The Episcopal ordination of the new Coadjutor Bishop Albert Hemrom of the Catholic Diocese of Dibrugarh on Sunday was conducted at the Bishops House ground here amid a stunning assembly of laity and clergy.
Apart from the mammoth gathering, the ceremony lasting over three-hours provided a rare spectacle of congregation of some twenty four Bishops including Archbishops, about four hundred Priests and nearly thousand nuns from across the country.
In 2006, Fr. Albert was appointed as the Parish Priest of Rajabari and the Principal of St. Francis of Assisi School, Rajabari in Jorhat district. In 2011 he was sent to Pontifical Lateran University in Rome to obtain Doctorate in Canon Law. After securing his Ph. D in Canon Law in 2013, he was appointed as the Rector of St Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Dibrugarh. He is still serving as one of the guest lecturers in Oriens Theological College, Shillong.
Fr. Hemrom will be the Coadjutor Bishop till the retirement of Bishop Joseph Aind on November 6, 2020. Thereafter he will take over the administration of the Diocese as the Bishop of Dibrugarh. He will be the sixth Bishop of the Diocese.
Speaking on the occasion, Fr. Hemrom said that he will work for the development of the society and people. “A huge responsibility was given to my shoulder and I am committed to work for the welfare of the society and the people. I am happy to see the people who have gathered for me here,” said Fr. Hemrom.
Archbishop Emeritus of Guwahati Thomas Menamparampil, the principal ordaining prelate led the consecration ceremony.
Archbishop of Guwahati John Moolachira and Bishop Joseph Aind of Dibrugarh were the other Co-consecrators while the other Bishops and Priests took part as concelebrants. A Vatican representative Monsignor Mitja Leskovar, the first Councillor of Apostolic Nunciature in Delhi was also present.
As part of the consecration ritual, the principal consecrator handed over the Bishops ring, a skull cap, a mitre and a staff to the new Bishop. The new Bishop was then led to the Bishops chair amid cheers and applause from the congregation.
It may be recalled that Pope Francis had announced the name of the Coadjutor Bishop of Dibrugarh Diocese on December 2, 2018. The appointment letter from Pope Francis was read out before the public at the start of the consecration ceremony.
Archbishop Dominic Lumon of Imphal, Bishop Lumen Monteiro of Agartala, Bishop Stephen Rotluanga of Aizawl, Bishop Thomas Pullopillil of Bongaigaon, Bishop Paul Mattekatt of Diphu, Bishop John Thomas Kattrukudiyil of Itanagar, Bishop Victor Lyngdoh of Jowai, Bishop James Thoppil of Kohima, Bishop George Palliparambil of Miao, Bishop Michael Akasius Toppo of Tezpur, Bishop Andrew Marak of Tura and Bishop Dennis Panipitchai, Auxiliary Bishop of Miao from the North East India were present in the consecration ceremony.
Archbishop Felix Toppo of Ranchi, Archbishop William DSouza of Patna, Bishop Paul Lakra of Gumla, Bishop Binay Kanduna of Khunti, Bishop Anand Jojo of Hazaribagh, Bishop Clement Tirkey of Jalpaiguri, Bishop Vincent Aind of Bagdogra, Bishop Emeritus Gabriel Kujur of Daltonganj were the other Archbishops and Bishops present on the occasion.
Bishop designate Fr. 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 2 brothers and 3 sisters.
He had his early schooling in Assamese Medium Primary School, Konapathar and later he continued his schooling in Don Bosco School, Doom Dooma. At the tender age of fourteen, he opted for the vocation for priesthood and pursued his academic and ecclesiastical studies. He joined St. Joseph’s Minor 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. Anthony’s College, Shillong. He obtained graduate degree in Philosophy and BA from Christ King College, Shillong in 1993 and Bachelors in Theology (B.Th) from Oriens Theological College, Shillong in 1999.
He was ordained a Priest on April 25, 1999 at Philobari.
Dibrugarh MP Rameshwar Teli, Duliajan MLA Teros Gowala were present during the ceremony.