Major Archbishop to lead the consecration at St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church, Niranam

The consecration of the reconstructed St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church at Niranam will be held on Saturday and Sunday.

Major Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram Cleemis Mar Baselios will lead the consecration service. Metropolitan Archbishop of Thiruvalla Thomas Mar Koorilos will be the co-celebrant.

The Major Archbishop and other dignitaries will be accorded a reception on their arrival at the Kadapra junction at 2 p.m. The first phase of the consecration ceremony will begin at 2.45 p.m.

A public meeting will also be held in connection with the consecration ceremony on the church premises at 4.30 p.m. Minister for Public Works P.J. Joseph will inaugurate the meeting and the Major Archbishop will preside over the function. Archbishop Thomas Mar Koorilos will welcome the gathering. P.K. Narayana Panicker, Nair Service Society general secretary, will release a souvenir.

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

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church celebrated the 56th commemoration feast of the Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church celebrated the 56th commemoration feast of the Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios on 15 July, 2009 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum.

Nine seminarians received the Minor Order ‘maudyono’

Nine seminarians received the Minor Order ‘maudyono’ from Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the Major Archbishop of tthe Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum on 30th March,2009 at St. Aloysius Minor Seminary, Nalanchira.

The Holy Father confers the title “Monsignor” on Rev. Fr. Johnson Varughese Kaimalayil

Rev. Fr. Johnson Varughese Kaimalayil, presently serving the Congregation for the Oriental Churches of the Holy See (Rome) as Official, has been promoted as Secretary, Class First, Level VIII. This promotion has been accepted by the Secretary of State. The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has conferred on him the title “Monsignor”.  This message has been conveyed to His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.

On behalf of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, the Major Archbishop Catholicos and the Holy Episcopal Synod have conveyed congratulations and best wishes to Rt. Rev. Monsignor Johnson Varughese Kaimalyil.

Monsignor Johnson Varughese Kaimalayil, belongs to the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum and hails from St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church Anchal.  He was born on 22 June 1968.  On completing Pre-degree from St. John’s College Anchal, he joined the St. Aloysius Minor Seminary Trivandrum.  On completing the Theology course from St. Peter’s Seminary Bangalore he was ordained priest on 7 April 1994.  After a few years of pastoral ministry in Mariagiri (1994-`95) and Chirattakonam (1995-’98) he was sent to the Pontifical Oriental Institute Rome in the year 1998.  He completed his Doctorate from the Institute in the year 2004.  In the same year he was appointed Official of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in Rome.

- Fr. Antony Valiyavilayil OIC
Chancellor

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.

Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Panicker dead

Rev Dr Geevarghese Panicker, noted educationist and principal of Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram, for 18 years, died on Sunday. He was 85.

He died of age-related illnesses at 9.15 a.m. at a private hospital in Kollam.

The body of Geevarghese Panicker was taken to Paranthal, his native place, on Sunday evening.   The funeral will be held at the St George Malankara Catholic Church, Paranthal, Adoor, at 2 p.m. on Monday. Catholicos Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, will lead the funeral services.

Dr Geevarghese Panicker earned his Masters degree from the Kerala University and his doctorate from the Catholic University, Washington DC. He started his teaching career as English lecturer at Mar Ivanios College. In 1959, he became the college vice-principal and two years later became principal – a post he held upto 1979.

Famous personalities like Justice J. B. Koshy, K. Jayakumar IAS, Jagathi Sreekumar, T. M. Jacob, G. Venugopal were students of Fr. Panicker.

Those 18 years were memorable ones for the college. Many of today’s important figures from different walks of life – politics to literature to art and culture – number among his students.

Geevarghese Panicker was born to K.G. Thomas Panicker and Achiyamma on March 31, 1924. After his schooling, he joined the St Aloysius Minor Seminary under the Thiruvananthapuram Archdiocese. He completed the training at the Kandy Papal Seminary, Sri Lanka, and was ordained in 1949.

After his retirment from Mar Ivanios College, Geevarghese Panicker  served as rector at the St Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Aluva, and then for two years, as rector of the St Mary’s Malankara Seminary, Thiruvananthapuram. In 1987, he took charge as dean of studies at the St Ephraem Institute, Kottayam. He was leading a retired life in Kollam in recent years.

Fr. Panicker died on the same day as his father, Thomas Panicker, did 30 years ago.

Mar Gregorios Award for Kalam

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam has been selected for the Archbishop Mar Gregorios award instituted by the alumni association of Marivanios College.

The award carries Rs. one lakh, a citation and a memento.

Kalam was chosen for the honour for his outstanding contribution to various fields including science and technology, an Association release said.

The selection was made by a jury headed by the state Director General of Police, Jacob Punnoose.

The award was instituted in memory of the late Archbishop Mar Gregorios, who was a builder of several educational and charity institutions under the Syro Malankara Catholic Church.

Rite of Dedication of St. Mary’s Basilica

The rite of dedication of St. Mary’s Queen of Peace was held by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos on 7th December, 2008. Rev. Dr. Joseph Gnayalloor Remban read out the declaration, which was made by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

His Beatitude the Catholicos, celebrated the Holy Qurbono at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom at 11.30am. All the priests from the Trivandrum Major Archieparchy were the concelebrants. His Beatitude gave the concluding message of Platinum Jubilee of Trivandrum Major Archieparchy.

Thereafter, the procession of Rosary was held from Palayam St. Joseph’s Cathdral to the Basilica. Rev. Fathers, Religious Priests and Sisters, Brothers and numerous Faithful participated in this procession.

The public meeting as presided over by Shri M. Vijayakumar, the Honourable Minister of Law. His Beatitude, the Catholicos, inaugurated the public meeting. Rev. Dr. C. Joseph (Vicar of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Palayam), Rev. Dr. John V. Thadathil (Vicar of Lourd Ferona Church, Palayam), Imam Jamaludeen Mankada, Rev. Msgr. Samuel Kattukallil, Rev. Msgr. James Paravila, Rev. Dr. Antony Valiyavilayil OIC (chancellor), Rev. Dr. John Kochuthundil (Rector of Basilica), Prof. Jessy Thomas (Representative to the Basilica), Rev. Fr. Mathew Karoor (Principal, St. Mary’s School), Mr. John Mathai IAS, Mr. Jacob Punnoos (DGP) were present.

Moran Mor Cleemis Catholicos presented the first rosary from the Queen of Peace Basilica to Mr. Jacob Punnoos, DGP.

The Pro-Cathedral of Palayam elevated to the status of Basilica

St. Mary, Queen of Peace Pro-Cathedral at Palayam was elevated to the status of Basilica in the Universal Church. Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, read out the declaration on 10 November 2008 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom after the Holy Mass. Henceforth, this church will be known as ‘St. Mary Queen of Peace Basilica, Trivandrum.