By Fr Tom Mangattuthazhe –
Shillong: Most Rev. Victor Lyngdoh was installed as the Archbishop of Shillong Archdiocese on 6th February at Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, in the North Eastern state of Meghalaya.
Pope Francis appointed Most Rev. Victor Lyngdoh on 28th December, 2020.
Archbishop Victor Lyngdoh was born on 14 January 1956, at Wahlang Village, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya.
The installation ceremony was conducted by Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati Archdiocese in the presence of Archbishop Dominic Lumon of Imphal, Archbishop Thomas Menamparmpil, Archbishop Emeritus of Guwahati, Bishop John Thomas of Itanagar Diocese, Bishop Stephen Rotluanga of Aizawl Diocese, Bishop Albert Hemrom of Dibrugarh Diocese, Bishop C J Jose the auxiliary bishop of Tura Diocese and several priests, religious and faithful from different parts of North-East India.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, cabinet ministers, besides several MLAs and government officials also attended the ceremony.
Archbishop John Moolachira in his homily on the occasion recalled the beautiful image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. “On this solemn day of the installation of the new archbishop for the archdiocese of Shillong, we are invited to think about Jesus as the Good Shepherd who is willing to give up his life for each one of us. His life and death teach us to give ourselves, without counting the cost, for our families, friends, church and community. Archbishop Victor now is the chief shepherd of the people of the Shillong archdiocese; he is called to be like the master who called him. His mission is that of Jesus: one of love and service. The bishopric is not an office of honour and glory, power or position, but one of humble service, of being available and approachable. I am glad that God has blessed Archbishop Victor with such qualities.”
Archbishop John continued, “The criteria Jesus followed in selecting Peter as the head of the apostles and as the foundational rock of his church was his love for Jesus. Jesus loved His disciples and they in turn loved and respected him”. St. Thomas was willing to go and die with Jesus, St John the evangelist could easily recognize the vibrations of Jesus presence even when others failed to recognize him.
During the ceremony, the new Archbishop Victor recalled the grace of God. “I thank God the almighty for all His graces and blessings that He has showered on me and on all of us who have come here today. God has chosen me to be the shepherd of Shillong Archdiocese, I will try my best to journey together with you to love God more deeply and to love you all”.
Quoting Fratelli Tuttti, Archbishop Victor continued, “life exists where there is bonding, communion, fraternity and life is stronger than death when it is built on true friendships and bonds of fidelity”. We are all invited to build a better community by having a spirit of unity and communion with each other.
The installation ceremony was followed by the Holy Eucharistic celebration by Archbishop Victor and a felicitation programme led by Fr John Mdur. Felicitation messages were given by Mr J A Lyngdoh the president of the Catholic Association of Shillong Archdiocese, Archbishop Dominic Lumon, Mr.Conrad Sangma the Chief Minister of Meghalaya and Fr. Thomas Manjaly.
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it” (Ps 118:24) recalled Fr Thomas Manjaly speaking on behalf of the priests and religious of the Archdiocese of Shillong. “What has grown into what you are today is an affirmation of what Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said at the inauguration of his Petrine ministry in 2005: “We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary.” These words echo those of Yahweh to Jeremiah (Jer 1:5) ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you came to birth, I consecrated you. I have appointed you ’.
Fr Thomas continued, “You were very prompt to recognize and accept God’s claim on you. You followed in your life what is most fundamental for a Christian, a priest and a bishop because, ‘There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the encounter with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him.’
Archbishop Victor has the unique privilege who shepherded the three dioceses in Khasi-Jaintia hills– nurturing one to adolescence, another into adulthood and now guiding the destiny of the Archdiocese, the Mother of the Catholic Church in NE India and its premier Archdiocese. In so doing, he is following the footsteps of zealous pioneer missionaries like Fr. Otto Hopfenmueller, Fr. Christopher Becker, and dedicated outstanding shepherds like Archbishop Louis Mathias, Venerable Archbishop Stephen Ferrando, Archbishops Hubert D’Rosario, Tarcisius Resto Phanrang and Dominic Jala. They have left behind a rich legacy of strong pastoral traditions, a vibrant and highly motivated community of faith, but above all, a team of enthusiastic and committed Pastoral leaders.
The Archdiocese of Shillong has an array of committed priests and religious with a varied and wide spectrum of charisms and ministries, 65 diocesan priests, 125 religious priests, 40 religious brothers, and 550 religious women.
The presence of numerous formation houses with hundreds of inmates and well-qualified and committed formation personnel dotting the ecclesiastical landscape of the Archdiocese is unique in the region and even the country. Their prayers, love, faith and hope, and above all their shared concern for the common good accompanies Archbishop Victor.