ASIA/INDIA - Reverend Andrew Marak appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Tura

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II has, 3 June 2004, appointed Coadjutor Bishop of the diocese of Tura (India) Reverend Andrew Marak, parish priest of St. Teresa’s parish in Dadengre.
The Bishop elect was born on 5 February 1950 at Chimagre, Norgwalbibra, in Garo Hills, Meghalaya state (then archdiocese) of Shillong, now diocese of Tura. He studied in India and then pastoral theology in the Philippines. He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Tura,10 February 1982. He has since been: assistant priest, parish priest, Vicar General, Defender of the marriage bond and Promoter of Justice at the Marriage Court, member of the college of Consultors, diocesan delegate for formation of catechists, diocesan co-ordinator of Basic Church Communities, editor diocesan monthly publication "Sengbaa".
The diocese of Tura, created in 1973 with territory taken from the archdiocese of Shillong of which it is suffragan with the dioceses of Agartala and Aizawl, is situated in the hills of the mountainous western part of Meghalaya state, north-east India. It has an area of 8,500 sq. km, a population of 791,502 including 189,029 Catholics, 30 parishes, cared for by 71 priests (40 diocesan and 31 religious), 163 women religious and there are 17 major seminarians. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 17/6/2004; Righe 15; Parole 191)