The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Shillong (Latin: Shillongen(sis)) is a Latin Meteropolitan archdiocese in Meghalaya state, northern India. It serves more than 300,000 followers in 34 parishes in the districts of East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi of Meghalaya.
Established on December 15, 1889 as the Apostolic Prefecture of Assam on territory split off from the Diocese of Krishnagar
July 9, 1934: Promoted as Diocese of Shillong
Lost territory on 12 July 1951 to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dibrugarh
Lost territory again on 16 January 1964 to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tezpur
June 26, 1969: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gauhati–Shillong
January 22, 1970: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Shillong–Gauhati
Lost territory to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tura on 1973.03.01 and again on 1983.12.05 to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Diphu
March 30, 1992: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Shillong
Lost territory on 28 January 2006 to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nongstoin and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jowai
Its cathedral episcopal see is the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, in Shillong, in the city of Shillong. It was built over 50 years ago. Since it also has the “cathedra” – the seat or throne of the Bishop – it is known as a Cathedral Church. 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 April 10, 1936. Built by the first Catholic missionaries to these hills, the Salvatorians from Germany, it was the first Catholic Cathedral Church in what was then the Mission of Assam.
(all Roman Rite; so far members of a Latin congregation)
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 July 9, 1934 – March 25, 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. (November 26, 1935 – June 26, 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 June 26, 1969 – March 30, 1992 see below)
Metropolitan Archbishops of Shillong
Hubert D’Rosario, S.D.B. (as above March 30, 1992 – August 30, 1994)
Tarcisius Resto Phanrang, S.D.B. (August 2, 1995 – May 5, 1999), previously Titular Bishop of Corniculana & Auxiliary Bishop of Shillong (India) (1990.06.11 – 1995.08.02)
Dominic Jala, S.D.B. (December 22, 1999 – ...)
Apart from the Archdiocese itself, it comprises the following suffragan dioceses:
Agartala
Aizawl
Jowai
Nongstoin
Tura
