Pathanamthitta Diocese inaugurated

Posted by webmaster in Pathanamthitta Diocese, Syro Malankara Catholic ChurchMar 21st, 2010 | No Comments

The senior Metropolitan of Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar Philipose Mar Chrysostum, has called upon churches in India to work together for the uplift of society as a whole.

Mar Chrysostum was inaugurating the public meeting held in connection with the inaugural ceremony of the Pathanamthitta diocese of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church at the District Stadium here on Saturday.

He said initiatives should be taken for the uplift of people in the below poverty line (BPL) category in a time-bound manner, making it a role model to the rest of the country.

Mar Chrysostum said the newly formed Syro-Malankara Catholic Church diocese and its bishop, Youhanon Mar Chrysostum, would join hands with other churches as well as like-minded people and organisations for the welfare and development of society and the region as a whole. Major Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram Baselius Cleemis Catholicos presided over the meeting.

Minister for Public Works P.J. Joseph, Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran, P.J.Kurien, Rajya Sabha member, Anto Antony, MP, K.Sivadasan Nair, MLA were among those who addressed the public function.

Installation of Youhanon Mar Chrysostum as the first bishop of the Pathanamthitta diocese was held at a function at the Sacred Heart Church at Mylapra, in the afternoon. The Catholicos led the installation service.

Metropolitan Archbishop of Thiruvalla Thomas Mar Coorilos and bishops Geevarghese Mar Divannaseus, Joshua Mar Ignatheos, Geevarghese Mar Themotheos, Abraham Mar Eulios, Jacob Mar Barnabas, Joseph Mar Thomas, Vincent Mar Paulose, Samuel Mar Ireneus, Philipose Mar Stephanos and Thomas Mar Anthonios, were the co-celebrants.

The new bishop was seated on a throne and lifted three times by the priests to mark the installation.

Each time the throne was lifted, the priests chanted ‘Oxios’, a Syriac word which means ‘he is eligible’ and the entire gathering chorused ‘Oxios.’ Changanacherry Archbishop, Mar Joseph Perunthottom, delivered the benedictory speech.

Installation of Most Rev Dr. Vincent Mar Paulose

Posted by webmaster in Marthandom Diocese, Syro Malankara Catholic ChurchMar 14th, 2010 | No Comments

The Third Metropolitan of the eparchy of Marthandom, Most Rev. Vincent Mar Paulose installed as the new Metropolitan of the Eparchy on 14 March 2010. Before the the Installation ceremony, Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom together with the priests, religious and other faithful gave a warm welcome to the Major Archbishop, Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos and His Beatitude Gregory III Laham Patriarch and other Episcopal dignitaries at Marthandom Junction.  The Installation programme started with the prayer lead by Catholicos in Christuraja Cathedral, Marthandom. Then the Chancellor of the Eparchy, Fr. S. John read the appointment decree of the new Metropolitan. Then Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos together with the Metropolitans of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church officiated the installation ceremonies. The presence of the foreign dignitaries led by the Patriarch of Melkite blessed the ceremonies. Mar George Alencherry of Thukkley, Mar Vincent Samuel of Neyyatinkara, Mar Sylvester Ponnumuthan of Neyyatinkara and Bishop Devakadaksham of the CSI Kanyakumari are also present in the function. The installation programme is followed by public meeting to felicitate the new metropolitan. Many priests, religious and lay faithful were present during the programme.

Vincent Mar Paulos (Very Rev. Dr. Vincent Kulapuravilai) was born on 20 February 1964 hails from Kumarankudy in the District of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and belongs to the Eparchy of Marthandom.  His parents are Kochupillai and Maria Thangam.  After completing Higher Secondary Education at Yettacode, he joined the St. Aloysius Minor Seminary Trivandrum.  He took his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from St. Mary’s Malankara Seminary and degree in Theology from St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Kottayam.  He was ordained Priest at his home parish Annakarai on 2 January 1991 by Most Rev. Benedict Mar Gregorios.  He did his Master’s Degree in History and professionally qualified himself with B. Ed.  He obtained a doctorate in Dogmatic Theology from Rome.  He served the Eparchy of Marthandom in various capacities like Parish Priest, Protopresbyter, Correspondent of MSC schools, Member of Education Board, Director of Children for Unity and Member of the Commission for Liturgy.  Presently he is Professor and Registrar of St. Mary’s Malankara Seminary.  Besides English and Tamil, he knows Malayalam, German, Italian, Spanish and Syriac.

The present bishop of Marthandom, Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom
is transfered to the new see of Pathanamthitta
and Very Rev. Fr. Vincent Kulapuravilai,
the Professor and Registrar of St. Mary’s Malankara Seminary Trivandrum
is appointed the bishop of Marthandom.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias Elected the New CBCI President

Posted by webmaster in Catholic Church, Catholic Church of IndiaMar 1st, 2010 | No Comments
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay was elected the new President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) the world’s fourth largest bishops’ conference. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Mar Cleemis Catholicos the Major Archbishop of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and Mar George Punnakottil, the Bishop of Kothamangalam Syro-Malabar diocese, were elected the first and second Vice Presidents respectively. Archbishop Albert D’Souza of Agra was elected as the new Secretary General of the CBCI for next two years. The Secretary General of the Bishops’ Conference is the chief functionary and as such he deals with the most important matters that come under the purview of the Conference.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias served as the Secretary General as well as the Vice President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India and currently the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), belonging to the bishops of Latin rite, which is one of the three Episcopal bodies of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. He is a consulter to the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts. His Beatitude Baselios Mar Cleemis Catholicos was also served the CBCI as its Vice President.
Cardinal Oswald expressed his gratitude to the bishops for placing their trust in him and assured them that he would continue the good work of his predecessors for the whole Catholic Church in the country. The outgoing President of CBCI Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church and Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly who was unable to attend the Plenary Assembly of Bishops thanked the religious heads of the Catholic Church for their cooperation and support to him for the last two years as President of CBCI.
The new office bearers were elected by the 29th General Body Meeting of the CBCI in the north eastern city of Guwahati, the capital of Assam state, at Don Bosco Institute, Kharguli, on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra river. One hundred and forty five member bishops of CBCI took part in the election of new office bearers. The office bearers of the CBCI consist of President, 2 Vice Presidents and Secretary General. At every biennial General Body Meeting of the Bishops new officer bearers are elected to guide the apex body of the Catholic Church in India.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) is the permanent association of the Catholic Bishops of India. It was formally constituted in September 1944 at the Conference of Metropolitans held in Madras. Its objectives are to facilitate coordinated study and discussion of questions affecting the Church, and adoption of a common policy and effective action in all matters concerning the interests of the Church in India. The CBCI has 228 member Bishops from the Latin, Syro-Malabar and the Syro-Malankara ecclesial traditions. Among these are 158 heads of dioceses of whom 3 are Cardinals, 27 Archbishops and 51 Retired Bishops.