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.

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.

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 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 55th Feast of Commemoration of the Servant of God Mar Ivanios begins

His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos blessed the newly built altar of the tomb chapel of the Servant of God Mar Ivanios in St. Mary’s Cathedral Pattom, Trivandrum at 5 pm on 1 July 2008.  His Excellency Most Rev. Jacob Mar Barnabas, Apostsolic Visitator of the Malankarites in the Extraterritorial Regions in India, Rt. Rev. Msgr. James Paravilayil, the Protosyncellus of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum, Rt. Rev. Varghese Mavelil Corepiscopo, Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Nediyath, the Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Rev. Fr. Antony Valiyavilayil OIC, the Postulator of the Cause of Canonisation of the Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios and a large number of Priests, Religious, Seminarians and Faithful participated in the blessing ceremony.

The Official Website of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church – Launched

Maintained by the Catholicate Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, www.malankaracatholicchurch.net will be the Official website of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church. The site is administered by Rev. Fr. Antony Valiyavilayil OIC.The site is rich in its details on the Church and will be constantly updated with the latest events in the Syro Malankara Catholic Church.

The meeting of the Secretaries of the Synodal Commissions

On Wednesday, a meeting of the Secretaries of the various Synodal Commissions was held at the Catholicate Centre. The meeting was presided over by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos. Rev. Fr. Antony Valiyavilayil OIC welcomed all the participants to the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to plan the activities of the Synodal Commissions.

Dr. Abraham Mar Yulios consecrated as Bishop; New Bishop for the Malankara Catholic Church in Muvattupuzha

The duty of shepherding the Malankara Catholic flock of the Muvattupuzha diocese has been taken up by Dr. Abraham Mar Youlios, who was ordained as Bishop on February 9. 

The ordination was held at the headquarters of the diocese, St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Vazhapilly. The faithful hailed him by proclaiming “he is capable of guiding us”, as Major Archbishop Mar Baselios Cleemis handed the cross and the crosier (they serve as a reminder of pastoral duties) to the newly ordained Bishop. 

Dr. Abraham Kakanatt received the name Dr. Abraham Mar Youlios during the service of consecration to the order of Bishop, which was performed by the Malankara Catholic Bishops. 

At the beginning of the ceremony, the approval of the Pope was read out by the Chancellor, Fr. Anthony Valiyavilayil. The sermon was given by Bishop Stanley Roman. The priests of the diocese acknowledged the new Bishop by making him sit on the throne and lifting him thrice. After offering the benediction along with the other bishops, Mar Youlios carried out the ‘Sunthroneeso’ service as a part of taking up the responsibilities of the bishopric. The bishops who took part in the service were Archbishop Thomas Mar Koorilos, Geevargheese Mar Divannasios, Yuhanon Mar Chrisostum, Joshua Mar Ignathious, Joseph Mar Thomas and Jacob Mar Barnabas.

Bishop Thomas Mar Koorilos Elevated as Archbishop of Tiruvalla

Bishop Thomas Mar Koorilos, of the Muvattupuzha Diocese, was installed as the second Metropolitan Archbishop of Tiruvalla at a ceremony held at St. John’s Cathedral in Tiruvalla on Wednesday. He was appointed as the Archbishop of Tiruvalla on 26th March, 2007.

Major Archbishop Baselios Cleemis Catholicos was the principal celebrant of the installation ceremony. The installation service was held amidst the holy Eucharist celebrated by the Catholicos, assisted by Bishops Geevarghese Mar Divanyasios, Joshua Mar Ignatios, Joseph Mar Thomas, Youhanon Mar Chrysostum, Geevarghese Mar Timothios and Yakoob Mar Barnabas.

Hundreds of faithful thronged the cathedral premises to witness the installation ceremony. The holy Eucharist began at 8.15 a.m. and the installation ceremony at 9.45 a.m.

The order of the Catholicos appointing Mar Koorilos the Archbishop of Tiruvalla was read out by Chancellor of Thiruvananthapuram Archdiocese Fr. Antony Valiyavilayil. The new Archbishop, seated in a chair, was lifted thrice amidst loud chants of `Oxios,’ a Greek word meant `that he is worthy.’ The Catholicos blessed the new Archbishop and handed over the pastoral staff to him, later, marking the culmination of the installation ceremony.

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.