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Shillong, June 28:
Shillong Celebrates Thanksgiving Mass for Venerable Fr. Constantine Vendrame
News reported by: Michael Makri (INS)
The Archdiocese of Shillong, in collaboration with the Salesian Province of St. John Paul II, Shillong, celebrated a solemn Thanksgiving Mass at St. Dominic Savio Parish, Mawlai, to mark the declaration of Servant of God Fr. Constantine Vendrame, SDB, as Venerable, following the recent recognition of his heroic virtues by His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV.
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Archbishop Victor Lyngdoh of Shillong and concelebrated by Fr. Jeevan Lakra, SDB, Vice Provincial of the Salesian Province of Shillong, Fr. Bivan Mukhim, SDB, Vice Provincial of the Salesian Province of Guwahati, Fr. Barnes Mawrie, SDB, Vice Postulator for the Cause of Fr. Vendrame in the Salesian Province of India Shillong (INS), along with numerous Salesian and diocesan priests. The celebration was attended by religious, seminarians, and a large congregation of the faithful.
The declaration followed the decree promulgated on May 22, 2026, after Pope Leo XIV authorised the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to recognise the heroic virtues of Fr. Vendrame, the Italian-born Salesian missionary who devoted more than three decades of his priestly ministry to the people of North-East India.
In his homily, Archbishop Lyngdoh described Venerable Fr. Vendrame as a priest who kept God at the centre of his life and remained unwaveringly faithful to his vocation. He praised the missionary's humility, charity, and tireless proclamation of the Gospel, urging the faithful to imitate his example of holiness and to pray for his beatification and eventual canonisation.
Born in Italy in 1893, Fr. Vendrame joined the Salesians of Don Bosco with a missionary vocation. Ordained a priest in 1924, he arrived in Shillong on Christmas Eve of the same year and spent much of his missionary life serving in Shillong, Jowai, and Mawkhar. Widely known as the "Apostle of the Khasis" and later as the "Apostle of the Sacred Heart," he travelled on foot to remote villages, administering the sacraments, preaching the Gospel, and caring for the poor with exceptional dedication.
Among his lasting contributions was the establishment of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart at Mawlai, where his mortal remains now rest. His life of prayer, sacrifice, and compassionate service earned him admiration across communities, including people of other faiths, who regarded him as a holy man.
The liturgy was enriched by a musical tribute from the Choral Evangelists, who presented a hymn portraying the life and missionary journey of Venerable Fr. Vendrame. Fr. Barnes Mawrie concluded the celebration with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the Archbishop, clergy, religious, and the faithful for their participation.
The declaration of Fr. Constantine Vendrame as Venerable has been received with profound joy by the Archdiocese of Shillong, the Salesian Family, and the faithful across North-East India. It marks a significant milestone in the Church's recognition of a missionary whose life of heroic virtue and selfless service continues to inspire generations of believers.
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Publisher: Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Year of publication: 2026
Available from: 4 March 2026
Pages: 928 pp., Paperback
