Reception to Leonardo Cardinal Sandri

His Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, Prefect, the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, Rome.

Malankara Catholic Church gave a warm reception to Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, on 10 November 2008, 9.00am at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom. The reception was arranged in the traditional manner. Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos was the chief celebrant of the Holy Qurbono. Leonardo Cardinal Sandi delivered the homily. After the Holy Mass, His Eminence visited the tomb of Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios.

The following public meeting was presided over by Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos. The Metropolitan Archbishop Most Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos, Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios, Msgr. Eldo Puthenkandathil and the lay representative Shri. John Mathai IAS  made the felicitation speeches. The representatives from the religious congregations of various eparchies gave memento to the Cardinal. All the metropolitans of our Church, Priests, Religious, Nuns, Brothers and numerous Faithful participated in the blessed function.

 

The Blessing of the Renovated Cathedral

The renovated St. Mary’s Cathedral at Pattom was blessed by Major Archbishop Baselios Cleemis Catholicos at 8 a.m. on Saturday 8 November 2008. A large number of Priests, Religious and the Faithful from the city of Trivandrum participated in the blessing.

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Archbishop Mar Gregorios Day

Images taken from the Tomb Chapel of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom

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The Blessing of the Renovated Tomb Chapel

The dedication and the blessing of the renovated and expanded tomb chapel where the mortal remains of the Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios, Archbishop Mar Gregorios and the first Major Archbishop Cyril Baselios Catholicos rest was blessed at the hands of Major Archbishop Baselios Cleemis Catholicos at 5 p.m. on Tuesday 30 September 2008. A large number of Priests, Religious and the Faithful from the city of Trivandrum participated in the blessing and prayed at the tomb.  The altar of the chapel was blessed and dedicated on 1 September 2008 in preparation for the 55th Feast of Commemoration of the Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios.

 

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Mar Baselios Cleemis’ Speech on the closing day of the 78th re-union

Major Archbishop Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholicos said that the bishops of the Malankara Catholic Church would never encourage people believing and being members in atheistic movements. He was presiding over the closing ceremony of the Reunion Day Celebrations held at Ranni.

Conscious efforts have been made to prevent the growth of faith in the state. Pastoral Letters are one of the teaching method of the Church and it was not invented during the tenure of the LDF government. The Church explains its mission and vision through such Pastoral Letters. The standpoints of the Church are not taken by an individual but by the college of the bishops. The attempt to despise these letters should be condemned.

Attempts are made to spread atheism even through the school textbooks. Steps should be taken from the family itself to check this attempt to destroy the seeds of faith. It is the responsibility of the parents to create and foster faith in children Catholicos added.

We have to speak about God to others. We should be strengthened by the words of Jesus that He would not let us go orphan in any crisis. As the Major Archbishop of the Malankara Catholic Church, my desire and dream is that all Malankara churches should be united under one head. If it happens, I am ready to sacrifice my title and to serve the Church under the common authority, said the Catholics in his most inspiring speech.

 

Laity Honoured

Malankara Catholic Church honoured 21 members of the Laity who participate in the building up of the Church with immense sacrifice and exemplary service in the various missions of the Church. Among them 8 are women. The titles are called “(Bar Eetho Kasheetho) the Diligent Son of the Church” and “(Bars Eetho Kasheertho) the Diligent Daughter of the Church”. It goes without saying that the titles of honour bestowed in the Church are in recognition of the meritorious service they rendered to the Church. The Major Archbishop Catholicos announced the names of those dignitaries in the public meeting on the main day of the reunion day celebrations at Ranni. They laity are:

Trivandrum

1. Mr. Cherian Chenneerkara (Pampumala)
2. Mr. P. Poulose (Kanjiramkulam)
3. Mr. Mathew Varghse Keecheril (Pattom)
4. Mrs. Mary Samuel Mukkoottumannil (Punalur)

Thiruvalla
1. Mr. George Erumeda (Vandanmedu)
2. Mr. Thomas Pulickathara
3. Mrs. Eliyamma Varghese Madelil (Thottabhagam)

Bathery

1. Mr. M. K. Kuruvila Mekkatt (Uppatty)
2. Mrs. Valsamma Thankachan Parackal Puthenpura (Uppada)

 

Marthandom

 

1. Mr. Christal John (Nagarcoil)
2. Mrs. Vasanthakumari (Koickalthopp)

 

