MCA Tiruvalla Region’s 2025 Santhwana Yathra Begins with Faith and Charity

SMCC
-
0
MCA Tiruvalla Region’s 2025 Santhwana Yathra Begins with Faith and Charity

Tiruvalla – May 2025

It began not with applause, but with a prayer. A flag raised not in triumph, but in service. The 2025 Santhwana Yathra of the Malankara Catholic Association (MCA) Tiruvalla Region was formally inaugurated at St. John’s Cathedral, Tiruvalla, as the faithful prepared to carry the light of consolation to communities in need.

The mission caravan, organised under the leadership of the MCA Tiruvalla Region, is part of Mission 2025, an ecclesial initiative designed to reach the spiritually and materially deprived areas of India’s mission territories—this year with a special focus on the rural regions of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The inauguration ceremony was led by Rev. Fr. Santhosh (Cherian) Azhakath, Director of Catechetics for the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla. He handed over the MCA flag to Shri Biju George, President of the Tiruvalla Region MCA, symbolising the start of the sacred journey. Rev. Fr. Mathai Vazhayil offered prayers for the success of the mission and for all who would be served along its route.

The event was attended by MCA Tiruvalla Archieparchy President Shri Biju Palathingal, who offered words of encouragement and blessings to the mission team. Rev. Fr. Sajan Peedikayil coordinated the event and provided logistical leadership.

True to the spirit of Malankara’s apostolic call, the mission team has taken with them not only the Good News but also educational supplies for 2000 schoolchildren, collected from various parishes, carefully packed at Changanacherry and loaded onto a mission truck headed south.

The mission team will be received at Hosur on Saturday by MCA Global President Shri Baiju S.R., who has been a steadfast supporter of all mission endeavours from the ecclesial level.

The return of the team is scheduled for the following week, after completing their pastoral and charitable engagements. The mission is being guided by a dedicated leadership team including Tiruvalla Region President Shri Biju George, Spiritual Director Rev. Fr. Mathai Vazhayil, Shri John Mammen, Smt. Mini David, Shri Reji A.C., Rev. Fr. Jose Bennett, and Rev. Fr. Christudas.

As the wheels roll across borders and the hymn of hope is sung in new lands, we are reminded that mission is not merely an event—it is the heartbeat of the Church. And those who go forth with sandals of peace are not mere pilgrims, but vessels of grace.

Let us keep the mission team in our prayers and uphold their work with joy and solidarity.

Consecration of the New Avaneeshwaram Parish Church by Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos

SMCC
-
0
Consecration of the New Avaneeshwaram Parish Church by Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos

Avaneeswaram – 24 May 2025

What begins with water and prayer becomes no ordinary building—it becomes a dwelling of the Most High. On Saturday, 24 May 2025, at 2:00 PM, the faithful of St Mary’s Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, Avaneeswaram, gathered in solemn devotion as their newly constructed church, dedicated in the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was consecrated with great liturgical dignity.

Presiding over the sacred rite was His Eminent Beatitude Cardinal Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and shepherd of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum. Assisting in the holy act was His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Mathews Mor Polycarpos, Auxiliary Bishop of the Major Archieparchy.

This event marked a profound moment in the life of the Avaneeswaram parish, originally established in 1966 by the beloved and ever-remembered Archbishop Benedict Mor Gregorios. What he once planted as a seed of faith has now, nearly six decades later, flowered into a place of worship resplendent in grace.

The consecration ceremony encompassed the blessing of the new church, the foot of the Cross (Kurishadi), the stone cross (Kalkurishu), and the ceremonial flagpole (Kodimaram)—each element woven into the rich sacramental tradition of our West Syriac Rite.

In the hush of the afternoon, as sacred hymns rose like incense, the faithful witnessed not merely the completion of a structure, but the fulfilment of prayers whispered over generations. Stone met blessing, wood met Word, and water met Spirit. The very ground seemed to echo the Magnificat, as the Church—Mother and Bride—stood radiant once more.

May this house of God now serve as a wellspring of holiness, where sacraments flow, burdens are lifted, and the divine liturgy elevates our hearts heavenward. Let it stand as a witness to the enduring faith of our people and the maternal care of Our Lady, Mother of God, under whose name this church has been placed.

We give thanks, and we remember.

Sanctified in the Name of the Theotokos: Consecration of the Renovated St. Mary’s Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, Chirattakonam

SMCC
-
0
Sanctified in the Name of the Theotokos: Consecration of the Renovated St. Mary’s Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, Chirattakonam

Chirattakonam – 23 May 2025

In the quiet heart of Chirattakonam, where faith ripens in silence and devotion springs like a hidden well, a sacred chapter unfolded on the afternoon of 23 May 2025. The St. Mary’s Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, lovingly renovated and rededicated to the protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, was solemnly consecrated in the presence of clergy, religious, and the faithful of the region.

