Malankara diocese of Puttur opens in Karnataka this week

Fr. Jacob Olickal is appointed as the Minor Seminary Rector (Bathery Diocese)

Rev. Dr. Jacob Olickal took charge as the new Rector of St. Thomas minor seminary. Fr. Olickal was working as the vice-rector of the minor seminary since the past one year.   Rev. Dr. Thomas Kanjiramukalil, the former rector of the seminary is appointed as the in charge of the construction work of the cathedral.  At present, he is also working as the chancellor of the diocese.  His residence will be in the bishop’s house from 15th March 2009.  He has been given a grand send off by the staff and students of the minor seminary on 13th March.  His Excellency Geevarghese Mar Divannasios and the priests living in the nearby institutions were present on the occasion.

The Eighth Holy Epscopal Synod ended

Elect the Guardians of Democracy and Secularism: Malankara Catholic Synod

The Malankara Catholic Episcopal Synod concluded with a call to the citizens to vote in the next parliamentary elections for a stable government that will protect the secular nature and democratic system of the country. The exercise of the right to vote is the most important obligation in a democratic society.  Exercise it in accordance with one’s conscience.

The Synod hopes that the recent social order and political circumstances would encourage all to take the right decision.  As a minority, the Indian Church is striving for self-protection.  The Synod urged that the proposals of the committee for the revision of law shall not be accepted and the attempt to subvert the value system of the society shall be condemned by all.  In different circumstances the Church in Kerala had to battle for the justice.

Alcohol for sixteen thousand crores of Rupees was sold in Kerala in the last five years.  There is the need of a serious change in policy that encourages income to the public treasury ignoring the ruin of a generation. We need a government that serves the public good.  The darkness that has enveloped all sectors life, especially those of education and labour, due to increasing political interests, has not vanished.  The conscious attempt to devalue the judicial system, in which the people have not still lost faith, is a serious concern.  The Church takes note of the alarming swell in atrocities and law and order problems.  The Synod said that in this special situation, the elected representatives should represent those denied justice and they should be individuals of transparent public life.  They should take nepotism, vested interests and corruption as challenges and overcome malice and evil in the society.

The Synod discussed matters of pastoral interest to the Church and took decisions.  The sacrament of matrimony, permanent diaconate, the major seminary formation, the Code of Particular law of the Church were some of the topics covered by the present Synod.  In the Synod presided over by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos were present Archbishop Thomas Mar Koorilos and Bishops Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Joshua Mar Ignathios, Abraham Mar Julios, Geevarghese Mar Timotheos, Joseph Mar Thomas and Jacob Mar Barnabas.

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.

The Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Catholic Church

The 7th Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Catholic Church convenes from the 18th of November, to the 21st of November, 2008 at the Pattom Catholicate Centre. The Synod is attended by major Archbishop Baselios Mar Cleemis, Bishops Geevarghese Mar Yulios, Joseph Mar Thomas, Jacob Mar Barnabas, and Geevarghese Mar Timothios among others.

The first day of the Holy Synod was observed as a prayer day and the Bishop of Thuckalai gave the points for reflection. The Holy Synod evaluated the entire administration of the Church and took important decisions for the better future of the Church. The draft of the Code of Particular Canons (CPC), the particular law of the Church was discussed thoroughly and made necessary changes. The draft of the CPC will also be circulated among the members of the Church for wider discussions and observations. For the session at 4.00 p.m. on 20^th November, the major superiors of every religious congregation of the Church were specially invited. The Holy Synod was concluded by noon on 21^st of November. 

The Second Session of the Fourth Holy Episcopal Synod

The Second Session of the fourth Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church which earlier convoked from the 5th to 7th of March 2008, opened at 4pm, on 15th July 2008, at the Catholicate Centre, Pattom, Trivandrum. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the President, Most Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos, the Secretary, Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios, Most Rev. Abraham Mar Julios and Most Rev. Jacob Mar Barnabas participated in the Synod that was convoked to examine and study the draft of the Code of Particular Law of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church. Besides Fr. Anthony Valiyavilayil OIC, Rev. Fr. John Kochuthundil and Rev. Fr. Thomas Kuzhinapurath, experts in Oriental Canon Law, were invited to the Synod to assist the Synod Fathers in the study of the draft. This session ended on 17th July, 2008.

