Shillong, Oct. 22, 2019: The crowd at the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians in Shillong intensified on Tuesday with Meghalaya governor Tathagata Roy taking part in the requiem mass to pay his respects to Archbishop of Shillong Most Reverend Dominic Jala, who passed away in an accident in the US on October 10.

The governor was accompanied by former minister of tourism Alphons Kannanthanam and minister AL Hek.

Consoling the Archbishop’s family and interacting with them, Roy said that the news came as a shock to him and that it was God’s will but in a different way that “we don’t understand”.

Speaking with EastMojo, Roy said, “My heart goes out to his family and his huge flock over here. I remember him from last Christmas day when I had come to attend the service. After the service we had cakes together, he entertained me, we had a long chat. I am a product of Catholic education. I went to St Lawrence in Kolkata run just by Fathers, and I am familiar with all the rituals. And Archbishop Jala was pleasantly quite surprised and I told him all the very best. I did not know that such a faith would befall him but like I just told his sisters awhile ago, that Gods will work in strange and inscrutable ways, this had been God’s will, let his soul rest in peace.”

The Nongstoin diocese conducted the requiem mass at 10 am, where several of the faithfuls from the West Khasi Hills District thronged to the church to get a glimpse of the Most Reverend Dominic Jala. The late Archbishop was also appointed the apostolic administrator of the diocese of Nongstoin.

Tears kept rolling down women’s cheeks while singing hymns, while some were seen dropping down to their knees and crying.

Most of the schools in Laitumkhrah were declared a holiday and had school children coming to pay their respects. Several political leaders were also seen making attendance at the church.

The funeral will take place on Oct. 23 at 1 pm at Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians.

https://www.eastmojo.com/meghalaya/2019/10/22/meghalaya-governor-recalls-time-spent-with-archbishop-dominic-jala