Father Roland Kharkrang sdb, recalled the first procession of 1922 saying, “The first group of Salesians under the leadership of Father Louis Matthias, took to the street of Laitumkhrah for the first time, with the statue of Mary Help of Christians for the procession with the participation of around 600 faithful. Many people came out of their houses to see the procession. The procession took place at 6 pm, and many of the faithful carried lamps for the procession. After the procession, the 11 Salesian missionaries knelt in front of the statue of Mary Help of Christians, consecrating the whole of North East India with all its land and people to the maternal protection and intervention of Mary Help of Christians.” He said that on two occasions, the miraculous intervention of Mary Help of Christians was visible in saving the people of the North East, once during the Japanese invasion in 1942 and later at the Chinese encroachment of NE in 1962.

Today, a century later, the procession began with the Holy Eucharist presided over by Father Paul O Lyngkot, Provincial of Shillong Province, with 24 priests and thousands of faithful. In his homily, the Provincial spoke about the role played by Mary in the history of redemption and urged the faithful to listen to Jesus and find true peace in Jesus Christ.  

The Parish Priest, Father Telesphorus, solemnly welcomed the celebrants and the faithful and some government officials and other dignitaries. The conclusion of the procession was with a Eucharistic Adoration animated by Father Richard Majaw, the Vicar General of the Shillong Archdiocese.