Diocese of Puttur Celebrates 15th Anniversary on 19th, 20th and 21st January

The Syro Malankara Catholic Church Diocese of Puttur, the first Syro Malankara Catholic diocese in India’s southern Karnataka, is celebrating its 15th anniversary on 19, 20 and 21 of January 2024 at St Johns Medical College Auditorium Bangalore. The diocese, which was erected on 25 January 2010 by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the Father and Head of the Church, comprises of 22 churches and 36 educational and 4 charitable institutions in the civil districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kodagu, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Mandya, Mysore, Shimoga and Chamarajanagar.

The anniversary celebration is an occasion for the faithful of the diocese to come together, celebrate their faith and share their experience from all three regions of the diocese: Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The theme of the celebration is “Smaraneya Hadiyalli”, which means “On the Path of Remembrance” in Kannada. The celebration will include a solemn Holy Qurbana, a cultural programme, a documentary screening and a felicitation ceremony.

On this auspicious occasion, the diocese also prayerfully commemorates its former prelates who have contributed to the growth and development of the diocese and the Church. They are:

• Major Archbishop Cyril Baselios Catholicos (1935-2007), the first major archbishop of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, who was elevated by Pope John Paul II in 1995. He was the Metropolitan Archbishop and head of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church from 1995 to 2007. He was instrumental in raising the Malankara Catholic Church to the status of a Major Archiepiscopal Church sui iuris in 2005.
• Most Rev. Joseph Mar Severios (1894-1955), the Metropolitan Arch Bishop of Tiruvalla, who was born in the Malankara Syriac Orthodox family and ordained a bishop in 1933. He was a close friend of Archbishop Mar Ivanios, the founder of the Malankara Catholic Church, but initially opposed the reunion with the Catholic Church. However, after studying the history of the Church, he professed the Catholic faith and was received by Mar Ivanios in 1937. He became the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archeparchy of Tiruvalla in 1938 and later succeeded Jacob Mar Theophilos as the Metropolitan.
• Most Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios (1950-2018), the first Bishop of the Eparchy of Puttur, who was born in the ancient Syrian Christian family of Ottathengil. He was ordained a priest in 1978 and a bishop in 1996. He was the Bishop of Bathery from 1996 to 2010 and the Administrator of the Malankara Catholic Church after the demise of Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos. He was appointed as the first Bishop of the newly erected Eparchy of Puttur in 2010 and resigned due to health issues in 2017.
• Rev. Fr. Abraham Kalapattu (1984-2018), a priest of the Eparchy of Puttur, who served as a missionary, a seminary professor, a parish priest and a spiritual director in various places. He was known for his simplicity, humility and dedication to the Church. He passed away on 14 January 2018.

The diocese expresses its profound reverence, gratitude and affection to these departed souls and presents a documentary titled “Smaraneya Hadiyalli” to honour their memory and legacy. The documentary, which is produced by Shanthivani Communications under the aegis of MCA Bengaluru, showcases the life and ministry of these former prelates and their impact on the diocese and the Church. The documentary will be screened at the anniversary celebration and will be available on YouTube and other social media platforms.

The diocese invites all the faithful, clergy, religious and well-wishers to join the anniversary celebration and to pray for the intercession of the former prelates. The diocese also requests the prayers and blessings of His Holiness Pope Francis, His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, the Major Archbishop of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, Bishop Geevarghese Makarios Kalayil, Metropolitan of the Diocese of Puttur and all the bishops and priests of the Universal Church.