Fr. James Thoppil ordained Bishop of Kohima

(September 09, 2011) India’s northeast state of Nagaland received its new bishop on Thursday when Fr. James Thoppil was ordained Bishop of Kohima by the Apostolic Nuncio to India, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio. Thousands of people from within and outside the state attended a colourful Mass and a felicitation ceremony in the state capital Kohima. Notable members present for the function were Nagaland Chief Minister of Neiphiu Rio, former Chief Minister of Nagaland and Former Governor of Goa and Maharashtra, S.C. Jamir, four archbishops, fifteen bishops and several other civic and Church leaders. In his address to the congregation, the new bishop touched upon his Episcopal motto and promised to do everything for the Gospel so that society is permeated with God’s values and is transformed into God’s kingdom day by day. Addressing the large public gathering in the lawn of the magnificent Catholic Cathedral, the Chief Minister of Nagaland acknowledged the contribution of Catholic Church to the state in the areas of education, healthcare and social development, and assured his support and cooperation in the various activities of the Church in Nagaland. The new bishop James Thoppil told the dignitaries said that even though Church and state are different entities in their nature, scope and function, they share a common task of being at the service of the people of Nagaland. The Diocese of Kohima comprises the state of Nagaland and has some 58,000 Catholic population with hundreds of priests and nuns rendering a variety of services.