Skip to content Skip to navigation

Archbishop Menamparampil moves a third time

Having retired on January 18, 2012 after being the bishop of Dibrugarh for 11 years and the Archbishop of Guwahati for 20 years, Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil takes up a new assignment on February 3 for a third time, this time as the Apostolic Administrator of Jowai.

The appointment made by Pope Francis was announced at Jowai 3rd February 2014 Monday 4.30 pm.

The diocese of Jowai in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya is a young and fast growing diocese, having been created on 28 January, 2006 with Bishop Vincent Kympat as its first bishop, whose premature death left everyone shocked.

Incidentally, it was archbishop Menamparampil who led the funeral services of Bishop Kympat two and a half years ago in August 2011.

The diocese has 81,242 Catholics, 28 priests, 40 sisters and 19 religious brothers.

Incidentally, it was archbishop Menamparampil who led the funeral services of the former Bishop Vincent Kympat of Jowai two and a half years ago in August 2011.

Asked about his response to the new appointment, Abp Menamparampil said, “it came to me as a surprise.”

Abp Meneamparampil raised his difficulties to ecclesiastical authorities adding the Latin dictum, "Non recuso laborem" (I will not shirk work).

The appointment came just when Abp Menamparampil and his team were most busy with a dialogue between the Karbis and the Rengma Nagas who came into conflict a few months ago.

“Dozens of villages were burnt, some 3,000 people had fled to refugee camps, and all negotiations had failed. Though gradually the Karbis began returning to their homes, the Rengma Nagas were more different. They are smaller in number, some 6,000 in all, among other communities,” says retired archbishop who engineered the peace initiative.

It was at this time that the Joint Peace Mission Team of Archbishop Thomas sought to offer their assistance.

A delegation of 15 of them went from Guwahati to visit the camps near Chokihola and Jongpha.

Other delegates came from Golaghat, Diphu and other places.

Some of the team members visited even the remoter villages.

The visiting ecumenical team which had grown in size by the time they reached the Rengma village of Jongpha sought to persuade the two groups to send their representatives to Guwahati for exploring ways of restoring normalcy in the area.

Hope for peace and reconciliation is rising in the Karbi Anglong District as the leaders of the two communities have agreed and are due visit Guwahati for the proposed meeting.

It is at this juncture that Abp Menamparampil receives his new appointment.

Over a period of 15 years during his tenure as archbishop of Guwahati, Abp Thomas and his Peace Team successfully led seven major peace initiatives — Bodo-Adivasi in 1996, Kuki-Paite in 1998, Dimasa-Hmar in 2003, Karbi-Kuki in 2003, Dimasa-Karbi in 2004, Bodo-Muslim at Udalguri in 2010 and Rabha-Garo in 2011.

In November last year, Abp Thomas was conferred an Honorary Doctorate from Universita’ Urbaniana in Rome for his outstanding contribution for promotion of cross cultural thought, and peace promotion in areas of ethnic conflict.

The June 2011 issue of a popular Italian magazine ‘Il Bollettino Salesiano’ published a four-page cover story on Abp Thomas entitled ‘A Bishop for Nobel Prize’ nominating the archbishop for the Nobel Peace Prize. The nomination recognized his continued commitment to have peace, reconciliation and stability in Northeast India, an area full of territorial and ethnic conflicts.

The indefatigable messenger of peace was awarded the Maschio Lifetime Achievement Award 1998 by the Maschio Memorial Foundation (MMF) in Mumbai.

Add new comment

Random Stories

Assam bandh meets partial response

28 Jun 2016 - 11:58am | AT News
Normal life in many parts of Assam remains completely paralyzed on Tuesday when an Ahom organization enforced a 12 hour bandh opposing the move to auction 12 oil fields. The bandh mainly disrupted...

Entrepreneurship for Innovation in Rural Areas

20 Nov 2013 - 4:16pm | CM Paul
The Entrepreneurship Development and Incubation Centre (EDIC) at Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) Guwahati organized a talk on “Opportunities and Technology Innovations in Rural Entrepreneurship,”...

Electioneering in Dima Hasao getting momentum

25 Mar 2011 - 1:36am | Anup Biswas
In order to ensure smooth and proper management and free fair, peaceful conduct of Assembly election from 16-Haflong (ST) Legislative Assembly Constituency is in full swing. Already detailed plan...

Janak Jhankar Narzary to attend GPC program

15 May 2013 - 7:44pm | Nava Thakuria
Eminent sculptor and Visva-Bharati professor  Janak Jhankar Narzary  will attend an interactive session with the media persons at Guwahati Press Club on Saturday (May 18). The...

