The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Most Rev. Victor Lyngdoh, Archbishop of Shillong. Among those present were Fr. Jeevan Lakra, SDB, Vice Provincial of the Shillong Province; Fr. Bivan Mukhim, Vice Provincial of the Guwahati Province; Fr. Barnes Mawrie, Vice Postulator for the Cause (INS); along with numerous Salesian and diocesan priests, religious sisters and brothers, seminarians, and a large gathering of the faithful.
In his homily, Archbishop Lyngdoh highlighted the outstanding virtues of Venerable Fr. Vendrame, presenting him as a priest who placed God at the center of his life and ministry. He emphasized the missionary’s unwavering fidelity to his vocation, his humility in service, and his wholehearted dedication to proclaiming the Gospel. The Archbishop encouraged the faithful to draw inspiration from his example of holiness and to pray earnestly for the grace of his beatification and eventual canonization.
Born in Italy in 1893, Fr. Constantine Vendrame entered the Salesian Congregation with a strong missionary aspiration. Ordained a priest in 1924, he arrived in Shillong on Christmas Eve of the same year. For over three decades, he served tirelessly in Shillong, Jowai, and Mawkhar, dedicating his life to the people of North-East India. Known as the “Apostle of the Khasis” and later as the “Apostle of the Sacred Heart,” he travelled extensively—often on foot—to remote villages, bringing the Gospel, celebrating the sacraments, and caring for the poor with extraordinary zeal.
Among his lasting contributions is the Shrine of the Sacred Heart at Mawlai, which he established and where his mortal remains now rest. His life, marked by prayer, sacrifice, pastoral charity, and deep devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, earned him widespread respect—not only among Christians but also among people of other faiths, many of whom regarded him as a true man of God.
The liturgical celebration was enriched by a special musical tribute offered by the Choral Evangelists, who performed a hymn portraying the life and missionary journey of the new Venerable. Fr. Barnes Mawrie concluded the celebration with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the Archbishop, clergy, religious, and faithful for their participation in this historic moment.
The declaration of Fr. 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 stands as a recognition of a missionary who lived the Gospel with heroic virtue and whose legacy continues to inspire generations.
The celebration concluded with prayers invoking the intercession of Venerable Fr. Constantine Vendrame, asking God to grant the miracle needed for his beatification. His life of holiness, missionary ardor, and love for the people remains a luminous witness for the Church and for all who seek to follow Christ in faithful and generous service.
