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.

13th MCA Central Assembly was held in Peechi

13th MCA central Assembly was held in Peechi on 14th February. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos inaugurated the meeting. After the evaluation of the previous programmes the new officer-bearers were elected. Rev. Dr Anthony Valiyavilayil OIC gave the orientation talk to all the participants. Mr. Paulraj (Marthandom) and Bany Kariyath (Muvattupuzha) were elected president and general secretary of MCA respectively. The National Spiritual Advisor MCA, Rev. Dr. Mathai Kadavil presided over the election. Newly elected leaders took the oath before Most Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, the chairman of MCA. 108 delegates from various diocesan units participated in the assembly.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Pathiparampil Cor-episcopo (78) called to eternal rest

He was born of late Thomas Mathai and late Saramma at Ayiroor, Tiruvalla. After his school education he joined Infant Mary’s Seminary, Tiruvalla and completed his seminary studies at Pontifical Seminary, Aluva. He was ordained a priest on 14 March, 1959 for the Archdiocese of Tiruvalla. After his doctoral studies in Rome, he started his teaching career as the professor of scripture in the Pontifical Seminary, Aluva in 1968. Then he joined the theology faculty of Malankara Major Seminary, Trivandrum in 1992 till 2005. He served as the Dean of the Faculty of Theology for many years in the Malankara Seminary. During this time he served in the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum.  The parishes at Trisur- Vettai, Koothupara and Mattampuram of the Archdiocese of Tiruvalla were started by him. He served as the vicar of St. John’s Cathedral- Tiruvalla, Kunnamthanam, Parlikkadu, Keezhillam, Aluva, Kalamassery, Kallumpuram, Kattilapoovam, Kanjittukara, Koippram and Kurinniyoor. He was honoured with the title ‘Cor-episcopo’ in 2007, for his zealous and dedicated service to the Malankara Catholic Church. He has the privilege to have a good number of disciples including bishops.

The funeral service will begin on friday 9.00am at his home, Thekkumkal-Ranni.

A Seminar on St. Paul

The Synodal Commission for Bible Apostolate conducted a seminar on St. Paul from 2nd to 4th February, 2009 at the Catholicate Centre. The Seminar was inaugurated by His Excellency Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, the Chairman of the Synodal Commission. Rev. Dr. Antony Valiyavilayil OIC welcomed the participants to the Catholicate Centre and wished that the seminar instill in the participants the zeal for the Word of God and missionary spirit of St. Paul in preaching it. 

The various papers presented were “St. Paul an Introduction” by Rev. Fr. Kurien Valuparambil, the Secretary of this Synodal Commission, “The Pauline Chrystology and Ecclesiology” by Rev. Sr. Namita SIC, “Pauline Soteriology” and “Pauline Theology and the Liturgy of the Malankara Church” by Rev. Fr. Chempakasseil, “Pauline Ethics” by Rev. Fr. Devadas, and “Charism according to St. Paul” by Rev. Sr. Sophia Paul DM. 

The purpose of the seminar was to prepare a group of experts to work in the eparchies to prepare the people for the celebration of the Pauline year. More than fifty priests, religious and lay people participated in the seminar.

St Thomas School vandalised, Principal held for disrespecting National Anthem

Around 20 Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists on Monday vandalised a missionary school of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, smashed window panes, broke furniture and manhandled staff members, including the vice-principal, to protest against alleged disrespect to the national anthem by the principal on Republic Day.

Under the ABVP pressure, police arrested St Thomas Convent Senior Secondary School principal Father Thomas Malancharuvil on charges of disrespecting the national anthem under Sections 2 and 3 of the prevention of insults to National Honour Act, 1971. He was later produced in a local court, which released him on bail.

SP Jaideep Prasad said the police also arrested 17 ABVP activists and produced them in the court. They were released on bail by the court later.  

Eyewitnesses said the ABVP activists barged into the school around 11.15 am, and started ransacking the building and furniture. They also manhandled vice-principal Sister Nalina and other staff members. 

Later police rushed to the spot and cane-charged the hoodlums to disperse them.

The genesis of the trouble was the suspension of the school’s physical education instructor, Arvind Prakash Gupta. The principal said Gupta was suspended for coming 15 minutes late in the Republic-Day function. However, saffron outfits alleged the teacher was punished for singing the national anthem.

On the other hand, the school administration maintained Gupta was suspended for reaching late. His suspension was revoked after the teacher admitted his mistake.

“There was no interruption to recitation of the national anthem or unfurling of national flag”, the principal said.

The Catholicos Day

The Malankara Catholic Church Celebrated The Catholicos Day on 1 Feb, 2009 (Sunday) with the prayers and the Holy Qurbono. Special meetings were conducted in all the Churches and the institutions.