The Eparchial Bishop, His Excellency Most Rev. Philipos Mar Stephanos, has appointed Rev. Fr. Noby Ayyaneth as the Director of the Malankara Catholic Pastoral Center. He took charge of this office on October 16. The Eparchy offers its prayerful best wishes to Rev. Fr. Noby Ayyaneth on this new endeavour.
Bishop Stephanos attends Columbus Day Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York
The Eparchial Bishop, His Excellency Philipos Mar Stephanos, and Rev. Fr. Jobin Thomas attended the 44th annual Columbus Day Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on October 11, 2021. The annual Mass celebrates Italian heritage and the unique contribution of Italian Americans to New York City and the country. Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, was the principal celebrant. His Excellency Philipos Mar Stephanos joined Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York, Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, Octavio Cisneros, Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn, James Massa, Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn and Rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary, and Edmund Whalen, Auxiliary Bishop of New York as concelebrants. The Bishops were joined by priests of their dioceses in concelebrating the Mass.
Apostolic Nuncio makes informal visit to Malankara Catholic Church
Thiruvananthapuram: Apostolic Nuncio to India, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, made an informal visit to the Malankara Catholic Church headquarters, the Catholicate Centre, the Major Archbishop’s House, the tomb of Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios, and St. Mary’s Cathedral in Thiruvananthapuram. He was received by His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, the head and father of the Malankara Catholic Church.
The Apostolic Nuncio, who is the official representative of the Pope from the Vatican, is based in Delhi. This is his first visit to Kerala since taking up his new position.
During his visit, the Apostolic Nuncio met with various leaders of the Malankara Catholic Church, including the Major Archbishop, bishops, and priests. He also visited various parishes and institutions of the church.
The Apostolic Nuncio’s visit is a sign of the close ties between the Malankara Catholic Church and the Vatican. It is also a way for the Apostolic Nuncio to learn more about the church and its work in Kerala.
Appointment of Rev. Dr. Saji Mukkoot as Director of Malankara Catholic Missions in the USA
The Eparchial Bishop, His Excellency Most Rev. Philipos Mar Stephanos, has appointed Rev. Dr. Saji Mukkoot as the Director of Malankara Catholic Missions in the United States. He took charge of this office on October 1, 2021. The Eparchy offers its prayerful best wishes to Rev. Dr. Saji Mukkoot on this new endeavour.
Appointment of Fr. Jerry Mathew in Chicago
The Eparchial Bishop, His Excellency Most Rev. Philipos Mar Stephanos, has appointed Rev. Fr. Jerry Mathew as the new Pastor of St. Mary’s Syro-Malankara Catholic Church of Chicago. He took charge of the parish on October 1, 2021. The Eparchy extends a hearty welcome to Fr. Jerry Mathew and wishes him God’s blessings.
Meeting with Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston
The Eparchial Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Philipos Mar Stephanos met with His Eminence Daniel Cardinal Dinardo, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and Most Rev. Italo DellOro, Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston Houston, at the Chancery Office in Houston. Rev. Fr. Binny Philip, the Pastor of the St. Peter’s Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in Houston was also present.
Purchase of the School Building Complex in Elmont, New York
It is with profound gratitude to God that St. Mary, Queen of Peace Eparchy realized its long-cherished dream of purchasing the school building complex on September 1, 2021, with the intention of developing a Pastoral and Charitable Center, in Elmont, New York. The Eparchy expresses its heartfelt gratitude to H.E. Philipos Mar Stephanos who worked tirelessly to see this dream come to fruition, and to our former Eparch, H.E. Thomas Mar Eusebius who laid the foundation for the Eparchy to pursue this dream. Thank you to all the Malankara clergy, religious and to all the faithful for your generosity in helping build up the Eparchy in North America. The Eparchy also recalls with immense gratitude Bishop William Murphy, the former Bishop of Rockville Center, Bishop John Barres, Msgr. Richard Figliozzi, and the Diocese of Rockville Center for the beautiful expression of Christian fraternity and ecclesial solidarity. The Eparchy appreciates all the works done by Rt. Rev. Augustine Mangalath Corepiscopo, the Vicar General of the Eparchy, and Fr. Mark Cregan, the Attorney representing the Eparchy.
Gurgaon Syro Malankara Eparchy Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas Passes Away
Most Rev. Jacob Mar Barnabas (60) Bishop of Gurgaon Syro Malankara Eparchy passed away on Thursday 26 August, 2021 at 1.30pm at Fortis Hospital New Delhi. He was undergoing post Covid treatment. Funeral details are awaited.
Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas was born on 3 December 1960 at Karikulam, Ranni, Pathanamthitta in central Kerala. He was the eldest among the eight with three brothers and five sisters. Three of his sisters are nuns in the Congregation of the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ.
He joined the Order of the Imitation of Christ in 1975 after his schooling at Ranni and completed his Pre-Degree Course from Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum; took his First Profession in 1979 after his novitiate at Thapovanam Bethany Ashram, Aluva; did his Pre-philosophy at Papal Seminary, Pune and completed his Philosophy and Theology at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeetham (JDV), Pune. His Final Profession was on 15 May, 1985. He was one among the first batch of theologians at Bethany Vedavijnana Peeth (BVP), Pune.
He was ordained Priest on 2 October, 1986 by His Grace Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios at Mount Bethany, Mylapra. The new priest was given the charge of religious formation for pre-novices; later he was sent to Academia Alfonsiana, Rome for pursuing higher studies in Moral Theology. During his priestly ministry, Fr. Chacko Aerath OIC held various positions of great responsibility, viz. Superior, Bethany Ashram, Pune; Rector, BVP, Pune; Professor and Head of the Department of Pastoral and Moral Theology at JDV, Pune; Visiting Professor to various seminaries including Malankara Major Seminary. He was elected as the first Provincial Superior of Bethany Navajyothi Province in 2000.
On 7 February, 2007 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as the Apostolic Visitator with an Episcopal Character for the Malankara Community in the Extra Territorial Regions in India and the Titular Bishop of Bapara. The Bishop designate Msgr. Aerath OIC was ordained Ramban on 7 March, 2007 at St. Marys School, Ranni, Pathanamthitta.
He was ordained as Bishop by His Beatitude Major Archbishop Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos on 10 March 2007 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram. He was installed in his new office at New Delhi on 22 March, 2007. Later, His Holiness Pope Francis erected a new diocese for Syro Malankara faithful which comprises of 22 states, and Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas was appointed as the first bishop of the diocese of Gurgaon. The inauguration of the diocese was held on 1st May 2015 at St. Marys Cathedral Church. He is a priest 34 year years and a Bishop for 14 years.
Celebrating 15 Years of syromalankara.church: A Journey of Faith and Connection
August 2021: Syromalankara.church marks its 15th anniversary amidst unprecedented times. Since our inception in 2006, we’ve grown to become the definitive digital destination for news and insights about the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, amassing over 700 news articles and welcoming more than 200,000 visitors.
Reflecting on Our Journey
Over the past 15 years, syromalankara.church has meticulously compiled an expansive archive of over 700 articles, capturing the vibrant history and growth of our church. Our mission has always been to unite our global community through faith, heritage, and shared stories. The platform stands as a testament to our dedication and passion for bringing together a community spread across the world, united by faith and heritage.
Impact of the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected our lives, including our ability to gather for worship. Lockdowns and restrictions have made it challenging to attend church services, disrupting our spiritual routines. However, during these difficult times, syromalankara.church has strived to keep our community connected and informed, serving as a destination of hope and faith. The website has become a critical space for connection, learning, and celebrating our faith, especially when physical gatherings have been limited.
Our Platform
We understand the importance of staying connected with our roots and the global community. Syromalankara.church is more than just a news aggregator; it is a space for connection, learning, and celebrating our faith. Whether you are looking for the latest news, seeking to understand our church’s history, or wanting to feel closer to your community, our website is here to serve you.
Gratitude to Our Community
We are deeply grateful to our 200,000+ visitors who have engaged with our content over the years. Your support and active participation have been instrumental in our journey. Your engagement with our 700+ posts has helped create a vibrant online community, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose.
Looking Forward
As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to expanding our platform beyond just news. We aim to contribute to the spiritual development of all Malankarites, offering new ideas and initiatives to enrich our community. However, we cannot do this alone. We call upon volunteers who share our passion to join us in this mission. Your contributions, whether in news, ideas, or website maintenance, are invaluable.
Join Us
We invite you to be part of our journey forward. Together, let’s continue to build a strong, connected, and spiritually enriched community. If you wish to volunteer and contribute, please contact us here.
Thank you for your continued support. Here’s to many more years of growth and faith.
Happy Reading!
Syromalankara.church Team
MCYMNA Chai & Chat
MCYMNA hosted a virtual Chai & Chat session on June 1st at 7:30 pm with a theme centralized around Asian American Heritage month in May. The speaker, Fr. Thomas Betz gave an excellent presentation on Asian American history and how the Catholic faith plays a transformative role in the current social and political environment surrounding violence and hate crimes committed against the Asian communities. The attendees were very engaged and enthused by Fr. Betz’s knowledge on the topic as well as his lasting relationship with the Malankara community.
