Thiruvalla — In the soft dawn of 22 May 2025, the youth of the Malankara Catholic Youth Movement (MCYM) from the Thiruvalla Major Archdiocese gathered in a moving act of remembrance and faith for the 69th memorial feast of the Blessed Jacob Mor Theophilos, a venerable shepherd whose life remains a beacon for generations. This pilgrimage, not merely a journey of footsteps but a luminous passage of the soul, commenced from the birthplace of the revered prelate at Olasha in Kottayam.
The morning air carried a sacred stillness, punctuated only by the prayers and hymns of the young faithful, as over a thousand devotees assembled, united in spirit and purpose. Their pilgrimage was not only a tribute but an invocation – a collective calling to the legacy of holiness and devotion that Mor Theophilos exemplified.
The pilgrimage route wove through the roads of Thiruvalla’s landscapes, culminating at St. Thomas Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, Vakathanam, where the pilgrims arrived by 11:30 AM. There, under the watchful gaze of His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mor Koorilos, Metropolitan Archbishop of Thiruvalla, the Holy Qurbono was celebrated with profound solemnity. The Eucharist, the heart of Christian life, became the source from which the pilgrims drew renewed strength and inspiration.
As the sun traced its arc towards evening, the procession made its way to St. John’s Cathedral, Thiruvalla. Here, the faithful were greeted with a warm reception, and the day’s sacred observance drew to a close with evening prayers—a fitting benediction upon the pilgrimage of faith and memory.
The spiritual journey was marked by meticulous care for safety and order. The MCYM leadership, including the Archdiocesan Director Rev. Fr. Vijin Kurisummoottil and the Vicar General Rev. Fr. Isaac Parappallil, alongside the youth, ensured the procession honoured both the sanctity of the occasion and the well-being of all participants.
Instructions accompanying the event underscored a deep respect for life and law: riders of two-wheelers were reminded to wear helmets; those travelling in four-wheel vehicles were enjoined to fasten seat belts; all participants were urged to observe traffic laws strictly and to yield way to emergency vehicles without hesitation.
The pilgrimage was not merely an act of homage but a profound testament to the enduring spirit of the Church’s youth, who continue to draw from the wellspring of their faith to shine as lights in the world. The memory of Blessed Jacob Mor Theophilos, preserved with love and reverence, calls the faithful to a life anchored in prayer, service, and joyous witness.
Thus, in this radiant journey from Olasha to Thiruvalla, the MCYM youth of the Thiruvalla Major Archdiocese embraced their vocation – not as a solitary path, but as a shared pilgrimage, luminous with hope, anchored in tradition, and ever open to the grace that transforms hearts and communities alike.
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