The Koodasha Karmam (Rite of Dedication) was celebrated with great spiritual fervour under the principal liturgical leadership of His Eminent Beatitude Cardinal Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and head of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum.

His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Mathews Mor Polycarpos, Auxiliary Bishop of the Major Archieparchy, concelebrated and offered his blessings as co-celebrant, marking the day with solemn dignity and pastoral grace.

The renovated church, standing as a spiritual centre for the Chirattakonam region, now gleams as a visible sign of the Malankara Church’s living faith and unbroken tradition. It is more than stone and structure; it is a house of prayer built upon generations of trust in divine providence.

With this act of consecration, the faithful of Chirattakonam have reclaimed their sacred space in renewed beauty and rededicated it to God’s service. Each litany sung, every drop of oil anointed, and each grain of incense offered became part of a spiritual tapestry—binding heaven and earth in liturgical splendour.

As the bell rang out over the newly sanctified space, it was not merely a sound but a summons—a call to prayer, to community, and to a future rooted in the grace of the present moment.

May the prayers that rise from this holy place bring healing to the weary, strength to the weak, and joy to all who call upon the name of the Blessed Mother, Queen of Peace and Protectress of the Malankara Church.

Foundational Stone of St Benedict Malankara Catholic Church, Konnithazham, Blessed by the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV

SMCC
-
0
Foundational Stone of St Benedict Malankara Catholic Church, Konnithazham, Blessed by the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV

Vatican – May 2025

There are rare moments when heaven seems to stoop gently to earth — and one such moment unfolded in the Eternal City.

His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Mor Irenios, Bishop of Pathanamthitta, was received in solemn grace by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican this May. In a gesture both deeply symbolic and spiritually profound, the Holy Father personally blessed the foundational stone of the newly rebuilt St Benedict Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, Konnithazham, and handed it over to His Excellency.

This is not merely a ceremony etched in protocol; it is a living gesture of communion — a sign that the universal Church watches over even our most humble parishes with love and concern. The parish of Konnithazham, rooted deeply in the spiritual soil of the Pathanamthitta Eparchy, now holds a direct bond with the See of Peter.

When this stone is laid into the earth of Konnithazham, it will do more than bear the physical weight of the church. It will carry the memory of an Anugrahitha Nimisham — a Blessed Moment — when a church from the verdant hills of Kerala was spiritually embraced in the heart of Christendom.

May this act strengthen the faith of our people, and may the intercession of St Benedict, patron of the parish, bless the construction and consecration of this sacred temple.

Consecration of “Shalom Bhavan”: A Shepherd’s Dwelling Rises in Anchal

SMCC
-
0
Consecration of “Shalom Bhavan”: A Shepherd’s Dwelling Rises in Anchal

Anchal – 22 May 2025

There are houses made of stone and there are houses made of prayer. When both come together, they form a dwelling not just for the body, but for the soul entrusted with the care of souls. Such a home was consecrated at 3:00 PM on 22 May 2025 at the Mar Gregorios Campus in Anchal, the pastoral nerve centre of the Anchal Ecclesiastical District.

“Shalom Bhavan,” the newly constructed priest residence, was solemnly blessed by His Eminent Beatitude Cardinal Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, with the co-celebration of His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Mathews Mor Polycarpos, Auxiliary Bishop of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum.

This building is more than walls and rooms—it is a tribute, a remembrance, a continuation. It was erected in honour of the late Venerable Msgr. Alexander Valiyaveettil Corepiscopa, who served this region alongside the saintly Venerable Mar Ivanios and the esteemed Archbishop Mar Gregorios with unwavering dedication for decades.

The residence stands today not as an isolated structure, but as part of the living legacy of pastoral care, formed in prayer and shaped by sacrifice. Attached to the residence is a chapel—a sacred sanctuary consecrated in the name of Venerable Carlo Acutis, a saintly youth of our times whose life of Eucharistic devotion has captured the imagination of this generation.

That this house bears the name “Shalom”—peace—is fitting. For it is meant to be a place of prayerful rest and spiritual readiness for priests, who are called to be instruments of Christ’s peace in a world all too familiar with unrest.

May “Shalom Bhavan” become a space where the clergy find not only shelter but strength; not only retreat but renewal. And may the memory of those who served here before, especially Msgr. Alexander Valiyaveettil Corepiscopa, continue to inspire generations of priests to come—who, like him, will walk humbly with God and serve faithfully in the vineyard of the Lord.

With Thanksgiving and Blessings: Farewell to His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mor Ignathios as He Enters Retirement

SMCC
-
0
With Thanksgiving and Blessings: Farewell to His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mor Ignathios as He Enters Retirement

Mavelikara – 21st May, 2025

In a moment woven with both gratitude and grace, the faithful of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Mavelikara offered heartfelt farewell prayers and warm tributes to His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mor Ignathios, as he enters his well-earned time of retirement after decades of dedicated episcopal service.

