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Shillong celebrates platinum jubilee

The archdiocese of Shillong, which was once the base of mission in northeast India, celebrates 75 years of its existence with a host of programs.

The week-long celebrations include honoring couples who have completed 50 years of marriage and couples celebrating 25 years of marriage this year.

Meghalaya Governor R.S. Mooshahary, chief minister D.D. Lapang and deputy chief minister B.M. Lanong would be among guests attending the Nov. 7 concluding programs of the week-long celebrations.

Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, the Apostolic Nuncio who represents Pope in India and Father Pascual Chavez Villanueva, the superior general of the Salesians of Don Bosco would join celebrations.

Salesian missioners led the evangelization of the hilly tribal dominated seven states in the region, since 1921 when the area was entrusted to them.

German Salvatorian missioners began work in the last quarter of 19th century and Prefeture Apostolic of Assam was established in 1898. Outbreak of World War I forced the Germans to return to their country with Jesuits taking up the mission. Later Salesians took over.

Shillong diocese was created in 1951 and over the years was divided several times to create more dioceses as the Church grew faster. In 1969 it was made Shillong-Guwahati archdiocese, and was further divided in 1992 to create Guwahati diocese.

During the past 75 years, the Church has grown and spread all over Northeast India. The Church has 15 dioceses, each owing its initial mission to the Church based in Shillong.

Salesain Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong said part of the celebrations would honor couples who have completed golden jubilee of marriage and those celebrating silver jubilee this year. He said this Nov. 6 program was to stress family as the most important unit of society and of the Church.

On Nov. 5, the Catholic Church will honor more than 1,000 church leaders who are the mainstay of its mission in the towns and villages stressing the role of laity in the mission of the Church.

The celebration would start with a performance by Rexband, which proposes to spread cheer through music. Rex, a Christian musical band, fuses together musical styles, including Indian classical and folk music.

The archbishop said he invited the Kerala-based band to encourage the music-loving youths of Shillong and inculcate the values of life through music. The archdiocese of Shillong, which was once the base of mission in northeast India, celebrates 75 years of its existence with a host of programs.

The week-long celebrations include honoring couples who have completed 50 years of marriage and couples celebrating 25 years of marriage this year.

Meghalaya Governor R.S. Mooshahary, chief minister D.D. Lapang and deputy chief minister B.M. Lanong would be among guests attending the Nov. 7 concluding programs of the week-long celebrations.

Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, the Apostolic Nuncio who represents Pope in India and Father Pascual Chavez Villanueva, the superior general of the Salesians of Don Bosco would join celebrations.

Salesian missioners led the evangelization of the hilly tribal dominated seven states in the region, since 1921 when the area was entrusted to them.

German Salvatorian missioners began work in the last quarter of 19th century and Prefeture Apostolic of Assam was established in 1898. Outbreak of World War I forced the Germans to return to their country with Jesuits taking up the mission. Later Salesians took over.

Shillong diocese was created in 1951 and over the years was divided several times to create more dioceses as the Church grew faster. In 1969 it was made Shillong-Guwahati archdiocese, and was further divided in 1992 to create Guwahati diocese.

During the past 75 years, the Church has grown and spread all over Northeast India. The Church has 15 dioceses, each owing its initial mission to the Church based in Shillong.

Salesain Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong said part of the celebrations would honor couples who have completed golden jubilee of marriage and those celebrating silver jubilee this year. He said this Nov. 6 program was to stress family as the most important unit of society and of the Church.

On Nov. 5, the Catholic Church will honor more than 1,000 church leaders who are the mainstay of its mission in the towns and villages stressing the role of laity in the mission of the Church.

The celebration would start with a performance by Rexband, which proposes to spread cheer through music. Rex, a Christian musical band, fuses together musical styles, including Indian classical and folk music.

The archbishop said he invited the Kerala-based band to encourage the music-loving youths of Shillong and inculcate the values of life through music.