Gumla bishop dies of post-Covid complications in Ranchi

GUMLA: Bishop Paul A Lakra of Gumla Catholic Diocese died of post-Covid complications at Orchid hospital in Ranchi at 1.30am on Tuesday. Later in the day, his mortal remains were taken to Gumla Cathedral. The requiem mass will be observed at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Wednesday and the ceremony will be presided over by the archbishop of Ranchi, Fr Felix Toppo, and attended by bishops from Jharkhand and neighbouring diocese.
Born in 1955, Paul A Lakra (65) was ordained as a priest in 1988 and was made bishop on April 5, 2006 by cardinal Telesphore Toppo at the age of 50.
“He successfully served the diocese for 15 year,” recalled Fr Cyprian Kullu, vicar general of Bishop house in Gumla. Kullu added, “After getting infected with Covid, he was admitted to Constant Lievens Hospital in Mandar (Ranchi) on April 27. Thereafter, he was referred to Orchid hospital and put on ventilator on May 17. His health improved and he was shifted to a private room on June 1. Doctors were planning to discharge him but suddenly his health deteriorated leading to his demsie. Doctors immediately shifted him into ICU and again put him on ventilator but he finally succumbed at 1.30am.”
Following the government guidelines, the number of participants in the requiem mass will be restricted. “Besides the archbishop and other bishops, all the parish priests, rectors, provincials and superiors of religious communities of diocese of Gumla and bishop’s family members and close relatives will attend the mass,” Kullu said.