Bangalore 15 October 2016: Pope Francis has appointed His Grace Most Rev. Dominic Jala, S.D.B., Archbishop of Shillong, as Apostolic Administrator “sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis” of the Diocese of Nongstoin. This ecclesiastical provision was made public in Rome on Saturday 15 October 2016, at noon local time, corresponding to 15:30 hours, Indian Standard Time. The Diocese of Nongstoin was created by Pope Benedict XVI on 28 January 2006. The Apostolic Nuncio to India, Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, has ordained Bishop Victor Lyngdoh on 2 April 2006 and installed him as the first Bishop of Nongstoin Diocese on 4 April 2006.
Salesian Archbishop Dominic Jala was born on 12 July 1951 in Mawlai in Shillong Diocese. He was ordained a priest on 19 November 1977 in the congregation of Salesians of John Bosco (S.D.B.). He was appointed Archbishop of Shillong on 22 December 1999 and was ordained on 2 April 2000. Before becoming a prelate Archbishop Jala was the provincial of the Salesian congregation in Guwahati. He is presently the Chairman of the Liturgy Commission of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.