Other Contents by Author

Guwahati:  The Delhi-based International Human Rights Council has announced an “Ambassador for Peace” Award for retired Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati. The Award will be conferred on 9th December 2019 in New Delhi in the presence of invitees from all over the country and abroad. One of the earlier recipients of the Award is the Dalai Lama among many other internationally known figures. International Human Rights Council is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, the organization gives voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable...
Guwahati: Salesian Cardinal Charles Maung Bo concluded his weeklong visit to the Northeast India on Wednesday, November 13, 2019,  after a concluding concelebrated Mass in Salesian Provincial House, Guwahati. Cardinal Bo, the President of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) and Archbishop of Yangon, made his first ever visit to the region,  known as the cradle of the Salesian missions in India.   Cardinal Bo was the main celebrant of the Eucharist and  annual Eucharistic procession which was attended by some 2,00,000 people from the region.  The Cardinal won the hearts of the faithful of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills with the Eucharistic...
Kolkata: Bengal Governor, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar, formally launched the 4th Edition of “Wisdom Speaks” - a trilingual multi- disciplinary-peer-reviewed journal – published by Indian National Forum of Art and Culture (INFAC), a premier non-profit working for the promotion and invigoration of Art and Culture in India since 2005 at the ICCR event in Kolkata, 16 November. First Lady, Smt Sudesh Dhankar, was also present at the cultural function attended by eminent dignitaries and personalities. The cultural program was organized by INFAC in collaboration with ICCR (Indian Council For Cultural Relations). On the occasion, uniquely crafted Durga icons by Kolkata- based Church Art was...
Guwahati:  A book entitled ‘Pregnancy and Pregnancy Care Practice – the lived experience of the Bodos’ authored by Assistant Professor at Department of Sociology Dr. Jacob Islary was officially launched today, 29th October 2019 by Vice Chancellor, Assam Don Bosco University Fr. (Dr.) Stephen Mavely, in the presence of a large gathering of faculty and students of the University. Introducing the book, the author Dr. Islary spoke of ‘his childhood observation of the phenomenon of pregnancy and pregnancy care practice among communities – social and community sanctions outside marriage and celebrations within marriage’ and later his thought on ‘how did communities in the past understand...
Sonada: The Women’s Cell of Salesian College Sonada along with Radio Journalists (RJ) of Radio Salesian organized a rally on 25th October 2019 to create awareness on the need of child support and prevention of human trafficking. The rally was lead by Assistant Professors Miss Nomu Sherpa accompanied by Miss Pinky Gupta, Miss Shreya Agrawal, Mr Manoresh Thapa and two RJ's of Radio Salesian RJ Smriti and RJ Rejina and students of Salesian College Sonada. Guest Faculty Miss Bernali Gupta was also part of the Organising Committee. The rally with some 150 plus students in college uniform and carrying placards on child support and prevention of human trafficking started at 12:30 pm from...
A Gorkha Youth Trust held first ever intellectual symposium entitled the Gorkha Youth Summit 2019 (GYS) in Darjeeling at Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan (G.D.N.S) Auditorium from 17 to 18 October. Various acclaimed youths and personalities of the Hills in the field of Education, Research, Environment, Art and Cinema, Music, Drama and Poetry, Literature, Sports, Politics, Journalism, Academics, Business and Social Field took part in the panel discussions and seminars over two days. The MBKS (Mukh Bandh Kaam Suru - stop chatter, start work) Trust designed the summit up on the foundation of the likes of the Literary Fests, Ted Talks, World Economic Forum, Oxford Union Debates &...
Shillong: A group of college students from northeast India spent their puja vacation learning leadership skills based on Biblical principles and Leadership Style of Jesus at Siloam wellness centre from 4th to 9th October 2019. Some 110 students from 18 Colleges/Universities in northeast India including students from Salesian College Siliguri and Sonada, North Bengal participated. Students from Manipur and Nagaland colleges could not participate at the popular annual event due to severe road conditions caused by landslides. Eighth in a series, the program christened Galilee Trail 2019 is a 6-day intensive group program in Christian leadership for college students that seek to...
 A city in school in Kolkata has become the first of a group of schools in eastern India to adopt the philosophy ‘Learn to Learn’ for its teachers, parents and students. The ‘Intellectual Meet to usher in the 21st Century teaching and learning methodology for students & parents’, was held at Our Lady Queen of the Missions School (QMS) – Salt Lake, Kolkata, on 7th September 2019. Eminent personalities and educationists from various states of East and North-East India participated in the day-long event. “Unlike other e-learning portals that provide content and courses, Edubrisk is a process oriented platform built using the latest technology and software bringing in a...
Guwahati: Speaking at the 8th annual Convocation of Assam Don Bosco University Guwahati, 7th September 2019, Governor of Assam Prof. Jagdish Mukhi said, “The government of India wants to establish the country as an ‘AI Garage.’ The Governor explained saying, “It means that if a company can deploy an AI technology in India, it will then be applicable for the whole developing world. AI research in India will focus on healthcare - increasing access and affordability of quality healthcare; agriculture - enhancing farmer’s income, farm productivity and reduction of wastage; education- improving access and quality of education; smart cities and infrastructure- efficient connectivity for the...
Kolkata: Mother Teresa’s country man His Excellency Nehat Emini Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Macedonia in New Delhi visited Mother Teresa’s tomb in Kolkata a day after her 22nd death anniversary on 6th September 2019. H.E. Emini was accompanied by H.E. Namit Bajoria, Honorary Consul of Macedonia in Kolkata an eminent entrepreneur and philanthropist who installed life size statue of Mother Teresa cast in bronze. It is installed at Archbishop’s House along with the life size bronze statue of St Pope John Paul II who stayed at the venue in February 1986. On arrival at the Mother House H.E. Emini was received by Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity Sister Mary Prema...