MCYM Action Plan Inaugurated for Marthandom Diocese

Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, the Metroploitan of the Eparchy of Marthandom inaugurated the action plan of the Malankara Catholic Youth Movement of the Eparchy, at Meckodu parish. During the ceremony, the Statuets of MCYM also released. Rt. Rev. Dr. Mariadasan, the Vicar General, Rev. Fr. Jose Bright, the Eparchial Director and Mr. Aji Daniel, the President MCYM, Trivandrum Major Archdiocese spoke during the meeting.

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.

A Seminar on St. Paul

The Synodal Commission for Bible Apostolate conducted a seminar on St. Paul from 2nd to 4th February, 2009 at the Catholicate Centre. The Seminar was inaugurated by His Excellency Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, the Chairman of the Synodal Commission. Rev. Dr. Antony Valiyavilayil OIC welcomed the participants to the Catholicate Centre and wished that the seminar instill in the participants the zeal for the Word of God and missionary spirit of St. Paul in preaching it. 

The various papers presented were “St. Paul an Introduction” by Rev. Fr. Kurien Valuparambil, the Secretary of this Synodal Commission, “The Pauline Chrystology and Ecclesiology” by Rev. Sr. Namita SIC, “Pauline Soteriology” and “Pauline Theology and the Liturgy of the Malankara Church” by Rev. Fr. Chempakasseil, “Pauline Ethics” by Rev. Fr. Devadas, and “Charism according to St. Paul” by Rev. Sr. Sophia Paul DM. 

The purpose of the seminar was to prepare a group of experts to work in the eparchies to prepare the people for the celebration of the Pauline year. More than fifty priests, religious and lay people participated in the seminar.

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.

Malankara Religious Conference

The Twelfth General Assembly of the Malankara Religious Conference was held at Mar Ivanios Nagar, Nalanchira. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos inaugurated the conference at 5 p.m., on 12 May 2008. His Excellency Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, the Chairman of the Synodal Commission for Religious, presided over the gathering. The theme ‘Malankara Sanyasa: Current Challenges’ was presented by Rev. Dr. Mariadas OIC on 12 May 2008. The following day Rev. Dr. Philip Vaisyaneth OIC took a class on “Malankara Litugy: Musicality and Originality”. The Assembly concluded at 3 p.m., on 13 May 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.