Bishop Thomas Mar Koorilos’ Message

Dear faithful of Malankara Catholic Church and admirers of Late MajorArchbishop Cyril Baselios Catholicos,

Indeed it was a moment of great grief for all of us to acknowledge that our Bava thirumeni has left to join in the share of our great and venerable forefathers. His life was a life of great accomplishment. Ever since he assumed charge as head and father of our church 11 years ago, the Church was brought into tremendous growth. He was instrumental in creating three dioceses-Marthandom, Muvattupuzha and Mavelikara and raising Tiruvalla into Archdiocese. He ordained all our bishops except our Timotheos pithave. Each year there was something special to celebrate and commomorate. He was a great spiritual leader. Under his leadership we strengthened many of our mission centres, and started many. He was an ardent lover of the poor and the marginalized. He had a soft corner for our dalit bretheren and did everything possible for their well being. He wanted to bring the entire Malankra church in one fold and he did it very well. The funeral was the most precious moment when the glory of the Malankara Catholic Church rose into unprecedented heights.What a burial and what a slomenity. Even his death brought honour for our Church. This visionary has left us with a luminous example of courage, great religious life, indian spirituality, openness, etc. May our great and beloved Reesh Reesh Aboon rest in peace. I shall write the details of the funeral and other arrangements we have done soon. Meantime, keep praying and strengthening each other with fast and penance.

The funeral began at 7 a.m. with the Morning prayer and Holy Mass. At 9 the body was taken to Palayam our Church and it was kept in the podium. The Apostolic Nuncio H.Ex. Pedro Lopez Quintana and the CCBI President and Bombay Archbishop Oswald Gracias were present. H.G. Susa Pakkiam, the Latin Archbishop of Trivandrum gave the homily. He specially mentioned Bava thirumeni as a great visionary and promoter of the down-trodden. He also mentioned that some of the comments from some churches regarding the title he has taken according to the tradtion of the Malankara Catholic Church pained him very much. He said that the Malankara Catholic Church by this title has fully grown into its autonomy and it would remove the fear of any bretheren to come into communion with the Apostolic See of St. Peter, the pillar on which Christ built his church. Then the procession began and it was so moving. The faithful, sisters,seminarians and priests walked the street with great devotion and it was a great witness. In one of the papers it was remarked that Anandapuri has witnessed the greatest crowd after 2000. Some of our political leaders also walked the entire route. Then the final session of the burial with farewell prayers were recited. Our Administrator Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios lead the prayers. The burial took place at about 2.45 p.m. Thereafter a public meeting was held in which great leaders have participated. Central Minister Oscar Fernandes and Oppostion leader Oommen Chandy and other ministers were present.

The following matters were also decided in the bishops’ meeting:

Suspend all celebrations in the Church for one week; keep 21 days for mourning and prayers; on 7th February to hold the memorial day of our Bava tirumeni as Shradha Perunnal. The same evening the members of the episcopal synod would go into retreat and the following day will be kept as a day of special prayer and fasting. These are moments of great importance for our church and I request all of you to pray for our Church, and especially for all of us bishops that we may be truly under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

With love,

Koorilose pithav