Oriens Theological College (OTC) is the Inter-Diocesan Theological Seminary for Northeast India under the auspices of the Northeast Regional Catholic Bishop’s Council. It offers the four-year theology programme for candidates to priesthood and is affiliated to the Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome, which grants the Degree of Bachelor of Theology (B. Th.) to eligible students. It primarily caters to students from the Dioceses of the region but is also open to Dioceses from outside and Religious Congregations working in the region.

True to its Motto, “To Give Light,” Oriens Theological College aims to provide integral priestly formation rooted in the context and promote theological studies through scientific research.

The Rising Sun of the East

The presence of Oriens Theological College in the missionary fertile soil of Northeast India, is a clear proof of Church’s admiration and appreciation for the indigenous culture and her determination to form the future ministers of the Church in ‘loco,’ by taking into consideration the multi-socio-religious and ethnic realities of the people of the region. In the Church circles this part of the country is called a “responsive mission land,” because the people in general are open to the Gospel message and the region is blessed with many vocations to priesthood and religious life.

The Bishops of the region always felt the need to establish an Inter-diocesan Seminary to promote local vocation to priesthood and indigenous leadership. They were convinced that such venture would facilitate and intensify the work of Evangelization among the various tribes and ethnic groups of the region. Accordingly, Oriens Theological College was opened as a study house for the students of Theology.

To accommodate the increasing number of students and to give specific pastoral formation, the College began to hold lectures in its own premises and then the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples raised it to the status of an Inter-diocesan Seminary.