The evening carried a quiet expectancy as the faithful gathered at the campus of Mar Baselios School, Engapuzha, where the fifth Bible Convention of the Kozhikode Ecclesiastical District of the Diocese of Bathery was inaugurated. His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mor Thomas, the Bishop of Bathery, opened the gathering in the presence of the renowned preacher Rev. Fr. Mathew Vayalamannil CST, whose ministry has touched many hearts over the years.
Rev. Fr. Thomas Manithottam, the District Vicar, offered words of welcome, recalling that this season of renewal in the Syro Malankara Catholic Church invites every believer to straighten the inner corridors of thought and feeling. He reminded the people that true renewal arises when the mind turns steadily towards the Lord, freeing individuals and families from forces that pull them away from grace. His reflection invited the faithful to cultivate a heart that holds love without partiality, a heart that carries patience even when life presses hard.
Nearly two thousand faithful took part in the opening day, filling the school grounds with prayer, song, and the quiet sincerity that has long been the mark of Bible conventions in our Church.
The gathering was greeted by Rev. Fr. Sijo Panthapalli, Rev. Fr. Jimmy Cheruparambil, and Rev. Fr. Sibi Kalathoor, each offering encouragement to the faithful. Their words carried the steady assurance that Scripture shapes the life of our community when it is embraced with openness and lived with faithfulness.
Prince Puthenkandathil, the Secretary of the Pastoral Council, offered thanks on behalf of the organising committee, acknowledging the unity and dedication that made the event possible.
The convention continues to stand as a moment of grace for the Diocese of Bathery, bringing the faithful together around the Word that strengthens hearts, steadies families, and renews the Church from within.


