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Dominic Jala_File Photo
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 12
The Archbishop of Shillong, Dominic Jala, and a Roman Catholic priest from Kerala, who was working in the US, were killed in a car accident in California on Thursday (local time). A third Indian priest, Father Joseph Parekkatt, was injured in the accident.
Jala and Father Mathew Vellankal were travelling to Clearlake in California when the Toyota Prius car they were in collided with a semi-truck in Colussa County, The Week reported.
Both were in the driver and front seats. It is yet unclear who was driving the ill-fated car, it said, citing a Facebook message by the California Highway Patrol.
According to the report, Jala (68), was born in Meghalaya and had been appointed as the Archbishop of Shillong on December 22, 1999, and ordained as Archbishop on April 4, 2000.
Jala had gone to the US to attend a meeting on English liturgy in New York.
Father Vellankal was the pastor of the St Isidore Parish in California since 2016. Vellankal was a native of Kerala and had been ordained a priest in 1987.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled Pala’s demise and said that he will be remembered for his passion towards Meghalaya's progress.
“Anguished by the passing away of Most Rev. Dominic Jala, the Archbishop of Shillong. He will be remembered for his impeccable service to society and passion towards Meghalaya’s progress. May his soul rest in peace,” the Prime Minister's Office tweeted quoting Modi.
