Shillong, October 23, 2019: Nearly 100,000 people from across northeastern India, particularly Meghalaya state, attended the state funeral of Archbishop Dominic Jala in Shillong.

Archbishop John Moolachria of Guwahati, president of the North East India Bishops Coúncil, led the Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christian, Laitumkhrah, downtown Shillong.

He was assisted by 15 archbishops and bishops from northeastern India other dioceses in India.

Archbishop Jala, 68, died in a car accident in California on October 11 (October 10 local time). His mortal remains arrived here on October 20.

The mortal remains was brought to the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians in Laitumkhrah on October 21 morning.

After the Mass, Archbishop Jala was laid to rest in a grave close to the Cathedral church.

The Catholic Church also presented a Crucifix to the family members of the Archbishop.

Source: shillongtimes.com

Funeral Homily of Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios of Mavelikara, vice president I, and interim secretary general, CBCI

My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,

It is with immense sorrow and great grief, that today, we gather with the mortal remains of Archbishop Dominic Jala, we entrust him now to compassionate God, Almighty. We gather also to support one another and to encourage each other with the assurances of faith in the resurrection of Christ the Lord and in the power of his eternal love.

To you, the bereaved family members of Archbishop Jala, the Salesian congregation, Msgr. John Madur, the entire Archdiocese of Shillong, the North East Region of India headed by Most Rev. John Moolachira, and members of the CCBI and CBCI, I express my deep-rooted condolences. I pray and mourn with you during this time of death and sorrow.

On behalf of the CBCI President His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias, and other Individual Churches heads, His Beatitude George Cardinal Alencherry, and His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicose, I extend you our loving prayers for the sweet repose of the soul of Archbishop Jala and our prayers and sympathy to all of you.

The Book of Wisdom 3, 1-9 says that our loved ones are ‘in the hand of God’, and that is the safest place in the entire universe. It goes on to say that they are ‘at peace’; there is no more worry, no more anxiety, no more struggle and pain and suffering.

When we go through this difficult time of death and grief, we need not to be afraid because we know that our Shepherd is with us in the midst of it. We can take comfort that he protects and guides us with His rod and staff, walking with us in the darkest of valleys (Psalm 23). Even when faced with death, we don’t need to be afraid.

In 2 Corinthians 1,6-10, St. Paul shows that all his trials were for the welfare of the Pauline community and the suffering would turn to their benefit. He suffered that they might be comforted; he was afflicted for their advantage. We are under the deepest obligations of gratitude to Archbishop Jala who suffers for us; and there is nothing that will bind us more tenderly to anyone than the fact that he has been subjected to great pain on our account to make us grow in Christ.

In John 11, 25, in the context of Lazarus’ resurrection, Jesus affirms “I am (ego eimi) the resurrection and the life”. While we call this story the resurrection of Lazarus, it is more importantly the revelation that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Earlier, Jesus said, “Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live” (John 5:25). Now Jesus is assuring Martha that the promise has been realized—in his person. Jesus continues, “Whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11, 25-26). This is not a promise that believers will not die physically. This is Jesus’ promise that spiritual life is possible after physical death—that physical death can be a prelude to resurrection.

Archbishop Jala offered a life devoted to prayer. In prayer, he discerned the voice of the Lord, saying, follow me. Throughout his 41 years of priestly life he did not place any barriers in the way of the original summons which God placed in his heart. Prayer was not just part of his life; it was central to his life and, enabled him to distinguish God’s footsteps among the welter of interior noises. Whether I live or die I am with him.

As Shepherd of the Diocese, a Bishop has to care for all his flock and to lead in seeking the pastoral vision and priorities for the Diocese. Looking back at Archbishop Jala’s Ministry, he put a lot of effort into pastoral planning and renewal, both for the clergy and the lay faithful. Much was done and those who responded and kept going, have benefited from the vision he presented and the initiatives put in place.

The Archbishop is a true pastor who travels to every nook and corner to reach the faithful who are in need of him spiritually. There are few villages in the remote areas where vehicles cannot reach and the Archbishop had to travel on foot for hours, yet he never left his flock untended. Instead he is one with them in his openness in dealing with people in village after village. His concern was not only for his flock, he was for everyone. He was a man of ecumenical approach.

The ministry of the Bishop has many different facets and sometimes it is difficult to keep up with varying demands brought before him. To be the servant of all, as the Lord asks us to be, can be complicated, especially when called upon to meet and deal with people who are upset or even angry. I am sure, Archbishop Jala did his best in this regard and sought to be attentive to those who needed his help. He had a strong will and determination to carry out his duties as Bishop and I am sure his people appreciated his faithful service.

Through his own struggles he has sympathy for those who came to him in difficulty, particularly members of the clergy. The priests of the Archdiocese are aware about the kind way he dealt with them and the generosity of his response in offering whatever help was necessary. He was a “can do” sort of person who wanted to get things done now, rather than waiting until tomorrow. He certainly could be impatient if there too much discussion and meetings became protracted.

After the Ad Limina visit with Hoy Father Pope Francis and getting his abundant blessings he went for the International Liturgical Conference in New York. Then he went to California to meet his priests and community over there. There he met with an accident and died on 10 October 2019 at Colusa County, California (USA), at the age of 68. The passing away of Archbishop Jala has shocked not only the entire Northeast but also the whole nation. Archbishop Jala was a well appreciated Archbishop, known for his simplicity, scholarship and intellectual shrewdness.

The loved people miss him a lot. The love of the people for their shepherd is not only seen in the city of Shillong but also in many other parishes and villages where prayer services are being held for the departed soul of the Archbishop. He will be remembered for his impeccable service to society, Church and passion towards Meghalaya’s progress.

At the last CBCI standing committee meeting in Bangalore on 11 August 2019, he was the main celebrant of the Holy Mass. There he made a beautiful sermon based on the Holy Gospel, Fathers of the Church, and the instruction of the Holy Father on the urgency of mission. We never felt that this is his last Holy Mass with us, his close colleague in the CBCI. He had a special consideration towards me and inspired me by saying Joshua lead us to Jericho. He was my intimate friend and close companion. Archbishop Jala cannot die! He lives in our hearts and minds and animates us as challenge and inspiration.

We pray for him that he who worked so tirelessly, who proclaimed the gospel so faithfully, who led so wisely, who reached out to so many, and who inspired us, may now enter into the joy of the Lord and see in that new life the fulfillment beyond all imagination and expectation (Job 19:27). “May choirs of angels welcome you,” Archbishop Jala, “and lead you to the bosom of Abraham; and there you may find your eternal rest”, with blessed Mother Mary and all the saints!

May you hear the beautiful words “well done good, faithful and prudent son, enter into the home of your Father and there you may find your eternal rest with blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints ”. Dear Archbishop we meet to part and part to meet.

May your soul rest in peace! Amen.