The celebration began with the Holy Qurbono of Thanksgiving, led by His Excellency Mor Ignathios himself. Concelebrating with him were Rev. Dr. John Vaipil, Rev. Fr. Robert Palavilayil, Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Mathew Chenkilath, and Rev. Fr. Daniel Puthenpurackal, who together expressed their fraternal love at the altar.

Following the Divine Liturgy, a meeting was held under the gracious presidency of His Excellency. Words of affection and esteem were shared by Rev. Dr. Msgr. Stephen Kulathumkarott, Rev. Fr. Mathew Jacob Thiruvalil, Rev. Sr. Pushpa S.I.C., and Mr. Rajan Punchakkala, among others.

Parish Trustee Mr. Thomas Mathew Puthiyidam extended a heartfelt welcome, while Secretary Mr. Sajan Varghese offered the vote of thanks. Rev. Fr. Mathew Chenkilath, the Parish Priest, led all the arrangements with careful attention and affection, making the event one of deep spiritual and emotional significance.

As a token of their love and gratitude, the parish community presented a memento to His Excellency, conveying their prayerful wishes for his days ahead. The celebration concluded with blessings and communal prayers, surrounding His Excellency with warmth and reverence.

His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mor Ignathios, who shepherded the flock of Mavelikara with zeal, wisdom, and unwavering faith, now steps into a quieter chapter—yet his imprint remains deep within the life of the Church and in the hearts of his people.

Let our prayers accompany him in thanksgiving, and may this season of rest be filled with the peace of Christ whom he served so faithfully.

Laying the Foundation Stone: Sixth Home Blessed under MCYM–KMRM Kuwait Housing Project

SMCC
-
0
Laying the Foundation Stone: Sixth Home Blessed under MCYM–KMRM Kuwait Housing Project

Pathanamthitta – 19 May 2025

In the quiet morning hours of Monday, 19 May 2025, a small patch of earth in the St Mary’s Malankara Syrian Catholic Parish, Mekozhoor, was touched by grace. The occasion was the laying of the foundation stone for the sixth home being constructed under the Housing Project jointly undertaken by the Malankara Catholic Youth Movement (MCYM) and the Kuwait Region of Malankara Rite Movement (KMRM).

This initiative, rooted in the Gospel call to charity, has grown quietly and faithfully—house by house, prayer by prayer. The foundation stone was blessed and laid in the presence of Rt. Rev. Msgr. Jose Chamakalayil Ramban, Rev. Fr. Mathew Alumoottil, and Rev. Fr. Robin Kalathivila, with the service led by Rev. Fr. David Pezhummoottil (Jithu), Parish Priest of the Mekozhoor Church.

Also present were Mr James K. S., President of MCYM, and Mr Gilto James, former MCYM President and Coordinator of the Housing Project. Their steady commitment continues to bring light into the lives of the poor and marginalised within our Eparchy.

This sixth home is not merely a structure of bricks and mortar—it is a dwelling raised by love, prayer, and sacrifice. In an age where generosity often slips into silence, this project echoes the spirit of the Good Samaritan, restoring hope to those whose lives cry out for shelter and dignity.

May the Lord bless the family who will one day step across this threshold, and may those who give and serve through this project be rewarded in abundance.

Rev. Sr. Jocelyn Edathil, SIC, First Indian-Origin Religious Sister from the USA, Makes Perpetual Profession of Vows at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Trivandrum

SMCC
-
0
Rev. Sr. Jocelyn Edathil, SIC, First Indian-Origin Religious Sister from the USA, Makes Perpetual Profession of Vows at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Trivandrum

In a solemn and significant liturgical celebration, Rev. Sr. Jocelyn Edathil of the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ (SIC) made her Perpetual Profession of Vows on Saturday, 17 May 2025, at the Malankara Syrian Catholic Major Archeparchial Cathedral, St. Mary’s, Pattom, Trivandrum. The ceremony was presided over by His Grace Archbishop Thomas Mor Koorilos, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla.

The day was further graced by the presence of His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mor Ignathios, His Grace Archbishop Dr. George Panamthundil, and His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Antony Mor Silvanos, whose participation added to the spiritual richness of the event.

The Eparchy rejoices with Sr. Jocelyn and the SIC congregation on this blessed occasion, praying that her witness inspires many to consider the call to religious life. Sr. Jocelyn’s journey holds special significance as she is the first religious sister of Indian origin from the United States to make her Perpetual Profession of Vows in the Syro Malankara Catholic Church. Almost nine years ago, on 6 August 2016, she made her initial religious profession at the Syro Malankara Catholic Cathedral in Elmont, New York, with His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mor Eusebius officiating. That moment marked a historic development for the Indian Christian diaspora in America, and today’s ceremony reaffirms her enduring dedication to the Church’s mission.

