By Purushottam Nayak
Shillong, Meghalaya, November 9, 2026:Thousands of Catholic faithful from across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills participated in the Annual Eucharistic Procession of the Archdiocese of Shillong on November 8, offering a public witness of faith, prayer and devotion to Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão of Goa and Daman and President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), led the Eucharistic celebration in Shillong. The event brought together clergy, religious sisters, parish communities and lay faithful for a day of prayer and Eucharistic devotion.
The celebration began with Holy Mass at Kalbari at 10 a.m., attended by Archbishop Victor Lyngdoh of Shillong and Auxiliary Bishop Bernard Laloo.
The procession, organised by Mary Help of Christians Parish, Laitumkhrah, followed at 1 p.m. under the theme: “By the Power of the Eucharist, We Are Called to Be the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World.”
Cardinal Ferrão carried the Blessed Sacrament in a specially decorated vehicle as the faithful proceeded through Laitumkhrah, Dhankheti and Madan Ïewrynghep towards Calvary. Participants offered prayers and sang hymns throughout the procession.
The Cathedral Band, Don Bosco Band and Savio Junioriate Band accompanied the gathering. A group from Laitkor Parish added a cultural dimension to the celebration through traditional attire and drumming.
The procession concluded at Calvary with Eucharistic adoration, prayers and hymns. The Carmel Attard Choir from Marbisu Parish led the congregation in singing during the adoration.
Archdiocese declares 2027 the Year of Youth
A significant announcement marked the occasion when Archbishop Victor Lyngdoh declared 2027 the Year of Youth for the Archdiocese of Shillong, bringing the archdiocese’s 2026 Year of the Faithful to a close.
Addressing the congregation, Archbishop Lyngdoh expressed the Church’s love and hope for young people.
He encouraged them to remain steadfast in their faith, deepen their spiritual lives through prayer, face life’s challenges with courage and use social media responsibly.
Reminding them of Christ’s victory, he called on young people to become committed witnesses of the Gospel and to respond generously whenever the Church needs them.
Eucharist: A Call to Peace and Unity
Reflecting on the spiritual significance of the procession, Father Soraj Kumar Nayak of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar described it as a powerful public expression of Christian faith and devotion.
“The Eucharistic procession in Shillong is a beautiful public expression of our faith in the living presence of Jesus Christ. The Eucharist is not merely a sacrament we celebrate inside our churches; it is the source of our Christian life and the strength that inspires us to bring Christ’s love into the world,” he said.
He added that accompanying the Blessed Sacrament reminds Christians of their responsibility to become instruments of peace, unity, forgiveness and fraternity in society.
“Such celebrations strengthen our faith and encourage us to witness to Christ through our daily lives, especially by reaching out to the poor, the suffering and those in need. May the Eucharistic Lord unite us beyond differences of language, culture and religion and make us bearers of hope and love in our nation,” he said.
The annual Eucharistic procession remains an important expression of Catholic faith and communion in the Archdiocese of Shillong.
It invites the faithful to renew their relationship with Christ in the Eucharist and carry Gospel values into their families, communities and wider society.