Moovattupuzha

1. Mr. K. J. Peter Keyyalil (Vettickal)
2. Mrs. Elizabeth Mathai Idikula (Ernakulam)

 

Mavelikara

1.Mr. Thomas John Thevareth (Puthiyakavu)
2. Mrs. Annamma George Plamoottil (Chengannur)

 

ETR

1. Mr. C. T. Symon (Bangalore)
2. Mr. P. V. THomas (Pune)
3. Mrs. Sarah Mani Kuriakose (Mumbai)

 

ETR outside India

1. Mr. Baby Thomas Naikamparambil (New York)
2. Mrs. Achamma John Mathai (Chicago)

 

The Inauguration of the Re-union Day Celebrations

The reunion celebrations had magnificent and colourful beginning. The three days programme was begun by the proclamation rally that started from Ranni Block Padi to Mar Athanasios Nagar at St. Mary’s Senior Secondary School, Ranni. The portrait of Mar Ivanios from the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum, Catholicate flag from the Diocese of Bathery, Papal Flag from the Diocese of Marthandom, portrait of Mar Theophilos from the Diocese of Muvattupuzha, MCYM flag from the Diocese of Mavelikara and the MCYM Logo from the Extra-Territorial Regions were brought under the leadership of MCYM with great pomp and show. The procession was leaded by priests and the office bearers of MCYM. Archbishop Thomas Koorilos inaugurated the rally. The lighted lamp was followed by the Papal flag, Catholicate flag and the portrait of the bishops. Hundreds of vehicles accompanied. At the end of the rally the lighted lamp was handed over to Rev. Fr. Abraham Naduviledam (Proto-presbyter) and it was placed at the main venue of the reunion day celebrations. The portraits were handed over to Rev. Msgr. Antony Kackanattu. Most Rev. Joshua Mar Iganthios, Most Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos, Rev. Fr. Job Kalluvilayil and Rev. Fr. Mathai Kadavil hoisted the Papal flag, Catholicate flag, MCYM flag and the MCA flag respectively.

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Seminar conducted by the Synodal Commission for Theology and Publications

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The Synodal Commission for Theology and Publications conducted a theological seminar. This is the second one in the series. The commission hopes to create an interest among our scholars in the field of oriental theology and developing a theology for our Malankara Catholic Church. The seminar was conducted at the Catholicate Centre, Pattom, Trivandrum. The Seminar which started on 13th August, 2008 at 3.30 PM and concluded on the 14th of August, 2008 saw 42 participants. Each presentation of the paper was followed by a discussion which proved to be very fruitful and lively. Dr. George Onakoor and Rev. Dr. Thomas Paniker were the moderators of the sessions. The papers were presented by Rev. Dr. Thomas Kollamparampil CMI (President, Dharmaram College, Bangalore), Rev. Dr. James Puthuparampil OIC (Director, Bethany Vedavijnana Peeth, Pune), Rev. Dr. Kuriakose Thadathil (Professor, Malankara Seminary, Trivandrum) and Rev. Dr. Philip Chempakassery (Professor, Malankara Seminary Trivandrum).

 

The Second Session of the Fourth Holy Episcopal Synod

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The Second Session of the fourth Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church which earlier convoked from the 5th to 7th of March 2008, opened at 4pm, on 15th July 2008, at the Catholicate Centre, Pattom, Trivandrum. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the President, Most Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos, the Secretary, Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios, Most Rev. Abraham Mar Julios and Most Rev. Jacob Mar Barnabas participated in the Synod that was convoked to examine and study the draft of the Code of Particular Law of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church. Besides Fr. Anthony Valiyavilayil OIC, Rev. Fr. John Kochuthundil and Rev. Fr. Thomas Kuzhinapurath, experts in Oriental Canon Law, were invited to the Synod to assist the Synod Fathers in the study of the draft. This session ended on 17th July, 2008.

 

Mar Ivanios Day

The 55th Feast of Commemoration of the Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios ended with the Holy Qurbono, the commemoration meeting and the Prayer of Incense at the tomb chapel. The pilgrims were received at the entrance of the Cathedral church at 8.30am . Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, Major Archbishop of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church was the main celebrant of the Holy Qurbono; the Metropolitans and Rev. Priests were the concelebrants. A large number of Priests, Sisters and faithful were present there for all the programs.

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