A New Exarchate for the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in America Msgr. Dr. Thomas Naickamprambil is the first Bishop

The announcement is made simultaneously in Vatican and St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum at 3.30 pm Indian time. The erection of the exarchate and appointments were also publicized in Washington, July 14, by Msgr. Jean-François Lantheaume, Chargé d’Affaires, at the apostolic nunciature in the United States. Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the Father and the Head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and other Metropolitans and Bishops were present at the announcement function held at Pattom. A large gathering including Priests, Religious and Faithful received the announcement with a big applause. The Bishop-elect was invested with the Episcopal insignia. All present congratulated the Bishop-designate.

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate in North America.

The Syro-Malankara Catholics who migrated to the continent of America began to gather in New York in 1984 with the blessings of Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios of happy memory. Later, such communities organized themselves in various parts of America. In 2001 Pope John Paul II of happy memory appointed Most Rev. Isaac Mar Cleemis (at present Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos) the first Apostolic Visitator of the Malankara Faithful in America. On 10 May 2002 Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios of happy memory submitted an application to the Holy See to erect an Eparchy in America. When Most Rev. Isaac Mar Cleemis was appointed the Metropolitan of the Eparchy of Tiruvalla, Most Rev. Joseph Mar Thomas was appointed the new Apostolic Visitator on 15 December 2006. On 25 January 2010, Most Rev. Joseph Mar Thomas was appointed the Metropolitan of the Eparchy of Bathery. Now the Holy See has erected the Exarchate for the Malankarites in North America. It will be known as the Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate in North America. The Head Quarters of the new Exarchate will be Mar Ivanios Malankara Catholic Center (950 Hill Avenue) in New Hyde Park, New York. The Malankara Catholic Church in Long Island is the main parish of this new Exarchate. At present there are 16 parishes and 15 mission stations for the Malankara Catholic Church in North America. Around 1000 Malankara Catholic families and 10,000 members are in the new Exarchate. There are 30 priests and 34 religious rendering their ministry in this region. Three Bethany convents and seven convents of the Daughters of Mary are in the new Exarchate.

Bishop-Designate Msgr. Dr. Thomas Naickamparambil

Rev. Fr. Thomas was born on 6 June 1961 at Mylapra in Pathanamthitta District of the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta. Mr. N.T. Varughese and Mrs. Sosamma Varughese of Naickamparambil family are his parents. His home parish is Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church, Mylapra. After completing schooling from Govt U.P. School Moozhiyar and Sacred Heart High School, Mylapra, he joined St. Aloysious Minor Seminary, Pattom, Trivandrum. On passing Pre-Degree from Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum, he was send to the Papal Seminary, Pune where he completed priestly formation. On 29 December 1986 he was ordained a priest by Benedict Mar Gregorios of happy memory. He secured a Masters Degree in Philosophy from Jnana Deepa Vidhya Peeth, Pune and took Doctorate in Philosophy from the Gregorian University, Rome.

Two seminarians drown in Kerala

Two seminarians of the Syro-Malankara Church have drowned in Kerala, southern India.

S. Jayachandran, a fire and rescue services official, told that the accident occurred on April 18 when three seminarians tried to learn swimming in a pool constructed for harvesting rainwater.

He said two of them, Joseph Shijin and Varghese Dominic, drowned while the third seminarian swam to safety.

They were students of St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital.

Seminary rector Father John Kochuthundiyil told the mishap has shocked his Oriental Church.

The funeral is scheduled for April 19 evening.

Puttur Syro-Malankara Catholic diocese comes into being

The first diocese of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in the State was opened at Noojibalthila, near Puttur in Dakshina Kannada, on Thursday.

Geevarghese Mar Divannasios took charge as the first Bishop at a religious ceremony.

He was earlier the Bishop of Sulthan Bathery Diocese in Wayanad, Kerala.

Major Archbishop of the Malankara Catholic Church Moran Mor Baselios Cleeemis Catholicos; Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras; Bishop of Belthangady Lawrence Mukkuzhy; Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP; and B. Ramanatha Rai, MLA, were among those present. Bishops from other parts of the State and outside, who attended the ceremony, felicitated the new Bishop. The Puttur Diocese has 22 churches under it spread across Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kodagu, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Mandya, Mysore, Shimoga and Chamarajanagar districts.

Malankara diocese of Puttur opens in Karnataka this week

Rev. Dr. John Kochuthundil is appointed the Rector of the Malankara Major Seminary

Pathanamthitta Diocese inaugurated

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

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.

