Tura, July 5: Bishop Emeritus George Mamalassery, a dedicated servant of the Catholic Church, passed away on July 5, 2024, at the age of 92, in Holy Cross Hospital, Tura.
Bishop George Mamalassery’s life and work were marked by dedication and service to the Roman Catholic Church and the community in Tura, where he served as the first bishop for 28 years (1979-2007).
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma mourned the passing of Bishop George Mamalassery. “His selfless dedication to the Lord’s work and his commitment to serving humanity will never be forgotten. May his legacy continue to inspire us all,”he said in a social media post.
He extended heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and the entire Christian community in Meghalaya and beyond.
Born in Kerala in 1932, Bishop George Mamalassery lost his parents at a young age. Despite many challenges, he pursued his calling to serve the Church, completing his seminary studies and being ordained as a priest on April 24, 1960.
Driven by a strong desire to serve, he volunteered to work in the remote and challenging Garo Hills region of Meghalaya. There, he dedicated himself to improving the lives of the local people, providing support and shelter during times of conflict and hardship.
His tireless efforts and leadership skills were recognized when he was appointed as the first Bishop of Tura in 1979, at the age of 46. After serving as an assistant parish priest in Tura and Baghmara for a decade, he became the parish priest of Dalu in 1970.
During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, he provided shelter, food, and support to displaced people in his parish. On February 8, 1979, the Holy See appointed Father George Mamalassery, then 46, as the first Bishop of Tura, with his ordination following on March 18, 1979.
As bishop, he expanded 14 existing centers and established 23 new parishes, complete with churches, presbyteries, convents, dispensaries, hostels, and schools. He invited the Salesians and Jesuits to establish colleges in Tura and Williamnagar, respectively.
Bishop Mamalassery set up 34 dispensaries across Garo Hills’ five districts and founded the 150-bed Holy Cross Hospital in Tura in 1993. He established the Rino Simonetti School of Nursing in Tura and invited the Montfort Brothers to create the Montfort Centre for the Physically Challenged. He was also instrumental in establishing Bakdil, the diocesan social service center.
After retiring in 2007, Bishop George continued to serve the diocese from the Priest’s Home. The Government of Meghalaya honored him with the Pa Togan Sangma Award. He was conferred an honorary doctorate in 2019 by the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), for his contributions to education, healthcare, and socio-economic development.
