamalassery opened the doors of the church and parish to allow the suffering refugees to take shelter and for many months provided them with whatever food and shelter he could provide.

Today, as he takes his last journey, the survivors of the war and their families will recall with gratitude the love and care he gave when they needed it the most.

Bishop George Mamalassery died at the age of 92 at Holy Cross hospital in Tura and today the funeral service at Sacred Heart Shrine takes place at 12:45 noon and the funeral procession begins at 2 O’clock in the afternoon.

For someone who built the newly created Tura Diocese from scratch in 1979 and became its first bishop, George Mamalassery, is a name few will forget.

He was a man of deep priestly conviction and spirituality, incomparable apostolic zeal, said Father Thomas Manjaly, a close associate when the late bishop headed Tura diocese, covering East and West Garo Hills districts and a part of Goalpara district in the south of Brahmaputra River in Meghalaya.

Priestly virtues characterized in Mamalassery’s life and ministry, added Father Manjaly.

The late bishop had in his mind the welfare of the indigenous people, added Auxiliary Bishop of Tura Jose Chirackal.

Under his guiding hand, the Catholic Church created 23 new parishes to the diocese thay included churches, presbyteries, convents, dispensaries, hostels, and schools.

During his 28 years as bishop after his appointment in 1979, Bishop Mamalassery built 110 schools, and 24 girls’ and 23 boys’ hostels all over the Garo Hills, the Tura Diocese mentioned in a statement.

The prelate also took the initiative to build a college with the support of the Salesians of Don Bosco and helped set up 20 dispensaries in rural areas. He built a 150-bed hospital to cater to the indigenous population, mainly the Garos, Rabhas, Koch, and Hajong ethnic groups.

Bishop Mamalassery opened a nursing college, provided free training to the local girls, and started two old-age homes.

He set up a care home for physically challenged people with the help of the Montfort Brothers.

His best quality was that he knew the needs of his people, added Bishop Chirackal.

Even after retirement in 2007, Mamalassery continued to serve the diocese, Chirackal said.

Christians make up 75 percent of Meghalaya’s 3 million people. Meghalaya along with Mizoram and Nagaland are the only three Christian majority states in India, located in a sparsely populated, fertile mountain range.

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