DIOCESE OF MIAO DIRECTORY 2014 Bishop’s House, Miao – 792 122, Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India 03807 – 222 975 www.miaodiocese.com / [email protected] 1 DIOCESE OF MIAO DIRECTORY 2014 Bishop’s House Miao – 792 /122 Changlang District Arunachal Pradesh 03807 – 222 975 www.miaodiocese.com / [email protected] / www.facebook.com/miaoarunachal 2 CONTENTS A BRIEF HISTORY 4 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 5 THE ROMAN PONTIFF 6 THE ROAN CURIA 6 1. SECRETARIATE OF STATE 6 2. CONGREGATIONS 6 3. TRIBUNALS 8 4. PONTIFICAL COUNCILS 9 5. PONTIFICAL COMMISSIONS 9 6. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS 9 DIOCESE OF MIAO 10 Motto 10 Guiding Slogan 10 Bishop 10 DIOCESE OF MIAO AT A GLANCE 11 DIOCESAN OFFICIALS & STAFF 12 COLLEGE OF CONSULTORS 12 SENATE MEMBERS 12 DIOCESAN COMMISSIONS AND INCHARGE 13 CENTRES OF PASTORAL WORK 14 PRIESTS RESIDING OUTSIDE THE DIOCESE 34 LIST OF SEMINARIANS 35 LIST OF PRIESTS AND WOMEN RELIGIOUS 36 Diocesan Priests 36 Religious Priests 37 Women Religious 39 BISHOPS OF NORTH EAST INDIA 42 A FEW IMPORTANT ADDRESSES 44 3 A BRIEF HISTORY Arunachal had the first encounter with Christianity with the coming of the French Missionaries Krick and Bourry who were martyred in Somme Village in Lohit District in 1854.The arrival of Salesian Missionaries in Assam latter in 1921 was a landmark in the history of the Church as Religious and educational institutions of the Church gradually welcomed the people of the region to a new life of faith and all-round development. Contacts by students of Arunachal Pradesh in Colleges in Shillong in Meghalya and Assam gradually opened the way for faith in Arunachal Pradesh. Then Rector of Don Bosco Shillong, later Bishop of Dibrugarh and then became Archbishop of Guwahati, Archbishop Emeritus Thomas Menamparampil’s contact with Mr. Wanglat Lowangcha, a young tribal chief became a turning point in the history of the Church in Arunachal Pradesh. Under the guise of preserving the tribal cultures, the then lt. Governor K A Raja and others introduced and passed the slyly worded “indigenous faith act” in 1978. The “innerline permit” was made more stringent. All these were done mainly to keep Christianity away from the tribes, since some young men who had found good schools in the neighbouring tribal states had gone there, got educated and some of them had become Christians. The draconian law imposed stringent punishment on those who were converted. It became impossible for any missionary to enter or contact any person. Many were arrested, jailed, tortured, deprived of jobs and scholarships, many thatched churches burnt and crucifixes broken and Bibles burnt. Even Mother Theresa’s repeated pleas to visit Arunachal were not heeded by the state and central governments. The Holy Spirit had his way and he inspired people and they turned to the Lord inspite of all the persecutions making the church in Arunachal a modern day miracle. We bow before the pioneers who literally sacrificed their “today for our tomorrow”. Bishop Robert Kerketta and Bishop Thomas established catechetical and educational institutions at Naharkatia and Tinsukia in Assam for the training of Catechists and youth leaders of East Arunachal. Fr. Job Kallarackal SDB pioneered missionary work in Tirap from the Parish at Naharkatia, Assam. He brought some Noctes and Wanchos to the Faith in spite of many kinds of difficulties. After him Fr. George Pallipparambil SDB, now Bishop of the Diocese of Miao took up the reins. His years of contact with the Arunachal Students and Officials in Shillong had made him known to many in Arunachal. His first appointment as the Rector of Bosco Bible School (BBS) at Tinsukia, brought him closer to the Arunachal Apostolate. BBS trained youth leaders and catechists of Arunachal, who later became zealous lay evangelizers. In fact they sowed the seeds of Catholic faith in Arunachal. With the establishment of the first Catholic Mission, School and Hostel as well as the construction of the first ‘pakka’ (Concrete) Church at Borduria in June 1992, Fr. George became the first resident Priest in Arunachal. Mr. George Nedumala and Miss Martha Mao joined him in July the same year. He worked with lay leaders and catechists for the spread of the Gospel in the Region. He invited trained Catechists, educators, youth animators and developmental agencies for improving the religious, social and economic conditions of the people along with other zealous missionaries. In the year 1992, the Missionaries of Charity opened their convent at Borduria to look after the poor and the needy. On August 2, 1993, Blessed Mother Teresa visited Borduria on the occasion of the Consecration of the Parish Church. This created history as that was the Saint’s first and only visit to Arunachal Pradesh, “in spite of many requests to various governments” in her own words. Health and social welfare activities gained momentum as the local leaders officially started and registered Seva Kendra in 1990. In the years that followed, many religious congregations came to Arunachal. Bishop Joseph Aind