On February 8, 2025, Pope Francis appointed Fr. Bernard Laloo the Auxiliary Bishop of the Shillong Archdiocese in the Northeastern Indian State of Meghalaya.
He is the clergy of the Archdiocese of Shillong, currently the Chancellor of the Archdiocese.
The 49-year-old Laloo was born on June 16, 1976, at Laitlyngkot, Meghalaya, and was ordained a priest on April 30, 2006, for the Archdiocese of Shillong.
He served the Archdiocese as Assistant of St. Paul’s Church, Upper Shillong (2006-2007), Administrator of Christ the King College, Shillong (2008), Dean of Studies at St. Paul’s Seminary, Shillong (2009-2015), Principal of Divine Saviour Higher Secondary School, Laitumkhrah (2015-2016), Director of Social Service Center, Shillong (2017-2021), and Board member of Caritas India (2021-2024).
And from 2022 to date, he was Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Shillong and Parish Priest of the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Laitumkhrah; he was a former member of the Farmers’ Commission, as well as of the State Tuberculosis Co-morbidity Coordination Committee, Government of Meghalaya.
He has a bachelor’s degree in education and a Master of Arts in sociology; he also has a postgraduate diploma in counseling psychology.
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations and prayers for his new role,” said Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. “May God bless him with wisdom, strength, and guidance as he embarks on this important journey of service to the Church and its faithful.”
The Pope also appointed Fr. D. Selvarajan as Coadjutor Bishop of Neyyattinkara.
Since 2011, he has been the Judicial Vicar of Neyyattinkara, Kerala, and since 2019, he has been the Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier in Thirupuram.
He was born on January 27, 1962, in Valiyavila. He studied philosophy and theology at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary in Alwaye and earned a license and doctorate in canon law at the Université Catholique de Louvain. He was ordained a priest on December 23, 1987, for the Archdiocese of Trivandrum of the Latins.
After his ordination, he held the following positions: Parish Priest of St. Albert in Muthiyavila (1988-1994); Director of Catechesis in the Archdiocese of Trivandrum of the Latins (1991-1995); Parish Priest of St. Jude in Chinnathurai (1994-1995); Parish Priest of St. Theresa in Manikkapuram (1995); Defender of the Bond at the Tribunal of Trivandrum and Director of Pastoral Care (2001-2003); Parish Priest of St. Paul in Maranelloor and Director of Schools (2001-2008); Defender of the Bond at the Tribunal of Neyyattinkara (2001-2011); Member of the College of Consultors and the Diocesan Council for Economic Affairs (since 2007); Chancellor and Parish Priest of Immaculate Conception Cathedral (2008-2014); Parish Priest of Sacred Heart and Director of the Logos Pastoral Centre (2014-2019).
The diocese of Neyyattinkara was erected on June 14, 1996, bifurcated from the Archdiocese of Trivandrum. Bishop Vincent Samuel is the first bishop of the diocese. The diocese consists of two taluks, Neyyattinkara and Nedumangad. The diocese has a Catholic population of 132,650, 65 parishes, and 135 diocesan priests. - Stephen Alathar
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