Rt. Rev. Msgr. Dr. Eldho Puthenkandathil appointed the New Protosyncellus of the Eparchy of Bathery

Most Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios appointed Rev. Dr. Eldho Puthenkandathil, the New Protosyncellus of the Eparchy of Bathery on 31 March 2008 at Dharmapeedom Bathery. He was born on 30 April 1957 at Kodancherry and ordained priest on 30 December 1982. He holds a Doctorate in Biblical Theology from the Gregorian University, Rome. He has been serving as the Director of Shreyas, the Social Service Apostolate of the Eparchy for the last seven years. He is also a Visiting Professor in the faculty of Theology of the Malankara Major Seminary.

The Sixth Ordinary Holy Episcopal Synod began

The Sixth Ordinary Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church began at 6 pm on 5 March 2008, at the Catholicate Centre, Pattom. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos presided over the Holy Synod. All the Synod Fathers, His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos (President), Most Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos (Secretary), Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios, Most Rev. Abraham Mar Julios, Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Timotheos, Most Rev. Joseph Mar Thomas and Most Rev. Jacob Mar Barnabas participated in the Synod. The Synod concludes on 7 March 2008.

Elected by the Synod, Major Archbishop Issac Mar Cleemis, officially became the second Catholica Bawa of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church

Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis was installed as the second Major Archbishop and Catholicos of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church before a large gathering of the faithful and dignitaries at a solemn function here on Monday.

Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, 48, is the youngest to occupy the highest office of the Church since its formation in 1930. He is also the youngest head among the 22 uniat Churches in the Catholic Church, according to the Church authorities.

The installation ceremony, which took place at St. Mary’s Cathedral at Pattom around 8 a.m., was led by Malankara Catholic Church Administrator Geevarghese Mar Divannasios.

The installation began with the Prefect seeking the consent of Mar Cleemis for his installation. He was later seated on a throne and lifted up three times by the chancellors from various Malankara Catholic dioceses to mark the installation.

Each time the throne was lifted, a priest specially designated by the prefect chanted ‘Oxios’, a Syriac word which means ‘he is eligible’. The word was chorused by the gathering. The Major Archbishop then blessed the gathering.

Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, CBCI President Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, CCBI President Archbishop Oswald Gracious and Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil were the attendees at the solemn function.

Decision on the next Archbishop and Catholicos

To decide on the next Archbishop and Catholicos of the Malankara Catholic Church, the Synod will be held after 21 days.

Bishop of Bathery diocese Geevarghese Mar Divanyasios has taken over as administrator of the Malankara Catholic Church following the passing away of Major Archbishop and Catholicos Cyril Mar Baselios on Thursday.

At a press conference held on Friday, synod secretary and Bishop Thomas Mar Coorilose said as per Section 127 of the canon law, Mar Divanyasios, senior Metropolitan of the synod, had taken over as administrator.

Mar Coorilose said the synod would meet after the 21-day mourning period to decide on the next Major Archbishop and successor to Cyril Mar Baselios.

“The synod will take a decision at the meeting that will last up to five days and later, the decision will be communicated to the Pope,” he said. Generally, the Pope agrees to the decision taken by the Synod.

Mar Divanyasios, said that the person to be selected by the synod would have all the powers and title enjoyed by Cyril Mar Baselios.

Born on August 16 1935 at Ullannoor, Pathanamthitta District of Kerala in a family blessed with two priests, four nuns and an Archbishop, he was ordinated as a priest on October 4, 1960. 

He received doctorate in Canon Law from Gregorian University, Rome, in 1975 after taking Masters degree in Psychology from the St John’s University, USA. He had taught at St Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Kottayam, and the pontifical seminary, Aluva.

After his Episcopal Ordnination on Dec. 28, 1978, he became the Bishop of Bathery diocese. 

Cyril Mar Baselious was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum and head of the church in 1995 by Pope John Paul II. As the Metropolitan Archbishop he received sacred Pallium from Pope John Paul II on January 9, 1996 in Vatican.

He was elevated to Major Archbishop when the church was raised to the dignity of a major archepiscopal church.

A keen sense of observation, skill for planning and organisation, administrative skills, sense of value and spiritual leadership constitute the personality of Dr Cyril Mar Baselios. He had a deep rooted knowledge in theology, philosophy, psychology and economics.