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.

Newly Constructed Building of Amalagiri Bishop’s House; Consecrated

His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos blessed the newly constructed building of Amalagiri Bishop’s House of the Eparchy of Mavelikara at Punnammoodu. The blessing ceremony started immediately after the festal Holy Qurbono celebrated by Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mar Iganthios in Cathedral at Punnamoodu. Many bishops, priests, religious and lay people blessed the occasion with their presence. Eparchy of the Mavelikara is the sixth diocese of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. Vicar General Msgr. John Padipurackal, Procurator Fr. George Jacob Kizhakkethil and Secretary Rev. Dr. John Vaippil gave leadership to blessing ceremony.

Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mar Ignathios celebrates the feast of St. Ignathios of Antioch

The first Bishop of Mavelikara Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mar Ignathios celebrated the feast of St. Ignathios of Antioch, his heavenly patron, on 29th January 2009. The celebrations started with solemn Holy Qurbono offered by Mar Ignathios in the cathedral, Punnamoodu. The felicitation meeting was presided over by Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos. During the meeting the Mr. John Thevarath and Mrs, Annamma John Plamootil were given the official medal of the Diligent Son (Bar Itho Kasiro) and Diligent Daughter (Barz Itho Kasirtho)  of the church respectively. The meeting also marked the official launching of the social activities of the diocese by Sri. M. Murali MLA, Sri. Babu Prasad MLA, Sri. Vasudeva Sharma and Sri. Kodikkunnil Suresh. During  the function Archbishops Mar Mathew Moolakkattil and Thomas Mar Koorilos, Bishops Dr. Stanley Roman, Mar Mathew Arackkal, Dr. Joseph Kariyil, Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Abraham Mar Yulios,  Jacob Mar Barnabas and Thomas Mar Timotheos, Leader of Opposition Sri.  Oommen Chandy, Minister Sri. Monson Joseph, Sri.  Tiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Sri. G. Karthikeyan and  Sri. V.M. Sudheeran were present. Many priests, religious and lay people felicitated Mar Ignathios.

Reception to Leonardo Cardinal Sandri

His Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, Prefect, the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, Rome.

Malankara Catholic Church gave a warm reception to Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, on 10 November 2008, 9.00am at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom. The reception was arranged in the traditional manner. Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos was the chief celebrant of the Holy Qurbono. Leonardo Cardinal Sandi delivered the homily. After the Holy Mass, His Eminence visited the tomb of Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios.

The following public meeting was presided over by Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos. The Metropolitan Archbishop Most Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos, Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios, Msgr. Eldo Puthenkandathil and the lay representative Shri. John Mathai IAS  made the felicitation speeches. The representatives from the religious congregations of various eparchies gave memento to the Cardinal. All the metropolitans of our Church, Priests, Religious, Nuns, Brothers and numerous Faithful participated in the blessed function.

The Inauguration of the Re-union Day Celebrations

The reunion celebrations had magnificent and colourful beginning. The three days programme was begun by the proclamation rally that started from Ranni Block Padi to Mar Athanasios Nagar at St. Mary’s Senior Secondary School, Ranni. The portrait of Mar Ivanios from the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum, Catholicate flag from the Diocese of Bathery, Papal Flag from the Diocese of Marthandom, portrait of Mar Theophilos from the Diocese of Muvattupuzha, MCYM flag from the Diocese of Mavelikara and the MCYM Logo from the Extra-Territorial Regions were brought under the leadership of MCYM with great pomp and show. The procession was leaded by priests and the office bearers of MCYM. Archbishop Thomas Koorilos inaugurated the rally. The lighted lamp was followed by the Papal flag, Catholicate flag and the portrait of the bishops. Hundreds of vehicles accompanied. At the end of the rally the lighted lamp was handed over to Rev. Fr. Abraham Naduviledam (Proto-presbyter) and it was placed at the main venue of the reunion day celebrations. The portraits were handed over to Rev. Msgr. Antony Kackanattu. Most Rev. Joshua Mar Iganthios, Most Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos, Rev. Fr. Job Kalluvilayil and Rev. Fr. Mathai Kadavil hoisted the Papal flag, Catholicate flag, MCYM flag and the MCA flag respectively.

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.

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.

Eparchy of Mavelikkara Inaugurated, Joshua Mar Ignathios Installed as it’s First Bishop

The New Eparchy of Mavelikkara, Kerala was inaugurated and Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios installed its first Bishop today, Feb. 16, 2007.

Pope Benedict XVI had given his assent to the decision of the Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church for the creation of the new Eparchy of Mavelikara and the election of Joshua Mar Ignathios as its first Bishop. This new Eparchy was created by bifurcating the Archieparchy of Trivandrum.

The announcement of the creation of the new Eparchy was done on Jan. 02, 2007.

