Parish Day and Foundation Stone Ceremony at St George Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, Meenadam

St George Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, Meenadam, marked its Parish Day with heartfelt devotion and a sense of shared purpose. The parish observed its sixty-ninth year on Sunday, 30 November 2025, following the long-held custom that has shaped its communal life. Fr. Thomas Prasobh Kolliyelil OIC, Provincial Secretary of Aluva Bethany Navajyothi, offered the Holy Qurbono and led the faithful in prayer.

A moment of deep joy for the parish came with the laying of the first stone for the church now rising on its grounds. His Grace Most Rev. Dr Thomas Mor Koorilos, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tiruvalla and the parish’s shepherd, presided over the rite. The congregation received this moment with gratitude, seeing in it a step that carries the hopes of many years. The stone was placed not as an ornament, but as a quiet pledge that the parish is building for generations yet to come.

After the Holy Qurbono, the gathering honoured young parishioners who brought pride through academic excellence: Albin Reji (Vayalikollatt), Japheth Lalu Jacob (Nedumbel), Sneha Stanlin (Eettikkal), and Ashitha Wilson (Thengumpurayidam). Their achievements were appreciated in front of the parish community, reminding all that intellectual effort and character go hand in hand.

The parish also expressed gratitude to Mr Reji Chacko (Chamakal), who served as the member of the tenth ward of Meenadam Grama Panchayat from 2020 to 2025. His contributions to the civic sphere were acknowledged with respect.

The meeting was chaired by Rev. Prashobh Thomas O.I.C. Deepthimol Joy (Kakkanattu) led the prayerful hymn, and teacher Sara John (Nedumbel) offered the opening prayer. Rev. Saiju Kurian O.I.C., the parish vicar, extended a warm welcome. Rev. Mathew Modiyil O.I.C. and Sr Annamma of Chakkalakuzhi addressed the gathering with words of goodwill.

Mr Reji V.C, parish trustee, presented a brief record of the parish’s sixty-nine-year history. His words brought back memories that spoke of faith, sacrifice, and collective strength, a story carried not in books, but in the lives of parishioners who shaped each chapter.

The Parish Day came to a close as a day woven with prayer, remembrance, and hope. As the new church structure begins to rise from its first stone, parishioners look ahead with quiet confidence, wishing that the parish may continue to grow in grace and unity.