By Fr Felix Anthony –
Dibrugarh: Most Rev. Albert Hemrom became the youngest Bishop of North East India with his Episcopal Ordination as the Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Dibrugarh, Assam amidst huge gathering of people at the Bishop’s House, Dibrugarh on 24 February.
The 49-year old, Most Rev. Albert Hemrom was ordained Bishop by Archbishop Emeritus Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati. He was joined by 24 other Bishops, including Archbishops from North East India and different parts of the country. Monsignor Mitja Leskovar, the First Counsellor to the Apostolic Nunciature India and Nepal, was also present along with more than 2000 women religious from across North East India.
The young Bishop Albert Hemrom was born on February 27, 1969 in a remote Konapathar village in Pengaree of Tinsukia district to Cyril Hemrom and Josephine Purty. He is the eldest son of the six children. He has two brothers and three sisters. He had his early schooling in Assamese Medium Primary School, Konapathar and later he continued his schooling in Don Bosco School, Doom Dooma. He joined St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dibrugarh and completed his matriculation in 1987 from Nongkseh High School, Upper Shillong. He completed his PU studies in the year 1989 from St. Anthonys College, Shillong.
At the tender age of 14, he opted for the vocation for priesthood and pursued his academic and ecclesiastical studies. He obtained degree in Philosophy and BA in 1993 from Christ King College, Shillong and Bachelors in Theology (B.Th) in 1999 from Oriens Theological College, Shillong. He was ordained a priest on April 25, 1999 at Philobari.
Concelebrants at the Episcopal Ordination included about 400 priests, including the religious clergy, classmates of the new Bishop and other invited and visiting priests and around 35,000 people from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and rest of the north east region.
The consecration ceremony was followed by a public felicitation of the newly ordained Coadjutor Bishop. Local religious heads from different faiths, church leaders of different Christian denominations, civic representatives, prominent citizens of the town and leaders from various political and non-political organisations were present for the felicitation function.
The appointment of Rev. Albert Hemrom as the Coadjutor Bishop of Dibrugarh Diocese by Pope Francis was made public on Sunday 2 December 2018. As a Priest of the Dibrugarh, He served the Diocese as assistant parish priest, Rajabari (1999-2001), Prefect of Studies at St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Dibrugarh (2003-2006), Parish Priest, Rajabari, and Visiting Professor at Oriens Theological College, Shillong (2006-2011). From 2011 to 2013, he studied at the Lateran University in Rome. Since 2014 he is the Judicial Vicar of the Diocesan Tribunal. At the time of his appointment was working as the Rector of St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Dibrugarh.
As Coadjutor Bishop, Bishop Hemrom will assist the present Salesian Bishop of Dibrugarh, Most Rev. Joshop Aind and will automatically succeed him as the Bishop of Dibrugarh upon the retirement of Bishop Aind.