By Daniel Cajee
Shillong, Sept 4, 2020: A commemorative volume of edited works on the life of Archbishop Dominic Jala, who died in 2019, was released on September 3 by Father Paul Olphindro Lyngkot, Salesians’ Shillong provincial.
The function began with a prayer led by Father John Zosiama, the vice provincial.
Later a brief description of the book entitled “An Affable Pastor” was given by Salesian Brother M A Abraham, who coedited the work with Father Jose Varickasseril of the same congregation.
Archbishop Jala was the archbishop of Shillong, the mother diocese of the Catholic Church in northeastern India.
It is based at Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya state.
Archbishop Jala was born on July 12, 1951, in Mawlai, Meghalaya. He died in an automobile accident on October 10, 2019, in California, United States, along with another priest.
Bother Abraham stated that the sole intention of publishing this book was to keep alive the memory of Archbishop Jala, who was a versatile person and a human pastor.
The volume is composed of a wide range of articles comprising of Theological, Philosophical, Biblical, Canonical, Kerygmatic, Catechetical and Liturgical themes.
The ‘In Memoriam’ section contains inspiring impressions about the late archbishop.
The provincial commended the work of the two editors and called the book a ‘very special book.’
Father Lyngkot said that the book opened the door for all those who knew Archbishop Dominic Jala to reflect more deeply about his life.
He also recalled that the book got its name from the affability of the father of Archbishop Jala which the son assuredly imbibed.