Shillong Oct 23: Around 16 Bishops, and over 250 priests will participate in the Requiem Mass where thousands of people would join in praying and paying their final tributes to Archbishop Dominic Jala as part of the funeral service at the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Laitumkhrah on Wednesday.

The Archbishop of Guwahati who is also the President of North East India Bishop Conference, Most Rev John Moolachira will be the main celebrant.

Sisters, Brothers and other religious leaders will also join the funeral service.

The service will commence at 1 pm after allowing people to have the last glimpse of the casket of the Archbishop till 12 noon.

People could not see the face of the Archbishop because the casket was closed on Monday based on medical advice, especially because it is not a glass casket.

The body was kept inside the same casket which was brought along with the mortal remains from USA.

Dignitaries who will attend the funeral service include Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, ministers, Leader of Opposition, Dr Mukul Sangma, Shillong MP Vincent H Pala, Rajya Sabha MPs, Wansuk Syiem, and K J Alphons, MLAs and others.

Police have also made traffic arrangements for vehicles that ferry people from various places to attend the funeral of the Archbishop.

Three big screens have been installed in and around the Cathedral premises so that people can see and join the Requiem Mass which will be conducted inside the Cathedral.

Archbishop Jala will be buried in a grave close to the Cathedral Church, not inside it. It was the wish of Jala that he should not be buried inside the Cathedral Church, though Archbishops/Bishops are buried inside the Church as per conventions.

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

Father Mathew Vellankal died with the Archbishop after a Toyota Prius they were travelling in was hit by a tractor-trailer truck.

Fr Joseph Parekkatt who looks after St. Anne Parish in Walnut Creek, was injured. He is now recovering in hospital.

The mortal remains of the Archbishop reached New Delhi on Sunday morning and from there it was taken to Guwahati and then to Shillong.

The Achbishop had left Shillong for Rome on September 17 for the Ad Limina (meeting of Bishops/Archbishops from different Dioceses with the Pope once in five years).

Later he went to USA for a meeting of the International Commission for English Liturgy (ICEL) and to meet some of his priest friends.

Some of memorable events that the Archbishop had taken part before leaving from Shillong for Rome were his visit to Rasong village.

The Archbishop walked on foot to Rasong village on March 24, 2019 for blessing the newly built Church there. It took about 1.5 hours to reach Rasong on foot from Laitlum, and it took more time while returning as one has to climb up the steep path.

To reach Rasong, one has to pass through Laitlum village, the famous tourist spot in East Khasi Hills district.

Archbishop Jala was fond of walking.

Another memorable moment that the Archbishop had before leaving for Rome, was the final Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians on September 2.

Parish Priest of Cathedral Parish, Fr Pascal Lyngdoh said that the Archbishop celebrated his final Mass in the presence of other Archbishops and Bishops from the North East on the occasion of 25th death anniversary of late Archbishop Most Rev. Hubert Rosario. It was also an annual meet of the North East India Bishop Conference.