Nine seminarians received the Minor Order ‘maudyono’ from Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the Major Archbishop of tthe Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum on 30th March,2009 at St. Aloysius Minor Seminary, Nalanchira.
MCYM Action Plan Inaugurated for Marthandom Diocese
Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, the Metroploitan of the Eparchy of Marthandom inaugurated the action plan of the Malankara Catholic Youth Movement of the Eparchy, at Meckodu parish. During the ceremony, the Statuets of MCYM also released. Rt. Rev. Dr. Mariadasan, the Vicar General, Rev. Fr. Jose Bright, the Eparchial Director and Mr. Aji Daniel, the President MCYM, Trivandrum Major Archdiocese spoke during the meeting.
Don’t malign Church in Kerala: Archbishop
THE Marxist Communist party-led Kerala government is at it again – taunting Christians in the State.
A fresh row has erupted over a series of educational CDs published by the State government, which according to Christians portrays the church in bad light.
A CD titled ‘The Wound’ distributed to serve as teaching aids in schools attempted to ‘malign’ the church, a section of the Christians in the state said.
In a statement, the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church urged the Kerala State Education Department to withdraw the CDs which were anti-Christian in character.
“The Church is concerned and pained, and strongly protests, the persecution of one religious community,” Catholicos Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, said.
“The controversial CDs can be seen only as a continuation of the insult meted out by the Department to the Church during the past two years”, Mar Cleemis added.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Instructions has ordered a probe and also placed under suspension a teacher based in Kodakara in Thrissur for allegedly distributing the CD.
Education Minister M A Baby however was dismissive of the controversy.
On March 9, he said that the film was not meant as a study aid and that it had made its way mistakenly into a CD while downloading.
News reports said the church has opposed to all three CDs, ‘Murivu’, ‘Typewriter’ which is alleged to be offensive and “The Wound” which narrates the story of a boy who was struck by grief when a lamb gifted to him by a wounded man was run over by a car in which a person dressed like a bishop was traveling.
The CPI-M government has had a several run-ins with the church in Kerala in the recent past. In 2007, politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan and the Syro Malabar Church were involved in a war of words over a former legislator Mathai Chacko. Vijayan called Bishop Mar Paul Chitilapally ‘good for nothing’ and a ‘useless person’ after the latter claimed that Mathai Chacko, a committed Communist, took the last sacrament just before he died. When the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) took Vijayan to task over the ‘unparliamentary words’, he retracted his statement.
Last year, the KCBC and the Communist party-led government in Kerala were involved in a fracas over social science textbooks for 7th class students. The church alleged that the book instilled anti-religious feelings and atheistic attitudes in the minds of children and demanded its withdrawal. In the centre of the controversy then, Education Minister Baby refused to withdraw the textbook but offered a dialogue to discuss the ‘objectionable’ portions.
Fr. Jacob Olickal is appointed as the Minor Seminary Rector (Bathery Diocese)
Rev. Dr. Jacob Olickal took charge as the new Rector of St. Thomas minor seminary. Fr. Olickal was working as the vice-rector of the minor seminary since the past one year. Rev. Dr. Thomas Kanjiramukalil, the former rector of the seminary is appointed as the in charge of the construction work of the cathedral. At present, he is also working as the chancellor of the diocese. His residence will be in the bishop’s house from 15th March 2009. He has been given a grand send off by the staff and students of the minor seminary on 13th March. His Excellency Geevarghese Mar Divannasios and the priests living in the nearby institutions were present on the occasion.
The Holy Father confers the title “Monsignor” on Rev. Fr. Johnson Varughese Kaimalayil
Rev. Fr. Johnson Varughese Kaimalayil, presently serving the Congregation for the Oriental Churches of the Holy See (Rome) as Official, has been promoted as Secretary, Class First, Level VIII. This promotion has been accepted by the Secretary of State. The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has conferred on him the title “Monsignor”. This message has been conveyed to His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.
On behalf of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, the Major Archbishop Catholicos and the Holy Episcopal Synod have conveyed congratulations and best wishes to Rt. Rev. Monsignor Johnson Varughese Kaimalyil.
Monsignor Johnson Varughese Kaimalayil, belongs to the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum and hails from St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church Anchal. He was born on 22 June 1968. On completing Pre-degree from St. John’s College Anchal, he joined the St. Aloysius Minor Seminary Trivandrum. On completing the Theology course from St. Peter’s Seminary Bangalore he was ordained priest on 7 April 1994. After a few years of pastoral ministry in Mariagiri (1994-`95) and Chirattakonam (1995-’98) he was sent to the Pontifical Oriental Institute Rome in the year 1998. He completed his Doctorate from the Institute in the year 2004. In the same year he was appointed Official of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in Rome.
