Diocese of Agartala Celebrates Pearl Jubilee and 30 Years of Bishop Lumen Monteiro’s Episcopal Ministry
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, May 24, 2026
The Diocese of Agartala marked a historic milestone with the grand celebration of its Pearl Jubilee and the Episcopal Ordination Jubilee of its first Bishop, Most Rev. Lumen Monteiro, on May 23 and 24, 2026. The two-day celebration brought together archbishops, bishops, priests, religious men and women, and thousands of faithful from across Tripura and different parts of the country in a spirit of thanksgiving, faith, and unity.
The jubilee commemorated thirty years since the establishment of the Diocese of Agartala on Pentecost Sunday, May 26, 1996, as well as thirty years of episcopal ministry of Bishop Lumen Monteiro, CSC, who has shepherded the Diocese since its inception.
The celebrations began on Saturday, May 23, with a solemn inaugural programme attended by Archbishops, Bishops, Provincial Superiors, clergy, religious congregations, and representatives from all thirty parishes of the Diocese. The inaugural gathering featured cultural performances, prayers, and moments of gratitude reflecting the remarkable journey of the local Church during the past three decades.
The main Jubilee Eucharistic Celebration was held on Sunday, May 24, coinciding with the feast of Pentecost. A large congregation of clergy, religious, and lay faithful participated in the thanksgiving Mass, making the occasion one of the largest Catholic gatherings in the Diocese in recent years. Several dignitaries, including bishops from various dioceses, provincials of religious congregations, and family members of Bishop Lumen Monteiro, were present during the solemn celebration.
Church leaders, while addressing the gathering, recalled the humble beginnings of the Diocese in 1996 with only nine parishes and highlighted its growth into a vibrant local Church comprising thirty parishes spread across Tripura. They described the Diocese as a testimony to decades of missionary dedication, pastoral outreach, educational development, and social service initiatives carried out throughout the state.
Special tributes were paid to Bishop Lumen Monteiro for his visionary leadership and missionary zeal over the past three decades. Under his guidance, the Diocese witnessed the strengthening of parish communities, establishment of schools and institutions, expansion of pastoral activities, and nurturing of the spiritual life of the faithful. His contributions to health ministry and his wider service through Caritas India were also gratefully acknowledged during the celebrations.
The jubilee celebrations became not only an occasion to remember the rich history of the Diocese but also a moment to renew the commitment of the faithful towards the mission of the Church in Tripura. The programme concluded with prayers of thanksgiving, hope, and renewed dedication as the Diocese of Agartala looks forward to continuing its journey of faith, service, and evangelization in the years ahead.
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