Four New Bishops and Two New Eparchies for the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the Major Archbishop with the consent of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and having consulted the Apostolic See of Rome, has created two new Eparchies in the Church. They are Pathanamthitta in Kerala and Puthur in the State of Karnataka. Having been elected by the Holy Episcopal Synod, four new Bishops also have been appointed by him for the Church with the approval of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. He has announced the transfer of Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, the present Bishop of Marthandom to the new See of Pathanamthitta and Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios from the See of Bathery to the new See of Puthur. Most Rev. Joseph Mar Thomas, the Apostolic Visitator to North America and Europe is appointed Bishop of Bathery. To the See of Marthandom, falling vacant due the transfer of its present Bishop is appointed Very Rev. Fr. Vincent Kulapuravilai, the Professor and Registrar of St. Mary’s Malankara Seminary Trivandrum. Very Rev. Dr. Samuel Kattukallil, the Syncellus of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum and Very Rev. Dr. Stephen Thottathil, Dean of the Faculty of Theology of St. Mary’s Malankara Seminary are appointed Auxiliary Bishops of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum and the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla respectively. Very Rev. Dr. Antony Valiyavilayil OIC, the Postulator of the Cause of Canonisation of Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios and the Chancellor of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia is appointed the Bishop of the Curia.

The announcement was simultaneously made in Rome at 12 noon local time and in Trivandrum, the headquarters of the Syro-Malankara Church and at other Eparchial centres at 4.30 p.m. IST. In Trivandrum His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos made the announcement at St. Mary’s Cathedral in the presence of Bishops and a large number of Priests, Religious and Faithful of the Church. The Bishops of the Church invested the Bishops Designates with Episcopal insignia and congratulated them.

THE EPARCHIES

The Eparchy of Pathanamthitta is created bifurcating the present Major Archipearchy of Trivandrum. Its territory consists of the four ecclesiastical districts – Pathanamthitta, Konni, Ranni-Perunadu, Pandalam and the parishes of Anandapally, Angadickal, Chandanapally, Pongalady and Thatta of the ecclesiastical district of Adoor. This Eparchy is spread over a territory of 2100 Km2 with a total population of 1234016 of citizens. The Cathedral of the New Eparchy will be St. Peter’s Church Pathanamthitta.

The Eparchy of Puthur, is created consisting of the northern part of the Eparchy of Bathery. The territory of the Eparchy comprises of the civil districts of Dakshina Kannada, Chamrajnagar, Chickmagalur, Hassan, Kodagu, Mandya, Mysore, Shimoga and Udupi of the Karnataka State. The Eparchy extends over an area of 51950 Km2 with a population of 13000000 citizens. The Eparchy has 21 parishes. There are 6 Eparchial Priests. There are also 6 Religious Priests and 21 women Religious working in the Eparchy. There are 36 educational and 4 charitable institutions. The Cathedral of the Eparchy will be St. Joseph’s Church, Puthur.

Very Rev. Dr. Vincent Kulapuravilai, 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.

Very Rev. Dr. Samuel Kattukallil born on 13 May 1952 hails from Kadamminitta in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala, India in the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum. His parents are late K. C. Thomas and Annamma. After his High School Education in Kadammanitta, he joined the St. Aloysius Minor Seminary Trivandrum. On completing the bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and Theology from St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary Aluva he was ordained priest on 22 December 1978 by Most Rev. Benedict Mar Gregorios. He completed secular degrees of BA, MA, MPhil and PhD from the University of Kerala. After being Appointed Lecturer in Mar Ivanios College, he later served as the Principal of St. John’s College Anchal and retired as the Principal of Mar Ivanios College Trivandrum. From 1979 he served several parishes such as Erathumpamon, Muttathukonam, Pampukala, Vattakarikkam, Kuttichal, Vengode, Manjakala, Kunnapuzha, Kalliyal, Thirumala, Chalai, Palayam, Thiruvallam, Karakulam, Kallayam, Chenckalchoola, Anchal, Thazhamel and Ozhukuparackal as parish priest. Presently he is serving as the Syncellus of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandum. Languages known are Malayalam, English and Syriac.

Very Rev. Dr. Stephen Thottathil, born on 9 May 1952 hails from Karimpinamkuzhy, Ranni, Kerala, India in the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla. His parents are Philip and Mariamma. After High School education in Ranni he joined the Infant Mary Minor Seminary of Tiruvalla. He studied at Papal Seminary Pune and completed bechelor’s degree in Philosophy and Theology at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth Pune. He was ordained priest for the then Eparchy of Tiruvalla on 27 April 1979 by Most Rev. Isaac Mar Yoohanon. He also completed his Master’s Degree in Theology from Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth Pune. After a few years of pastoral experience he did his Doctorate in Moral Theology at the Academia Alfonsiana Rome. Besides his ministry as Parish Priest, he served the Eparchy of Tiruvalla as the Rector of the Minor Seminary, Director of the Malankara Catholic Youth Movement andAssociate Administrator and later Director of Pushpagiri Hospital. He also served the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla as its Administrator when the See was vacant in the year 2003. From 2003 to 2006 he was the Protosyncellus of the Eparchy. Fr. Stephen Thottathil who was the Rector of the St. Mary’s Malankara Seminary during years 2000-’03 is presently serving the same seminary as the Dean of the Faculty of Theology. Besides Malayalam and English he knows Italian, German and Syriac.

