An ordinary meeting of the Exarchial Pastoral Council was held on October 24, 2015 at the Exarchial Chancery. The meeting was presided over by His Excellency the Most Rev. Thomas Mar Eusebius. The main item in the meeting agenda was the evaluation of the recently concluded Malankara Catholic Convention. His Excellency thanked all the members of the pastoral council and all those who worked hard to make the convention an unforgettable ecclesial experience. Special mention was made about the leadership and service provided by Rt. Rev. Msgr. Peter Kochery (the Co-Chairman), Very Rev. Fr. Augustine Mangalath (the General Convener) and of Mr. John P. Varghese (the General Secretary). During the meeting, the accounts of the Convention was also presented. All the generous sponsors of the convention were specially remembered. The meeting was concluded with the noon prayer and lunch. Around 25 members were present in the meeting.
Convention Souvenir Released – USA
During the pastoral council meeting of the Exarchate, held on October 24, the souvenir of the 9th Syro-Malankara Catholic Convention held from August 6 to 9 at Virginia, was released. His Excellency Dr. Thomas Mar Eusebius released the souvenir and handed over the first copy to Mr. John P. Varghese, Secretary of the Exarchial Pastoral Council. The Chairman of the Souvenir Committee, Rev. Fr. Abraham Lukose thanked all the members of the committee and all the sponsors. The valuable service of Mr. Sunil Chacko was specially acknowledged as he played a major role in the preparation of the souvenir. Fr. Abraham Lukose and his team deserve our sincere congratulations and gratitude for this remarkable achievement.
Cardinal Sandri: Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is a bridge to unity
(Vatican Radio) Message of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches at the Memorial Lecture in honor of Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios – Pontifical Urbanianum College, Rome, Saturday, 17 October 2015.
Your Beatitudes Cardinal George Alencherry and Cardinal Mar Cleemis,
Honorable Ambassador Sreenivasan,
Your Excellencies,
Reverend Father Rector and brother Priests, Sisters, my dear friends,
We have gathered together for a most propitious occasion: to recall the person of Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios, second Metropolitan of the Syro-Malankara Church in view of the approaching Centenary celebration of his birth. The visit of the Major Archbishops to Rome for the Synod of Bishops has made this possible, along with the generous participation of the honorable Ambassador.
1. It is not my purpose to expound upon the life and vision of Mar Gregorios; I myself have come to learn about this revered figure. I would like to note, however, how very important it is to celebrate such great figures in the life of the Church. A Church is the communion of believers, who receive and transmit the precious gift of faith in many diverse ways. A bishop holds a unique place in this process of extending the life of the Church throughout time and space. In a still more particular way does the Head and Father of sui iuris Church exercise this responsibility. Not only did the man we remember today, Archbishop Mar Gregorios, lead the Syro-Malankara Church for four decades, but he led it through a key time of growth and formation.
2. In a certain sense, Mar Gregorios reflects the early life of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church; he was himself a fruit of the Reunion Movement. The young Varghese Thangalathil was inspired by Mar Ivanios, who ordained him to the holy priesthood and entrusted to him the care of the newborn Church. It became, by the end of the Mar Gregorios’s life, a mature and integrated part of the Catholic Church both in India, as manifested his Presidency of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference, and in the world, as manifested by his participation at the Second Vatican Council and reception of Pope St John Paul II in Trivandrum.
3. Every true pastor is a bridge: from man to God, from the past to the future, from the local community to the rest of the Body of Christ. Archbishop Mar Gregorios can surely be seen as a consummate bridge for souls. In particular, he can be an intercessor for the ecumenical movement and, through his promotion of education, for secularists to faith in Christ. These are the tasks, which Providence has assigned especially to the Syro-Malankara Church, in light of its historical and social circumstances. For all her faithful, then, Benedict Mar Gregorios should remain a guide.
4. Lastly, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I note that the late Archbishop’s legendary love of nature, combined with his solicitude for the material needs of the poor, is particularly timely and relevant to us all. As Pope Francis has reminded us in the Encyclical Letter Laudato Si: “Today, however, we have to realize that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” (n. 49). With great interest, I look forward to hearing details about the man whom God called forth nearly a hundred years ago to play such a key role in the Church, especially in our beloved Malankara Catholic Church. Thank you.
Mar Gregorios, a Karmayogi: T. P. Sreenivasan said while delivering Archbishop Mar Gregorios Memorial Lecture in Rome
Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios was a karmayogi who strived tirelessly for total liberation of mankind, former Indian Ambassador to the UN T. P Sreenivasan has said.
He was delivering the Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios memorial lecture organised at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome.
Mar Gregorios was a scholarly spiritual leader, spokesperson for secularism and Indian culture, and an educational expert, Sreenivasan said. Mar Gregorios, who died in 1994, was also a practical economist, an advocate for modern farming methods and practical industrialism and personification of compassion. The lecture was part of a series organised by the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church to commemorate Benedict Mar Gregorios who was its second Metropolitan Archbishop. Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, stressed upon the need for united action beyond political and casteist considerations for the common good. George Alencherry, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, described Gregorios as a ‘great personality’ who strived towards social good. He gained the strength for this through prayer, Alencherry said. Gregorios life should be looked upon as a model by all Christians, said Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the congregation for the Oriental churches in the Roman Curia.
Cardinal Cleemis tells synod spirituality is fundamental
Spirituality is fundamental to the existence of the institution of family, Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis has said, addressing the Synod of Bishops in Rome on Saturday.
The Church views family as an important regional component, he said, adding that strong societies are founded on strong families. In all ages, the Catholic Church has stood as the protector to the institution of the family. This service, he added, should be continued in present times also.
The services of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church – in this regard is founded on the Indian traditions which lays considerable emphasis on the concept of family. The Malankara tradition considers a family an essential component of society, he said, adding that a society cannot withdraw from the basic concept of marriage. The realization that children are the greatest wealth of a family strengthens the family.
However, the lifestyles of the modern era have also affected the family concepts in the Syrian traditions. Aged parents are forgotten in their homes as children migrate abroad for employment. Modern telecommunication systems also contribute to undermining the concept of a family.
Source: New Indian Express
MCYM Day – Pune
The MCYM Day was celebrated in the Pune District on 4 October 2015 at Holy Redeemer’s Malankara Catholic Church, Kalewadi. Around 120 youths from 6 Parishes in Pune actively participated in the one-day celebration of the Feast of Heavenly Patron, St. Francis Assissi.
MCYM Day – Mumbai
MCYM Day – Hyderabad
MCYM – Hyderabad celebrated the Youth day in connection with the Feast of the Heavenly Patron St. Francis of Assisi. All the youth attended the Holy Eucharist at St.Joseph’s Malankara Catholic Church, Jeedimetla. There was an active participation of 26 members. The day started with the Morning prayers followed by the hoisting of the MCYM flag and Holy Qurbono celebrated by Rev. Fr. John Thundiyath OIC, the District Director of MCYM. Later after the Mass, cultural programmes were conducted. The day came to a close by a Youth Gathering. It was a blessed and memorial day for the Youth in Hyderabad.
MCYM Day – Chennai Tamil Community
First Syro Malankara Holy Mass at St Paul’s church, Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, UAE
The First Syro Malankara Holy Mass was celebrated on the 1st of October 2015 at the St Paul’s Church in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi. The Holy Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Philip Payyamballil in the presence of Rev. Fr. Mathew Kandathil. Rev. Fr. Ani Savior the Parish Priest welcomed Rev. Fr. Philip Payyamballil.
