‘Engineer Bishop’ in India, dies at 92

By LiCAS News

Bishop Mamalassery died early Friday morning at Holy Cross Hospital in Tura due to severe respiratory issues, following months of treatment for fluid in his lungs. He was 92.

Born in Kalathoor, Kerala, on April 23, 1932, to Kurian and Elizabeth Mamalassery, George Mamalassery faced the hardships of orphanhood at the age of 12. 

He entered the Sacred Heart Seminary in Poonamallee, dedicating a decade to theological studies before his ordination by Archbishop Louis Mathias, SDB, on April 24, 1960.

Driven by profound missionary zeal, Mamalassery ventured into the remote and challenging terrains of the Garo Hills in the Archdiocese of Shillong-Guwahati, marked by malaria and wildlife hazards.

His early clerical duties saw him serving as an assistant parish priest and later as the parish priest of Dalu, where he provided sanctuary to refugees during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

His episcopal journey began when he was appointed the first Bishop of Tura on February 8, 1979, at the age of 46. 

His ordination followed on March 18. During his tenure, he founded 23 new parishes and expanded several existing ones, building churches, presbyteries, convents, dispensaries, hostels, and schools to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the region.

Nicknamed the “Engineer Bishop,” Bishop Mamalassery was pivotal in establishing the 150-bed Holy Cross Hospital in 1993 and the Rino Simonetti School of Nursing, significantly enhancing local healthcare. 

His efforts also extended to education and social services, inviting the Salesians and Jesuits to open colleges and founding Bakdil, a top-performing diocesan social service center.

Recognized for his extensive contributions, Bishop Mamalassery was honored with the Pa Togan Sangma award by the Government of Meghalaya and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya, in 2019.

The funeral arrangements are pending. The Church and the community mourn the loss of a dedicated servant who left an indelible mark on the Diocese of Tura and its people. Bishop George’s legacy of service and development continues to resonate throughout the Northeast.

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