Pope Francis appoints Fr. Ferdinand Dkhar as Bishop of Jowai

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 8, 2023

The Administrator of Jowai Diocese, Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Dkhar, has been appointed as the new Bishop of Jowai.

Archbishop of Shillong, Most Rev. Victor Lyngdoh, in a letter to all Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and the faithful of the Archdiocese of Shillong informed that Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Ferdinand Dkhar as the Bishop of Jowai Diocese. The announcement was made public in Rome on Saturday.

Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara Deputy Secretary General, CCBI informed that Father Ferdinand (59 years old) was born on February 26, 1962, in Iongkaluh village in East Jaintia Hills, under the Diocese of Jowai. He attended the minor seminary in Upper Shillong, Meghalaya, and studied Philosophy at Christ King College and Theology at Oriens Theological College in the Archdiocese of Shillong. He was ordained a priest on January 23, 1994, for the Diocese of Jowai.

Fr. Ferdinand Dkhar has served in various positions, including dean of studies at the minor seminary of Shillong (1994-1995), assistant parish priest of the Annunciation Church in Namdong (1995-2000), assistant parish priest (2000-2002), and later parish priest (2002-2007) of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Ummulong. He also served as parish priest of the Annunciation Church and principal of a high school in Namdong (2007-2009) and as Procurator of the Diocese of Jowai (2009-2021). Since 2021, he has been the diocesan administrator of Jowai.

The Diocese of Jowai became vacant when Bishop Victor Lyngdoh was appointed as the Archbishop of Shillong on December 28, 2020. Fr. Ferdinand Dkhar will be the third bishop of the diocese, following Bishop Vincent Kympat (2006-2011) and Bishop Victor Lyngdoh (2011-2020).

The Jowai diocese was established in 2006, separating from the Archdiocese of Shillong. It is located in the Jaiñtia Hills region, east of Khasi Hills, north of Bangladesh, west of North Cachar Hills, and south of Karbi Anglong in Meghalaya. It is situated 64 kilometers away from Shillong.

The diocese has a Catholic population of 120,275, with 23 parishes, 30 diocesan priests, 41 religious priests, 83 religious sisters, and 313 educational institutions.