Guidelines for the Year of Faith, published

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Guidelines for the Year of Faith, published

 

His Grace Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath, KCBC President, released the first copy of the book “I believe” which is prepared by KCBC in connection with the Year of Faith, to Sri. K.M. Mani, the Finance Minister of Kerala. His Excellency Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios, Bishop of Mavelikara Eparchy, Rev. Fr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of KCBC, and Rev. Fr. Jose Kottayil, Secretary of the Family Commission, participated in the function. This book is published by Pastoral Orientation Centre.

There are four parts for this book. The first part deals with the 12 aspects in the “Creed”. The second part deals with the Kerala’s changing aspects of faith. The third and fourth parts deal with the second Vatican Council’s decrees and documents and the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the YOUCAT respectively.

Presentation of The Synod on The New Evangelisation

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Presentation of The Synod on The New Evangelisation

 

On 5 October 2012 in the Holy See Press Office, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, presented the thirteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which is due to take place in the Vatican from 7 to 28 October on the theme: “The New Evangelisation for the Transmission of the Christian Faith”.

The archbishop highlighted the importance of not separating the two aspects of the chosen topic. “The theme”, he said, “indicates that the goal of new evangelisation is the transmission of the faith. And the process of transmitting the faith, which today faces many obstacles of different kinds, takes place within the context of new evangelisation”.
He then went on to explain the preparations and the stages of the Synod, describing it as a “complex and demanding process” which can be divided into three interlinked aspects: “the spiritual dimension, theological and pastoral reflections, and technical and organisational preparations”.
1. The spiritual dimension
“Prayer accompanies and stimulates all synodal activity. … It accompanied the preparatory work … and will have a pre-eminent role during the course of the gathering. Specifically, the Holy Father will preside at four liturgical celebrations: on 7 October, the inauguration of the Synod and the proclamation of St. John of Avila and St. Hildegard of Bingen as Doctors of the Universal Church; on 11 October, Mass for the inauguration of the Year of Faith; on 21 October, the canonisation of the blesseds: Jacques Berthieu, Pedro Calungsod, Giovanni Battista Piamarta, Carmen Salles y Barangueras, Marianne Cope, Kateri Tekakwitha and Ana Schaffer; on 28 October, the closing of the Synod”.

2. Theological and pastoral reflections
“Once the Holy Father had chosen the theme, the General Secretariat of the Synod prepared the ‘Lineamenta’, or preparatory document for reflection on that topic, which was published on 4 March 2011. The questionnaire accompanying the ‘Lineamenta’ was submitted to all the ecclesial organisations with which the General Secretariat maintains institutional contacts, with the request that responses be forthcoming before 1 November 2011. The response rate – which reached 90.5 per cent – is an expression of the great interest that the particular Churches and other organisations have in the theme chosen for the Synod. … The Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat examined the responses which were then summarised in the ‘Instrumentum laboris’, made public on 19 June 2012”.

“Other documents have also played an important role in preparations for the Synod. … These include, apart from the Holy Father’s catecheses, … two Apostolic Letters ‘Motu Proprio data’. The first of these is ‘Ubicumque et semper” of 21 September 2010 by which the Holy Father created the Pontifical Counil for Promoting New Evangelisation, the second is ‘Porta Fidei’ of 11 October 2011 in which he proclaimed the Year of Faith”.

3. Technical and organisational preparation
“As per the norms of ‘Ordo Synodi Episcoporum’, the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops is attended ‘ex officio’ by the heads of the ‘sui iuris’ Eastern Catholic Churches and of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia. Apart from the Synod Fathers appointed by the Pope, other Synod Fathers are elected by their respective episcopal conferences, by the ‘sui iuris’ Eastern Catholic Churches if they have more than twenty-five bishops, and by the Union of Superiors General which has the right to elect ten members”.

4. Participation in the Synod
“The thirteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be attended by 262 Synod Fathers, the largest number in the history of Synods. Of these, 103 are from Europe, 63 from the Americas, 50 from Africa, 39 from Asia and 7 from Oceania. The majority of the Synod Fathers, 182, have been elected: 172 by their episcopal conferences, 10 by the Union of Superiors General, and 3 by the ‘sui iuris’ Eastern Catholic Churches. Of the others, 37 are participating ‘ex officio’ and 40 were appointed by the Holy Father”.

“Benedict XVI has appointed Cardinal Donald William Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, U.S.A., as relator general of the Synod and Archbishop Pierre-Marie Carre, archbishop of Montpellier, France, as special secretary. He has also appointed three presidents delegate: Cardinal John Tong Hon, bishop of Hong Kong, China; Cardinal Francisco Robles Ortega, archbishop of Guadalajara, Mexico, and Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, archbishop of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Also participating in the forthcoming synodal assembly will be forty-five experts, forty-nine auditors, fraternal delegates from 15 Churches and ecclesial communities not yet in communion with the Catholic Church, and three special guests: Frere Alois, prior of Taize, France; Rev. Lamar Vest, president of the American Bible Society, U.S.A., and Werner Arber, professor emeritus of microbiology at the University of Basel, Switzerland and president of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences”.