– Fr. Antony Valiyavilayil OIC
Chancellor
Rev. Fr. Cherian Thazhamon appointed as Chief General Manager of Rashtra Deepika
Rev. Fr. Cherian Thazhamon of the Archdiocese of Tiruvalla is appointed as the Chief General Manager of Rashtra Deepika Company. He is the first priest of the Malankara Catholic Church to assume this office in Rashtra Deepika. He holds MSW and Diploma in Journalism and in Creative Writing. He served the Archdiocese as Public Relations Officer of Pushpagiri Medical College, Vicar of St. John’s Cathedral, Corporate Manager of Archdiocese, Director of Youth and Family Apostolates. Now he is the President of Centre for Environmental and Sustainable Development in India.
The Eighth Holy Episcopal Synod ended
Elect the Guardians of Democracy and Secularism: Malankara Catholic Synod
The Malankara Catholic Episcopal Synod concluded with a call to the citizens to vote in the next parliamentary elections for a stable government that will protect the secular nature and democratic system of the country. The exercise of the right to vote is the most important obligation in a democratic society. Exercise it in accordance with one’s conscience.
The Synod hopes that the recent social order and political circumstances would encourage all to take the right decision. As a minority, the Indian Church is striving for self-protection. The Synod urged that the proposals of the committee for the revision of law shall not be accepted and the attempt to subvert the value system of the society shall be condemned by all. In different circumstances the Church in Kerala had to battle for the justice.
Alcohol for sixteen thousand crores of Rupees was sold in Kerala in the last five years. There is the need of a serious change in policy that encourages income to the public treasury ignoring the ruin of a generation. We need a government that serves the public good. The darkness that has enveloped all sectors life, especially those of education and labour, due to increasing political interests, has not vanished. The conscious attempt to devalue the judicial system, in which the people have not still lost faith, is a serious concern. The Church takes note of the alarming swell in atrocities and law and order problems. The Synod said that in this special situation, the elected representatives should represent those denied justice and they should be individuals of transparent public life. They should take nepotism, vested interests and corruption as challenges and overcome malice and evil in the society.
The Synod discussed matters of pastoral interest to the Church and took decisions. The sacrament of matrimony, permanent diaconate, the major seminary formation, the Code of Particular law of the Church were some of the topics covered by the present Synod. In the Synod presided over by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos were present Archbishop Thomas Mar Koorilos and Bishops Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Joshua Mar Ignathios, Abraham Mar Julios, Geevarghese Mar Timotheos, Joseph Mar Thomas and Jacob Mar Barnabas.
New Church Blessed at Ektanagar, Akurdi Chinchwad, Pune
His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos blessed the newly constructed church of the St. Thomas Malankara Catholic Community at Chinchwad of Pune Region in the presence of His Excellency Jacob Mar Barnabas, on Wednesday 25 February. It is the seventh parish community in Pune to have its own church. The function started at 4.00pm with a colourful reception to the dignitaries. It was followed by the blessing ceremony and felicitation meeting. During the felicitation meeting, the Pune Malankara Catholic region officially felicitated the Major Archbishop who did his first visit as the Father and Head of the Malankara Catholic Church. Mr. P.V. Thomas, Bar Itho Kashiro (Diligent Son of the Church) is given the official medal by the Catholicos. It was followed by the Con-celebrated Holy Qurbono presided over by Jacob Mar Barnabas. The programme concluded by public meeting and agape. Rev. Mother Patience SIC (Provincial Muvattupuzha Province), Dr. John Berchumans OIC (the former Co-ordinator ETRI), Rev. Fr. Peter John (Co-ordinator ETRI Southern Region) and V. A. George (Trustee, MCA) delivered felicitation speeches. Many priests, religious, Rev. brothers and faithful were present during the ceremonies. Rev. Fr. Benedict OIC (Parish Priest), K. G. Samuel (Trustee) and M. M. Mathew (Secretary) gave leadership to the programme.
Joint meeting of the Women Religious in the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum
A joint meeting of the women religious who are working in the major archdiocese of Trivandrum was held at St. Mary’s Cathedral on 23 February 2007. The Major Archbishop Catholicos was present throughout the meeting. The meeting started with Holy Qurbono. Then Dr. Alexander Jacob IPS took class on religious life. 475 religious were present during the meeting. The meeting closed with the blessing of Catholicos.
Very. Rev. Bro. Jose Valliara CMSF is the new Superior General of the Franciscan Missionary Brothers (CMSF)
During the General Synaxis of the Pontifical Congregation of the Franciscan Missionary Brothers (CMSF) held from February 8 to 23 at Generalte House (Mt. Poinsur, Borivli West, Mumbai) elected .V. Rev. Bro. Jose Valliara CMSF the Superior General of the Congregation. Bro. George Thottiyil CMSF is elected as the Assistant Superior General. Bros. Bruno Malayil, Abraham Maruthunkuzhi, Barthalomeos Condulna, Wulfgang Stromer, Sabrimuthu Ambrose are the Councilors.
