Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati chosen President of the Catholic Bishops’ Council of Northeast India

(28 Aug. 2006 ) : At a meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Council of Northeast region, which ended in Shillong on August 26, Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati was elected President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conuncil of Northeast India. The Council meeting had for its theme “Christian response to the pressing needs of Northeast India”, which included, education, health, peace and development. Archbishop Menamparampil takes up the leadership of the Council after Archbishop Joseph Mittathany of Imphal retired this month. The Catholic Church, which numbers about two million in Northeast India, runs 15 colleges, over 350 high schools, a large number of middle schools, several hospitals, dispensaries, and Women’s development centres and centres for the handicapped in the region. New initiatives are being launched, including those related to peace. Archbishop Menamparampil said that during the coming year, his Church would take up for serious reflections the theme - “Ethics in Public Life”. “Uprightness” in discharging public responsibility has become a greatly needed virtue in today’s society, he added. The Peace Centre he founded in Ambari (Guwahati) has contributed much to the cause of peace in the region.