“The methodology of the Synod, which was modified by Benedict XVI in 2005, remains substantially unchanged. Each Synod Father will have five minutes to speak during the General Congregations, but during the open debates in the afternoon sessions (from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.) they will have no more than three minutes, so as to stimulate greater participation in the discussions. Speeches by fraternal delegates, experts and auditors must not exceed four minutes”.

Source : http://www.news.va

The tallest statue of Jesus Christ in India was blessed

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The tallest statue of Jesus Christ in India was blessed

 

His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, the Major Archbishop-Catholicos blessed the statue of Jesus Christ installed at the Arena, the open-air theatre of the Mar Baselios College of Engineering and Technology (MBCET), Nalanchira. This Statue is dedicated to the memory of Midhun Markose who was a student of MBCET, met with an untimely death. The Statue is 33.5 feet tall which is built by the renowned sculptor and art director Sri. Premachandran.

Reunion Day Celebrations in Germany

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Reunion Day Celebrations in Germany

 

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, German Region celebrates the 82nd Reunion Anniversary in Bonn, Germany, on 29 September 2012. The celebrations will begin with Holy Qurbono celebrated by His Excellency Most Dr. Thomas Mar Eusebius, the Exarch of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in USA and the Apostolic Visitor to Canada and Europe at 02 p.m. on 29 September 2012 in the Holy Spirit Catholic (Kiefernweg 22, 53127 Bonn), venusberg Bonn. It will be followed by the Public Meeting, inaugurated by Herr Stephan Schohe, National Director of the other language speaking Christians in Germany and presided over by His Excellency Most Dr. Thomas Mar Eusebius. Representatives of different Rites, and Languages will participate in it.

Very Rev Fr. Berchumans OIC will give the benedictory address. Dn. Mr. Hans Grevelding, Referent den Internationale Katholische Seelsorge, Erzbistum köln, Rev. Fr. Ignatius Challissery CMI, Seelsorger für die Inder-Syro Malabarische Katholiken Erzbistum Köln, Fr. Kemmerling Berd, Pfaarvikar, Heilige Geist Kirche Venusberg, Rev. Fr. Titus Karikkassery OCD, Seelsorger für die Inder- Latenische Katholiken, Erzbistum Köln, Mr. Thomas Rugo, Kirchenvorstand, Heilige Geist Kiirche,Venusberg, Very Rev. Mother Santhy SIC, Provincial Superior, Tiruvalla Province will speak during the function. The celebrations will conclude with a SNEHAVIRUNNU in the Parish Hall.

All are cordially invited to the Reunion Celebrations !!!!

Fr. Santhosh Thomas Koickal
Ecclesiastical Coordinator, Malankara Catholic Church Germany
Mr. Varghese Karnasseril (Secretary, Bonn)
Mr. Mathew Varghese (Treasurer, Bonn)

Rev. Fr.George Purathoottu was called to eternal rest

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Rev. Fr.George Purathoottu was called to eternal rest

 

Rev. Fr. George Purathoottu   of  the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, was called to eternal rest on 28 September 2012. He was 75 years old. He belongs to Purathoottu family, Naranganam. He served in several parishes such as Kirathoor, Chandanapally, Ayoor, Elanthoor, Puthenpeedika, Chengannoor, Puthoor, Perunadu, and Mannoor.  He was taking rest at ‘Sayujya’ Kesavadasapuram. The funeral ceremony will be held at St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church, Naranganam at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday 30 September 2012. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos will  officiate the funeral ceremony.May His soul rest in peace.

Father of His Excellency Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom called to eternal rest

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Father of His Excellency Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom called to eternal rest

 

Sri. Mathen Abraham, Kalloor Puthenparampil, Kadammanitta, father of His Excellency Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Bishop of Pathanamthitta was called to heavenly bliss on 19 September 2012. He belongs to the St. John’s Malankara Catholic Church, Kadammanitta. Mrs. Achiyamma Nedumparampil, Puthencavu is his wife. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos officiated the funeral ceremony at St. Thomas Malankara Catholic Church, Kadammanitta on 24 September 2012. All Bishops of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church concelebrated the ceremony. Rev. Priests, Rev. Sisters and a large number of faithful were present during the funeral service. The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church expresses its deep condolence to Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom and the members of the Kalloor family.

May his soul rest in peace

St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church, Peroorkada was blessed

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St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church, Peroorkada was blessed

 

The blessing of the newly constructed St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church, Peroorkada was held on  23 September 2012. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos was the chief celebrant of the ceremony.  His Excellencies Most Rev. Thomas Mar Anthonios and Most Rev. Samuel Mar Irenios were the concelebrants. The blessing was followed by a public meeting. His Highness Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma inaugurated the meeting which was presided over by His Beatitude the Catholicos. Mayor Smt. K. Chandrika, Councillor Prof. J. Chandra, Rev. Priests, Rev. Sisters and a large number of faithful were present. The newly built Grotto near the Church was also blessed by His Beatitude the Catholicos. Rev. Fr. Wilson Thattaruthundil is the Vicar of the Parish.

