ITANAGAR, Dec 24: Robert Kerketta, bishop emeritus of Tezpur, Assam, passed away at the age of 86 on 22 December at Tezpur.
Bishop Robert was born in 1932 in Amdenga village in Darang district of Assam. He became a member of the Don Bosco Society in 1951. After his initial formation and post-graduation studies, he went to Rome to complete his priestly studies. He was ordained as a priest in 1963.
On his return from Rome he was appointed as assistant professor
at Don Bosco College, Sonada, Darjeeling. In 1970, he was appointed as the bishop of Dibrugarh, and in 1981 he was transferred to Tezpur and continued to be the bishop of Tezpur until his retirement in 2007.
The Arunachal Pradesh Catholic Association (APCA) has deeply mourned the passing away of the bishop.
“We are saddened to hear the sad demise of bishop Kerketta. In his death, we have lost a loving and caring bishop, a wise and intelligent guide, a friend of the poor and downtrodden, a devoted and dedicated missionary and a dynamic leader,” the APCA said in a condolence message.
“The services rendered to the people of Arunachal Pradesh by him as the bishop of Dibrugarh and Tezpur, as well, will always be remembered,” the APCA said.
