Guwahati/Shillong: Thousands of people had gathered at the state funeral which was accorded to Archbishop Dominic Jala, at the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christian, Laitumkhrah, Shillong at around 1 pm yesterday, the 23rd of October, 2019. The church officials had appealed to the faithful to walk to the cathedral instead of traveling in vehicles.
His mortal remains arrived at Shillong on Sunday. The remains were received by the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and the members of the General Assembly. Expressing the awe of crowd gathered at the airport, the CM exclaimed, ” It is overwhelming to see the love and support given by everyone present which shows the impact he has made in everyone’s lives.” Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati, who is also the President of Northeast India a regional Bishops Council, led the requiem mass at the Salesian Provincial House, Guwahati.
Archbishop Jala, 68, died in a car accident in California on October 11 (October 10 local time), along with Rev. Fr. Mathew Vellankal at Colusa County, Oakland in California. A Toyota Prius in which the two, was accompanied by Rev. Fr. Joseph Parekatt was hot by a tractor-trailer near Wilbur Springs. Rev. Fr. Parekatt has sustained severe injuries while the former two succumbed to their injuries.
