By Matters India Reporter
Shillong, Oct. 12, 2019: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led political and religious leaders to mourn the death of Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong in a car accident in California.
The Salesian archbishop “will be remembered for his impeccable service to society and passion towards Meghalaya’s progress. May his soul rest in peace,” tweeted the prime minister on October 12, soon after the news of the Catholic prelate broke.
The Prime minister also said that he was anguished by the passing of the archbishop.
The accident reportedly occurred around 11 pm October 10 (10:30 am on October 11 India time) when Archbishop Jala was traveling to Clearlake in California along with Fathers Mathew Vellankal and Joseph Parekkatt, two Indian priests working in the United States.
Father Vellankal, who was driving, and Archbishop Jala who was on the front seat died on the spot while Parekkatt suffered serious wounds and admitted to a hospital.
The news about the archbishop’s death has created shock and gloom across Meghalaya and northeastern India. He was the first prelate from the Khasi tribe, one of prominent ethnic groups in Meghalaya.
“There is an air of sadness all across the state as the people particularly the Catholic faithful across Meghalaya and the region recall the life and contribution of Archbishop Jala to society,” thenortheasttoday.com reported.
Expressing shock and grief, the priests and religious of Shillong Archdiocese said “It is really a sad news for all of us to learn that our beloved Archbishop passed away, far away from his homeland, far away from us. We are awaiting return of his mortal remains which will take around 4-5 days and after that we can arrange for the date and time of the funeral. As of now, we urge everyone to pray for us, to pray for our archdiocese and especially to pray for the soul of archbishop.”
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said, “It is a sad day for our state with the sudden demise of our dear archbishop, Dominic Jala who passed away in California. He had a close relationship with my family and had always guided me on several issues for the interest of the people. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio also tweeted, “Saddened to hear the passing away of Most Rev. Dominic Jala Archbishop of Shillong, Meghalaya. A personality of faith who dedicated his life to the message of the Gospel, his death is a loss to the Church. Condolences to the clergy, religious & laity of the archdiocese of Shillong.”
Congress MLA from East Shillong, M Ampareen Lyngdoh wrote, “Deeply saddened to hear of the tragic passing of the most reverend Archbishop of Shillong, Dominic Jala in the United States.”
Meanwhile, the North East Regional Bishops’ Council (NERBC), through a press release, said that after the Ad Limina visit of the bishops of northeastern India in Rome, Archbishop Jala had gone to the US to attend a meeting of the ICEL (International Commission for English Liturgy) and to meet some friends.
Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati and president of NEIRBC wrote: “We entrust his soul into the hands of his creator. We the Catholic Bishops of North East India are grieved at his departure but at the moment of pain we turn to the priests, religious and faithful of the Archdiocese of Shillong who mourn their beloved Archbishop.”
“We offer them our heartfelt condolences. We pray for the eternal repose of the departed soul and for the archdiocese of Shillong. Let us continue praying as we await for further news of the arrival of the mortal remains and the date of the funeral.”
Officials of the Mary Help of Christians Cathedral informed that as they await the mortal remains of the Acrhbishop to arrive, they will have a concelebrated Mass at the Cathedral at 5.30 pm every day.