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{{short description|Catholic bishop of Aizawl in Mizoram, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix = Most Reverend
| name = Stephen Rotluanga
| honorific-suffix =
| title = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Aizawl|Bishop of Aizawl]]
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Shillong|Shillong]]
| diocese = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Aizawl|Aizawl]]
| appointed = 2 October 2001
| enthroned =
| ended =
| predecessor = [[Denzil Reginald D’Souza]]
| successor = ''Incumbent''
| other_post = Chairman of the North East Regional Laity Commission
| ordination = 13 December 1981
| ordained_by = [[Denzil Reginald D'Souza]]
| consecration = 2 February 2002
| consecrated_by = [[Charles Asa Schleck]]
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|6|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sakawrtuichhun, [[Aizawl]], [[Mizoram]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| buried =
| nationality = [[India]]n
| religion = [[Roman Catholic]]
| residence = Bishop's House, Ramthar, [[Aizawl]], [[Mizoram]]
| parents = Luke Robula and Lucy Darhmingliani
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation = [[Bishop of Aizawl]]
| previous_post =
| profession = [[Catholic]] [[bishop]], artist, sculptor, cartoonist
| alma_mater = [[St Joseph's College, Bangalore|St. Joseph's College]], [[Bangalore]]
[[Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology]], [[Pune]]
[[Ontario College of Art and Design]], [[Toronto]], [[Canada]]
| signature =
| coat_of_arms =
| motto = TO SERVE IN UNITY
}}
'''Stephen Rotluanga'''<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.christiantoday.co.in/article/mizo.bishop.paints.nude.figures.says.honoring.gods.creation/4317.htm|title=Mizo Bishop paints nude figures, says honoring 'God's creation'|last=Today|first=Christian|work=Christian Today|access-date=2017-07-29|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mumbailaity.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/aizawl-bishop-stephen-rotluanga-with-his-nude-paintings/|title=Aizawl bishop Stephen Rotluanga with his nude paintings|last=Laity|first=The Voice Of Bombay's Catholic|date=2013-05-17|website=THE LAITYTUDE|access-date=2017-07-29}}</ref> is a [[Mizo people|Mizo]] [[Catholic]] [[prelate]], [[dramatist]], [[painter]], [[sculptor]], [[cartoonist]], and [[caricaturist]] who is serving as the second and current [[Bishop]] of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Aizawl]]. He was consecrated in 2002, becoming the first ever [[Mizo people|Mizo]] to be ordained a [[bishop]].

== Early life and education ==
Born on 8 June 1952 at Sakawrtuichhun, [[Aizawl]], [[Mizoram]], he is the fourth child of Luke Robula and Lucy Darhmingliani and has 7 siblings. He is a part of the Khiangte clan. He finished his [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] from [[St. Joseph's College, Bangalore]] and his [[B.Phil]] and [[Bachelor of Theology]] from [[Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology]], [[Pune]]. During the course of his clerical studies, he finished academic training on Mass Media and Communication from [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai]] and [[Social Communication]] from NITIKA, [[Kolkata]], with distinction grades. [[Bishop]] Stephen also completed courses in Pastoral Psychology Counselling and Youth, Liturgical and Prayer Experience Course from the NBCLC, [[Bangalore]]

He holds a distinction grade in [[Fine Arts]] specialization from the [[Ontario College of Art and Design]], [[Toronto, Canada]] and has undergone professional artistic training in [[Florence, Italy]].

He also holds the degrees of [[Bachelor's degree|Bachelor]] and [[Doctor of Divinity]].

Apart from his native [[Mizo language|Mizo]], he speaks fluent English and has an adequate working knowledge of [[Hindi]]. He has good command of [[Italian language|Italian]] and [[Latin]].

== Priesthood ==
He was ordained as a priest in the [[Congregation of Holy Cross]] on 3 December 1981 by the then Bishop of Silchar, Most. Rev. [[Denzil Reginald D'Souza]] who was also incharge of the [[Mizoram]] region at Christ the King Cathedral, Kulikawn, [[Aizawl]].
He was first officially assigned the post of Assistant Parish Priest at [[Champhai]] from 1982 to 1985. He was elevated to [[Parish Priest]] in 1985 after the incumbent was transferred. He served as [[Parish Priest]] till 1994 and also served as the Youth Director of the Mizoram Catholic Thalai Pawl (Mizo Catholic Youth Association) from 1985 to 1992.
Father Stephen was then known as "The Singing Priest" having the most melodious voice among all the priest of the region.
Rotluanga served as the Head of the Holy Cross Students Home in [[Bangalore]] from 1994 to 1995 and then served as Rector for the Holy Cross Seminarians in [[Agartala]] from 2000 to 2001. He also simultaneously served as the Head of the Department of Art and Communication in [[Holy Cross School, Agartala|Holy Cross School]] in [[Agartala]], [[Tripura]].

== Episcopate ==
On 2 October 2001, he was appointed [[Bishop of Aizawl]] by [[Pope John Paul II]] and ordained on 2 February 2002 in AR Lammual by [[Archbishop]] [[Charles Asa Schleck]], setting record for the most number of people attending mass in [[Aizawl]] diocese history. He succeeded Most. Rev. [[Denzil Reginald D'Souza]], who had ordained him in 1981. He is the first ever person from the [[Zo people]] community to be ordained a [[bishop]]. As [[bishop]], he also has episcopal jurisdiction over the [[Barak Valley]] in [[Assam]]. He also currently serves as chairman of the North East Regional Laity Commission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ucanindia.in/diocesan-directory/indian/bishop/stephen-rotluanga/173|title=Stephen Rotluanga {{!}} Bishop {{!}} Diocesan Directory {{!}} UCAN India|website=www.ucanindia.in|access-date=2017-07-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://directory.ucanews.com/bishops/bishop-rotluanga/37|title=Bishop Stephen Rotluanga {{!}} Bishop of Aizawl Diocese Stephen Rotluanga {{!}} Ucanews|website=directory.ucanews.com|access-date=2017-07-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/brotl.html|title=Bishop Stephen Rotluanga [Catholic-Hierarchy]|last=Cheney|first=David M.|website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org|access-date=2017-07-29}}</ref>

== Art ==
Rotluanga is a [[painter]], [[sketcher]], [[caricaturist]] and [[cartoonist]] with specializations in [[Renaissance]] Art. He has held various national and international art exhibitions but has never sold a single artwork. He still maintains a [[studio]] in the official [[Official residence|Bishop House]] in [[Aizawl]] and most of his paintings are still with him. He said that [[Michelangelo]] and [[Leonardo da Vinci]] are his greatest influences. He is famous for his nude paintings, what he calls as "human figures created by God."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Nude-figures-Mizo-bishops-tribute-to-God/articleshow/4834560.cms?referral=PM|title=Nude figures, Mizo bishop's tribute to God - Times of India|publisher=}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Catholic Church in India]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{wikiquote}}

{{Subject bar |portal1= Biography |portal2= Catholicism |portal3= India}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rotluanga, Stephen}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Congregation of Holy Cross bishops]]
[[Category:People from Aizawl]]
[[Category:Artists from Mizoram]]
[[Category:Mizo people]]
[[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in India]]

Stephen Rotluanga - Revision history

LoganConger6625: Starting initial pg nd citations!