Sr. Jocelyn belongs to a family with deep roots in the Syro Malankara Catholic tradition. Her brother, Rev. Fr. Michael Edathil, is noted as the first American-born priest ordained for the Syro Malankara Catholic Exarchate in the United States. The family’s clerical heritage extends to their late uncle, Fr. Varughese “George” Edathil, who served with devotion in Kerala, India. This background reflects a family committed to serving the Church across continents.

The Perpetual Profession ceremony was attended by a large gathering, including Reverend Mother Little Flower SIC, Mother General of the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ; Mother Karunya SIC, Provincial Superior of the Trivandrum Province; and many Bethany Sisters from the United States, India, and Germany. Clergy, religious, and hundreds of faithful joined in solemn prayer and celebration, honouring Sr. Jocelyn’s commitment.

Sr. Jocelyn’s profession is a clear witness to the vitality of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church’s mission, both in diaspora communities and at its historic roots in the West Syriac Rite tradition. Her example encourages many to consider the call to religious life and to uphold faithfulness, humility, and dedication in their service.

As the Church celebrates this important event, the Syro Malankara Catholic community offers prayers for Rev. Sr. Jocelyn Edathil, asking for God’s abundant blessings upon her ministry and the communities she serves. May she continue to strengthen the faith of the people entrusted to her care through her life of devotion.

Sr. Jocelyn Edathil SIC
Dated 6th August 2016

His Eminence Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos and Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Yonan Visit the Maronite Mariamite Monastery

SMCC
-
0
His Eminence Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos and Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Yonan Visit the Maronite Mariamite Monastery

Rome – 17 May 2025

In a moment that resonated with the unity and spiritual kinship of the Eastern Catholic Churches, His Eminence Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, and His Beatitude Moran Mor Ignatius Joseph III Yonan, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East of the Syriac Catholic Church, visited the Monastery of the Maronite Mariamite Order in Rome.

They were warmly received by the Superior General of the Order, Abbot Edmond Rizk, along with the priests and seminarians of the monastery.

The Maronite Mariamite Order, also known as the Aleppians, was founded in 1694 in the Monastery of Mart Moura, Ehden, Lebanon, by three Maronite young men from Aleppo, Syria, under the patronage of Patriarch Estephan Douaihy. The Order has a significant presence in Rome, including the Great Monastery of Saint Antonius.

This visit underscores the deep fraternal bonds among the Eastern Catholic Churches and their shared commitment to spiritual growth and unity within the universal Church.

May this encounter inspire continued collaboration and mutual support among the Eastern Catholic communities worldwide.

Two New Deacons Ordained in the Eparchy of Parassala

SMCC
-
0
Two New Deacons Ordained in the Eparchy of Parassala

Parassala — In the quiet dawn of Friday, 16th May 2025, a sacred and stirring chapter unfolded within the Eparchy of Parassala as two young men, Br. Akhil Peeter of Shalom Bhavan and Br. Joby Joseph of Puthenveedu, responded to the timeless call to serve Christ’s Church in the full order of the diaconate. This holy ordination, held at Snehadeepam Minor Seminary, was a moment marked by prayer, solemnity, and the profound joy that accompanies those who embrace a life consecrated to God’s people.

His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mor Eusebius, Bishop of Parassala, presided over the sacred rite as chief celebrant. The imposition of hands and invocation of the Holy Spirit consecrated the two brothers to the sacred ministry of the diaconate — a ministry rooted in service, humility, and unwavering devotion to the proclamation of the Gospel.

The presence of Very Rev. Fr. Jose Konnathuvila, Vicar General of the Eparchy, added to the spiritual gravity of the occasion. Joined by parish priests, numerous clergy, religious sisters, seminarians, and a large congregation of faithful — including the proud families of the newly ordained — the assembly bore witness to this moment of grace and dedication.

This ordination was no mere ceremony but a vivid testament to the Church’s living mission: to nurture vocations and commission servants for the Lord’s vineyard. The brothers, standing reverently at the altar, embodied the promise of a life of self-giving love, obedience, and zeal for the Lord’s service.

Guided by the care of the Seminary’s Rector, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Thunduthattu, and Vice Rector, Rev. Fr. Anit Francis Mullassery, every element of the celebration was suffused with prayerful solemnity, reflecting the grandeur and sanctity befitting this holy event.

The community now unites in prayerful support, imploring God’s blessings upon Br. Akhil Peeter and Br. Joby Joseph. May they continue to grow in holiness and fidelity, embodying with joy and steadfastness the diaconal calling to serve Christ and His Church.

1...456...136Page 5 of 136