The ceremonies started with a vehicle rally. Hundreds of vehicles accompanying the specially decorated carriage of the first Bishop of the new diocese– at 7 am from Panikkaruveetil house in Puthiyakavu, the ancestral home of the late Mar Ivanios. The ceremonies at the Cathedral started with a colourful welcome for the metropolitan and other guests. The mass started at 8.30 am.

Major Archbishop-designate Baselios Mar Cleemis Catholicose led the mass, where church leaders from across the country were present. Synod chancellor Fr Antony Valiyavilayil read out the decree announcing Bishop Mar Ignathios’s installation.

Archbishop Joseph Powathil inaugurated the public meeting, where he insisted that the church’s interventions and opinions on social issues should not be interpreted as an effort to control the official state machinery. Nor are they effort to communalise issues.

Archbishop Powathil pointed out that the state cannot solve all the spiritual and temporal needs of the common man, and the church had a critical role in fighting social evils. Church cannot turn a blind eye to these challenges, he said.

Malankara Catholic Church administrator Geevarghese Mar Dionysius chaired the public meeting attended by thousands of devotees. Among those who spoke were the Archbishop of Mumbai Oswald Gracious, Major Archbishop-designate Baselios Mar Cleemis Catholicose, Metropolitan of Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church Zacharias Mar Theophilus, Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram Latin Archdiocese Susaipakiam and Church of South India Bishop Sam Mathew.

An array of political leaders from all parties, social leaders and other representatives of major organizations also spoke at the function. Among them were the state law minister M Vijayakumar, transport minister Mathew T Thomas, opposition leader Oommen Chandy, state Congress party president Ramesh Chennithala, Members of Parliament CS Sujata and PJ Kurian, Chief Secretary Lissy Jacob, NSS taluk union president KM Rajagopala Pillai and SNDP taluk union president R Subhas.

Mar Ignathios thanked the Lord for all the blessings, and expressed his confidence to shape the new diocese with a vibrant spiritual life and active participation of the people. Bishop Ignathios is presently the secretary of Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council and the chairman of the Labour Commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India.

Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios, was born on 24th May, 1950 at Kizhakketheruvu, Kottarakara, Kerala.

After his Seminary education at St. Aloysius Seminary, Pattom and at St. Paul?s Seminary, Trichy, he was ordained priest on 20th April 1978. Besides B. Th. at Urbaniana University, Rome, he gained his Master?s degree in History, M.Ed and Ph.D. in Education Administration. He served as Assistant Parish Priest at Kirathoor (Marthandom Diocese) and for fourteen years (1982-96) he was Parish Priest of St. Thomas Malankara Catholic Church, Padi, Chennai, during which period he was also Principal of the Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Chennai.

On 10th March, 1997, he was appointed Corepiscopo and on 15th April, 1998, Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum. From 1996 onwards he was Chief Vicar General of the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum and from December 2001-2005 he held the office of Secretary of Kerala Catholic Bishops? Council (KCBC).

At present, Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios is the Chairman of the Labour Commission (CBCI), Patron of All India Christian Council as well as Chairman of All India Christian Council (Kerala Region). He is also Chairman of the Synodal Commissions for Social Apostolate, Education, Communication, Health and Dalit Christians in Malankara Catholic Church and Chairman of KCBC Commission for Temperance Movement (Madyavirudha Samithy).

Diocese of Mavelikkara – Bishop of the Diocese is Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church will have a new Diocese with Mavelikara as its headquarters under the Metropolitan Province of Trivandrum.

The Church authorities have also appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum Joshua Mar Ignathios as Bishop of the newly constituted Mavelikara Diocese.

The decrees of the Major Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselius Catholicos constituting the new diocese and appointing Mar Ignathios as its Bishop were read out by Synod secretary and Muvattupuzha Bishop Thomas Mar Coorilos at a function held at St Mary’s Cathedral here on Monday. The Malayalam translations of the decrees were read out by Chancellor of the Archdiocese Fr Antony Valiyavilayil.

Archbishop Isaac Mar Cleemis and Bishops Yuhanon Mar Crisostum, Geeverghese Mar Divannasios and Joseph Mar Thomas and Geeverghese Mar Thimothios were also present on the occasion.

As per the ecclesiastical decrees, the new diocese will consist of the presbyteral districts of Mavelikara, Kollam and parts of Chengannur and Adoor spread over the civil districts of Alappuzha, Kollam and Pathanamthitta. The new diocese will consist of 92 parishes and 35,000 faithful and its Cathedral will be at St. Mary’s Church,Punnamoodu, Mavelikara.

Mavelikara is the sixth diocese of Syro-Malankara Church and the second Suffragan of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum, after Marthandam.

The formal inauguration of the new diocese and elevation of Mar Ignathios as its Bishop will take place on February 16,2006 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Punnamoodu, Mavelikara.

contributed by -

Mr. Bitu George, Punnamoodu, Mavelikara.