Reunion celebrations concluded with the mission rally

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Reunion celebrations concluded with the mission rally

 

The 82nd Reunion Day celebrations concluded with the Rally from St. Peter’s Cathedral Church to the Sacred Heart Malankara Syrian Catholic Church Mylapra on 21 September at 2 p.m. Thousands of faithful from various Eparchies participated in the rally which a remarkable event in the history of the Church, conducted in commemoration of the communion of the Syro-Malankara Church with the Universal Church. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the Major Archbishop of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, and other Bishops gave leadership to the rally. His Beatitude Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, the Patriarch of the Maronite Syrian Catholic Church, and Bishop Delegates and blessed the faithful.

The solemn Pontifical concelebrated Holy Qurbono of the Reunion Day was at 8 a.m. on 21 September. His Eminence Cardinal Mar George Alanchery, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, delivered the homily during the Holy Qurbono. Cardinal exhorted that Reunion in the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church achieved through Mar Ivanios, is the celebration of the communion of the Church. It was followed by the public meeting, presided over by His Beatitude the Catholicos. His Beatitude said that the Church in its relation to the society should express more love and concern. Prof. P.J. Kurian, the Deputy Speaker of Rajya Sabha, inaugurated the meeting. He said that Church should be ready to face the social challenges that threaten the existence of the Church. The message of Sri Oommen Chandy, the Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala, was read out by the secretary of the Pastoral Council in the meeting. His Beatitude Moran Mor Bechara Boutros al-Rahi gave the benedictory address. A large number of Priests, Religious and Faithful were present.

Inauguration of St Peter’s Cathedral Church, Pathanamthitta

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Inauguration of St Peter’s Cathedral Church, Pathanamthitta

 

Inauguration of St Peter’s Cathedral Church, Pathanamthitta
Date : 21 September 2012

Press conference given by His Beatitude Moran Mor Bechara Boutros al-Rahi at the Major Archbishop’s House

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Press conference given by His Beatitude Moran Mor Bechara Boutros al-Rahi at the Major Archbishop’s House

 

I wish to welcome all of you journalists and all the correspondents and representatives of the media who have taken the time to come and meet with us this afternoon.

We are in this country upon the kind invitation of His Beatitude Major Archbishop- Catholicos Mar Baselios Cleemis. I wish to greet him and thank him for his kind invitation. We are very happy to come and visit a Sister Church and get to know her better, become more aware of her role, her identity and her mission. In fact both our Churches belong to the Syriac Tradition; the Maronite Church having originated in the first Christian Community founded by Saint Peter in Antioch, and the Saint Thomas Church founded in this great and culturally rich country of yours, founded by Saint Thomas the Apostle. Getting to know each other better we hope to enrich each other with our spiritual, cultural and liturgical traditions. We want to endeavor also to cultivate a greater cooperation between our two Churches in their respective cultures and missions, in Asia and the Middle East, always in view of deeper cooperation in the spirit of communion and witness, as the Holy Father has instructed us in the post-synodal Apostolic exhortation for the Middle East.

I like to take this opportunity to thank the civil authorities for their courteous hospitality and the care they are taking to make our visit both comfortable and safe.

We have come from Lebanon where we received His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for three days, as you know, from L4 to L6 of this month. He came as a pilgrim of peace to deliver to us, and through us to all the Churches in the Middle Eastern region, the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation “The Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness”, as a fallow up to the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East held in Rome, October 2010.

Lebanon, as you know, is the only country in the Middle East in which Christians and Muslims decided together to live in harmony in a secular state, practically the only country in the region in which lslam is not the religion of the State. Christians and Muslims are equally represented in the parliament as well as in the government. This formula is unique worldwide and it guarantees, under the constitution, total freedom of speech, freedom of religion and, above all freedom of conscience. lt guarantees also the acceptance of diversity within unity, the openness to modernity and to the world at large. Due to all the features of Lebanon mentioned above, that political formula can be proposed as the way forward to a democratic government for the countries struggling to find a replacement for their old regimes. The dictatorial regimes that were swept away as a result of the Arab awakening, left a dangerous vacuum liable to be filled up, if one is not careful, by new regimes not less authoritarian than the previous ones.

We came from a region which has been going through a very deep change where the people have defied dictators and demanded freedom, democracy and human rights. Unfortunately we have witnessed much violence and bloodshed. ln Syria the conflict has, in the opinion of UN officials, degenerated into a civil war. Many countries are sending in arms and supporting the uprising. This way of behaving is making life very difficult and very dangerous for all and more particularly for citizens’ it is pouring oil on the fire.

No one doubts the legitimacy of the demands put forward by the people’ but violence is not’ in our opinion, the way to reach those goals. This is why we call upon the various parties concerned to come to the table and try to find a political solution through dialogue.

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