Very Rev. Dr. Antony Valiyavilayil OIC was born on 25 November 1955 at Adoor in the District of Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India. His parents are late C. Koshy and Kunjamma. After his schooling at Adoor and Kattanam he joined the Order of the Imitation of Christ or Bethany Ashram and made his First Profession in the year 1974. He had his priestly formation at Bethany Ashram Pune and took the bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and Theology from the Jnanadeepa Vidyapeeth Pune. He was ordained priest on 27 December 1980 by Most Rev. Cyril Mar Baselios, at Mar Ivanios Nagar, Kottayam, the venue of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Reunion Movement initiated by the Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios. He completed his graduation from the University of Kerala. From the Pontifical Oriental Institute Rome he took his Doctorate in Oriental Canon Law. He was engaged in the ministry of the Bethany Ashram in various offices such as Master of Pre-Philosophers, Master of Pre-Novices, Procurator and Rector of Bethany Ashram Pune. He was the Director of Bethany Vedvijnana Peeth, Institute of Oriental Thology Pune. He served the Congregation as a member of General Council for two consecutive terms. His pastoral activities in the Church were primarily in the field of the organization of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in the Extraterritorial Regions in India, especially in Pune. He also served the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla as its Judicial Vicar. Presently he is the Postulator of the Cause of Canonisation of the Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios and the Chancellor of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia. Besides Malayalam and English, he speaks Hindi, German and Italian and knows Syriac

Third Commemoration feast of Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos in Delhi

The ETRI Delhi region commemorated the death anniversary of Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos, the first Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and Most Rev. Joseph Mar Severios the Metropolitan of the Archi-eparchy of Tiruvalla, at St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church Neb Sarai, on 17 January 2010. Most Rev. Dr. Jacob Mar Barnabas, the Apostolic Visitor was the main celebrant in the Solemn Holy Qurbono. During the celebration the new edition of the Vishal Malankara Voice, the magazine of ETRI was released by giving first copy to Mr. Thomas T., the Trustee of St. Mary’s Church. It was followed by Commemoration Speech and Nearch. Rev. Fr. Rijo Puthenparambil, Rev. Dn. Visakham Scariah, Br. Charls, Rev. Sisters and many faithful were present in the commemoration celebration.

Historical Commission for the Cause of Canonisation of the Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios established

The Historical Commission for the Cause of Canonisation of the Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios was established by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the Father and Head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church on 15 December 2009. The installation ceremony was held after the morning prayers and the concelebrated Holy Qurbono officiated by the Catholicos. Fr. Antony Valiyavilayil OIC, Chancellor of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia and the Postulator of the Cause read out the decree of His Beatitude establishing the commission. After the announcement, His Beatitude handed over the letter of appointment to Rev. Fr. James Puthuparampil OIC, the President of the commission and to the members Rev. Fr. Cheriyan Varicattu of the Eparchy of Kothamangalam and Rev. Fr. Prabheesh George Mekarikathu of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum. They assumed their office taking oath before His Beatitude and in the presence of Very Rev. Fr. John Kochuthundil, the Vice-chancellor of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia, swearing that they will be faithful before God in fulfilling the given responsibility.

Most Rev. Joseph Mar Thomas, the Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum and the Apostolic Visitator to North America, Rt. Rev. Msgr. James Paravila, Pro-Syncellus of Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Samuel Kattukalil, Syncellus, Rt. Rev. Thomas Thannickakuzhy Chorepiscopa, Rector of the St. Mary’s Malankara Seminary, Very Rev. Fr. Jerome Peedikaparampil, Provincial Superior of Bethany Navajeevan Province, Very Rev. Mother Lissieu DM, Provincial Superior St. Mary’s Province Pongummoodu, Very Rev. Mother Deepa SIC, Provincial Superior Pathanamthitta, members of the Major Archiepiscopal Eparchial Curia of Trivandrum, Very Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Nediyath, Vicar of the Cathedral, Rev. Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and Lay Faithful were present on the occasion. His Beatitude said that with the establishment of the Historical Commission is an important step forward in the Cause. He also announced that the Theological Commission and the Tribunal for the Cause will come into existence very soon.