Shillong Oct 18: The Archdiocese of Shillong on Friday informed that only ten vehicles from the Archdiocese will be allowed into the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport, Guwahati when the mortal remains of Archbishop Dominic Jala will arrive on Sunday at 2.45 pm.

“The Archdiocese of Shillong has made arrangements for the faithful who wish to pay respect to the mortal remains of late Archbishop Dominic Jala on its journey from the LGBI Airport to Mawlai Parish, Shillong,” Fr. Pius Shadap, Coordinator Funeral Committee, Shillong Archdiocese said in a statement.

Only ten vehicles from the Diocese will be allowed into the Airport and the remaining vehicles have been requested to adhere to certain directions.

“For the faithful from Byrnihat Parish, it is requested that they assemble at Jorabat and accompany the cortege to Byrnihat Parish. For the faithful from Nongpoh Parish, they will assemble at Byrnihat Parish and accompany the cortege to Nongpoh Parish. For the faithful of Umsning Parish, they will assemble at Nongpoh Parish and accompany the cortege to Umsning Parish,” Fr Pius said.

The faithful of Mawlai Parish will assemble at Umïam and accompany the cortege to St. Dominic Savio Church Mawlai Parish.

On reaching Mawlai Mawïong, the cortege will take the Mawlai bypass route and Catholic faithfuls and others will stand on the road to pay their respect to the Archbishop at Umjaraiñ, Mawkynroh, Umshing, Kynton Massar, Mawdatbaki, Stand Bus and Phudmuri.

The faithfuls will hold lighted candles, besides flags, flexes and posters as a mark of respect to the Archbishop, besides praying and singing hyms of praise as they stand on the road to have a glimpse of the mortal remains of the Archbishop.

The funeral will take place on Wednesday, October 23 at the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Laitumkhrah, Shillong at 1 pm.

On reaching the LGBI airport, the mortal remains of the Archbishop will be first taken to the Don Bosco Provincial House, and a Requiem Mass will be conducted at St. Joseph’s Co-Cathedral, Guwahati, at 4.00 pm or as soon as the mortal remains arrives.

The Provincial of Guwahati has urged confreres and friends to join the Requiem Mass and pay due respects to the Archbishop before taking his mortal remains to Shillong. Archbishop Jala was earlier the Provincial of Don Bosco Guwahati.

The mortal remains of the Archbishop will be kept in his parental home at Mawlai Phudmuri for the night.

From October 21 till the funeral on October 23, the mortal remains will be kept in the Cathedral Church for the faithful and others to pay their homage.

The Archbishop will be buried in a grave close to the Cathedral. It was the wish of the Archbishop that he should be buried in a grave outside the Cathedral.

The Archbishop died in a car accident along with Fr Mathew Vellankal at Colusa County, Oakland in California, USA on October 10 at around 2.20pm (October 11 morning in India).

A Toyota Prius where Fr Mathew, Archbishop Jala and Fr Joseph Parekkatt were travelling in was hit by a tractor-trailer truck on the California Route 20 near Wilbur Springs.

Fr Joseph who looks after St. Anne Parish in Walnut Creek, was injured.

Meanwhile the Diocese of Oakland, California in USA has also announced the funeral arrangements for Fr Mathew Vellankal which will begin with the Holy Mass on October 20, 7pm at the Holy Spirit Parish, 37588 Fremont Blvd, Fremont.

The Mass of Christian Burial at St. Bonaventure, 5562 Clayton Road, Concord 94521-4158 will be celebrated on Monday, October 21 at 10:30 am.

However, the burial will be in India.