Bishop Albert Hemrom Releases Assamese Missal at “Pilgrims of Hope” Pastoral Conference

Guwahati, September 3, 2025 — The Northeast India Regional Pastoral Conference 2025, themed “Pilgrims of Hope,” witnessed Bishop Albert Hemrom of the Diocese of Dibrugarh making significant strides in connecting with the people of Assam by releasing an Assamese Missal on September 2. Announced on the second day of the conference, this initiative addresses the critical need for the local language in the region's Catholic liturgy, aligning closely with the theme of hope.

The Communications Chairman highlighted that the Catholic Church in the region has been lacking resources in local languages, which are essential for meaningfully reaching the faithful. The Assamese Missal, initially prepared by other priests, was carefully edited and refined in consultation with several Assamese professors, under the leadership of Fr. Timothy Saldanha.

To further promote the use of Assamese in worship, Bishop Hemrom has introduced liturgy in Assamese to be celebrated twice a month. He encouraged all priests serving in Assam to embrace this initiative and incorporate the missal into their liturgical practices, reinforcing the theme of being “pilgrims of hope” in their journey of faith.

To make the initiative more accessible, the bishop is offering the missal at a subsidised price of Rs 500 during the Pastoral Conference, compared to its regular price of Rs. 900.

Dibrugarh is the second Catholic diocese established in the region, officially erected in 1951 after separating from the Diocese of Shillong. Bishop Hemrom holds the distinction of being the first local diocesan priest elevated to the episcopacy and is the sixth bishop in succession within the diocese. In addition to Dibrugarh, the state of Assam is served by the Dioceses of Tezpur, Diphu, and Bongaigaon, as well as the Archdiocese of Guwahati.

During the release event, Bishop Hemrom invited NEIRBC President Archbishop John Moolachira to present the first copy of the Assamese Missal to Emeritus Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati, who notably served as the Bishop of Dibrugarh before his elevation. The second copy was presented to Bishop Thomas Pullopillil of Bongaigaon, and a copy was later given to Archbishop Moolachira.

This initiative embodies Bishop Hemrom’s commitment to fostering an inclusive worship experience that resonates with the linguistic and cultural identity of the Assamese people, truly reflecting the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope.”

By NESCOM

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