SDB DD whole heartedly supported the expansion of faith by establishing new centres for the people. In the year 1997, he appointed Father P K George as the coordinator of Church activities of East Arunachal. Father P K was based at the Literature Centre, Khonsa, Tirap District and travelled extensively strengthening people’s faith and contacting various leaders. He initiated the works at Kanubari, Rajanagar, Nampong, Roing, Deomali, Kheti, Lazu, Tezu, Neotan, Miao and Changlang. The number of mission stations is growing ever since Pope Benedict XVI erected the diocese of Miao on December 7, 2005 with Rev. George Pallipparambil SDB, as its first Bishop. The Episcopal Ordination took place on 26th February 2006 at Miao. As of today, the Catholic population of East Arunachal Pradesh is about 87,000. The number of schools and hostels, training centres, primary health centres, and Churches are a testimony to the growth of the Church in Arunachal Pradesh. 4 THE CATHOLIC CHURH The one, holy, apostolic and catholic Church of Christ is a communion of different Churches sui iuris (LG. 8, 23;OE, 1-3;UR, 16-17, CCEO. Can 28). At present there are 23 Churches Sui iuris in the Catholic communion under six ecclesial traditions. Ecclesial Sui Iuris Church Heads of the Church Roman or Latin Roman Church Pope Francis Alexandrian Coptic Church Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak Ethiopic Church Berhaneyesus Demrew sourphiel Antiochean Maronite Church Bechara Boutros Rai Syro-Malankara Church Baselios Cleemis thottunkal Syrian Church Ignace Youssif III Younan Armenian Armenian Church Nerses Bedrose XIX Tarmouni Chaldean or East Syrian Chaldean Church Louis Raphael I Sako Syro-Malabar Church George A Lancherry Albanese Church Hil Kabashi Byzantine Church or the Krizevci Nilkola Kekic Eparchy Belarussian Church Alexander Nadson Bulgarian Church Christo Proykov Greek Church Demitrios Salachas Greek Melchite Church Gregory III Laham Constantinopolitan or byzantine Hungarian Church Peter Fulop Kocsis Italo- Albanese Church Sotrir Ferrara Mecedinian Church Kiro Stozanov Romanian Church Lucian Muresan Russian Church No hierarchy Ruthenian Church William C. Skuria Slovak Church Jan Babjak Ukranin Church Sviatoslav Shevchuk 5 THE ROMAN PONTIFF POPE FRANCIS (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) (266 th successor of St. Peter) Date of Birth 17-12-1936 Place of Birth Bueons Aires Country Argentina Ordained Priest 13-12-1969 Consecrated 27-06-1992 Elected Cardinal 21-02-2001 Elected Pope 13-03-2013 Began Papal Ministry 19-03-2013 THE ROMAN CURIA 1. SECRETARIATE OF STATE Secretariat of State to help the Supreme Pontiff more closely, both in the care and government of the Universal Church and in the relationship with the other departments of the Roman Curia… Secretary of State … Arch Bishop Pietro Parolin Address Palazzo Apostolico Vaticano 00120 Vatican City Tel: 0039-06-69883438, 69885088 (F) 2. CONGREGATIONS a) Congregation for the Oriental Churches 6 Congregation for the Oriental Churches to deal with the persons and things pertaining to the Oriental Rites, except in matters that belong to the Congregation for the Doctrine of faith… Prefect ……………. His Eminence Leonardo Sandri Secretary Most Rev. P. Cyril Vasil Address Via della Conciliazione 34, 00193 Roma, Italy Tel: 0039-06-69884282 Fex: 0039-06-69884300 b) Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith All matters pertaining to the faith and all customs connected with the faith, the examination of new teachings and the promotion of studies concerning such teachings: reprieval of any teaching contrary to the principles of faith, the examination and censorship of books… Prefect:……......... His Excellency Msgr. Gerbard Luddwig Muller Address: piazza del S. Ufficio-II 00139 Roma, Italy Tel. 0039-06-69883357/69883413/69883409 Fax: 0039-06-69883409 c) Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples It has jurisdiction over mission countries. Deals with the erection and division of ecclesiastical territories in mission areas. Prefect: ………….. His Grace Most Rev. Fernando Filoni Address Palazzo di Propaganda Fide Piazza di Spagna 48, 00187 Rome, Italy Tel: 0039-06-67983906 Fax: 0039-06-69880118 d) Congregation for the Causes of the Saints Congregation for the Causes of the Saints matters connected with the beatification and canonization of Saints Prefect: ……………… His Eminence Angelo Amato Address: Palazzodella Congregazione 10 Piazza Pio XII, 00193 Roma Italy Tel: 0039-06-69884247 Fax: 0039-06-69881935 e) Congregation for the Clergy Promotion of the spiritual, pastoral and intellectual renewal of the clergy Prefect: ……………… His Grace Archbishop Beniamino Stella Address: Palazzo della Congregazione Piazza Pio XII, 00193 Roma, Italy Tel: 0039-06-69884151 Fax: 0039-06-69884548 f) Congregation for the Institutes of Cons. Life & Societies of Ap. Life Congregation for the Institutes of Cons. Life & Societies of Ap. Life to promote and supervise the practice of the Evangelical Counsels as they are lived in approved forms of Cons. Life as well as the works of the Societies of Ap.