His Excellency Bishop Samuel Mor Irenios Visits Mechernich, Honouring the Legacy of Mother Marie Therese and Strengthening International Bonds

Mechernich, Germany – 27 May 2025

The paths of faith often traverse continents, drawing together distant lands and kindred spirits in the unending quest for holiness and unity. Such a moment was witnessed in Mechernich, Germany, when His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Mor Irenios, Bishop of the Syro Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Pathanamthitta in Kerala, India, journeyed to the motherhouse of the Ordo Communionis in Christo, a spiritual community founded in 1984 by the venerable Mother Marie Therese.

Coming directly from the historic occasion of the solemn Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV in Rome—where Bishop Mor Irenios offered his respectful greetings and blessings to the newly elected Pontiff—this pastoral visit bore witness to the profound connections weaving the Syro Malankara Church into the wider fabric of the universal Church and its spiritual families.

The Ordo Communionis in Christo, rooted deeply in the prayerful vision of Mother Marie Therese, represents a shining example of Christian dedication and communal life. Bishop Mor Irenios honoured her memory as that of a “Saint of our time,” recognising the enduring spiritual legacy that continues to inspire countless souls across borders.

At the heart of this visit was more than ceremony; it was a moment of spiritual communion, bridging Kerala’s lively Syro Malankara tradition with the contemplative and missionary zeal of the Communio in Christo community. The Bishop’s presence underscored the growing collaboration and mutual encouragement between the Indian Church and this international spiritual family.

His Eminence was warmly welcomed by Rev. Fr. Jaison Thazhathil, the current General Superior of the Ordo Communionis in Christo, himself a son of the Pathanamthitta Eparchy. This meeting of shepherds and servants reaffirmed the vital importance of shared formation, education, and spiritual renewal in today’s ecclesial landscape.

This visit to Mechernich followed a spiritual pilgrimage of sorts, beginning with the joyful celebration in Rome and culminating in an encounter with the heart of the Communio community. Here, amidst images of Mother Marie Therese and her earliest companions, the Bishop reflected on the richness of their charism and its deep resonance with the Church’s mission.

Speaking of the legacy he encountered, Bishop Mor Irenios expressed profound admiration for the universal vision embodied in the foundations of Mother Marie Therese. He observed that their witness “truly represents what the Church is called to be”—a community marked by faith, hope, and charity, reaching out in love to a world in need.

This harmonious encounter is a witness to the Church’s catholicity, not merely as a geographical or institutional reality but as a spiritual communion transcending nations and cultures. It reminds the Syro Malankara faithful that their own traditions are part of a wider map, woven together by shared faith and mission.

The visit to Mechernich thus stands as a moment of spiritual enrichment and ecclesial fraternity, inspiring renewed commitment to the ideals of prayer, service, and evangelisation both in India and abroad.

The Syro Malankara Catholic Church, represented with distinction by Bishop Samuel Mor Irenios, continues to nurture ties that strengthen the bonds of faith, nurture spiritual growth, and embody the unity for which Christ prayed.

As this visit draws to a close, the faithful of Pathanamthitta and the global Syro Malankara community uphold the Bishop in prayer, confident that such connections will bear abundant fruit in the Church’s ongoing journey towards holiness and mission.