Bangalore 11 November, 2022 (CCBI): Most Rev. Alphonse Bilung, SVD (89), Bishop Emeritus of Rourkela Diocese in Odisha, passed away on Friday 11 November 2022 at 9.45pm at Catholic Mission hospital, Nuagaon, Rourkela. 30 years he was the Bishop of Rourkela. Funeral was conducted on 15 November 2011 at St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Church, Kesramal, Rourkela.
He was born on 05.06.1933 to Late Mr. Paulus Bilung and Mrs. Paulina Bilung at Dandjamura village, of Kusumdegi Parish of the diocese Rourkela in the state of odisha. He had 4 elder brothers and 1 younger sister. His parents being devout catholic brought up the children in good catholic faith. He began his schooling at Mission Primary school Kusumdegi and did his high school studies at Hamirpur boys’ High School which was started by the missionaries.
After completing Hisgh school studies he joined SVD Seminary at Palda, Indore in 1951. It was around this time that the Indian Government was planning to debar foreign missionaries from entering the country. With this in mind the Society hurried up to promote local vocation to priest-hood. He did his intermediate studeies as well as Parichay Studies in Hindi at Palda from 1952 -1953.
He did his novitiate at Palda in 1954- 56 and then made his first profession in 1956. From 1956-58 he did his philosophical studies and from 1958-62 did his theological studies at Jnana Deepa Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Pune. He made his Final Profession in 1961 and was ordained a priest on 03.10.1961 at Pune.
After his pastoral course he was appointed to Sambalpur Mission in December 1961. He served this mission in different capacities. He was the Assistant Priest at Kesramal from 1962 -1964. He was Hostel Superintend at Gaibira from 1964-1965. He was re-appointed at Kesramal from 1966-70 as In-charge of the school and simultaneously he was appointed as the In charge of the Elementary Teachers’ Training School.
Later in 1970 he went Rome for his Nemi Course and completed M.Th in Louvain University, Belgium from 1970-1972 . He was appointed as the Rector of SVD Community and Secretary of the New Odisha High School Gaibira in 1972. It was during this time, Most Rev. Hermann Westermann, SVD, the then Bishop of Sambalpur, along with Late Fr. Liam Horsfall, SVD, the then Regional Superior asked him to be the Vicar General of the Diocese Sambalpur. To this invitation he said, “I am ready to accept this post, but give me a small parish. I want to be a pastor and serve the people.” Therefore, he was appointed as the Parish Priest of the Catholic Church Hamirpur in 1972 as well as the Vicar General of the Diocese.
In 1974, Most Rev. Raphael Cheennath, SVD succeeded Bp. Westermann, as the bishop of Sambalpur Diocese. Once again he was appointed as the Vicar General of Sambalpur Diocese.
After a year in 1975, he was appointed as the Regional Superior of Sambalpur Region of the SVD at Jharsuguda. He was appointed one of the General Consulters for the Generalate at Rome in 1977. While there in Rome, in 1979, Rourkela Diocese was carved out from Sambalpur Diocese, and he was appointed as the first Bishop of Rourkela Diocese. His Episcopal Ordination was on 3 November 1979. Since then he served the diocese of Rourkela as a Good Shepherd for 30 long years.
During these 30 years he worked tirelessly for the faith formation, proclamation, evangelization, education, health care, vocation and socio-economic development as a whole in the Diocese. It was the time to establish and extend the integral life of the people as a Bishop in the new Diocese. He left no stone unturned in the mission work. Due to his hard work and zeal for the soul, the Christian population grew day by day. The number of priests and the Religious Vocation also grew. For the growth and faith formation of the people, many parishes were established in the rural as well as in the urban areas and many Religious Congregations were invited to work in the Diocese. In the field of education his achievements and contribution will be remembered for the generations to come.
As a shepherd of the Diocese he had love, compassion, care, dedication and loving approach in the pastoral life. He knew his faithful by name. He knew the life of the people and timely reached out his hands for help. He worked cordially with the Government officials. Due to his cordial approach he was able to do all the official work personally.
After the retirement he was staying in Catholic Mission Hospital Nuagaon in priest’s resident. Since 2017 he has been staying at Bishop’s house, Hamirpur. He is a priest for 61 years and a Bishop for 43 years.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara
Deputy Secretary General, CCBI