St. Thomas Syro-Malankara Catholic Parish in New Jersey had a grand New Year Day celebration. The celebration started with a liturgical reception accorded to His Excellency the Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Eusebius. His Excellency presided over the New Year Day Eucharistic celebration. Rev. Msgr. Peter Kochery, the Pastor, Rev. Fr. Jacob John, the Associate Pastor and Rev. Fr. Abraham Lukose were the concelebrants. After the celebration of the Holy Qurbono, there was a meeting in which Mr. John Varghese and Mrs. Aleyamma John, the most senior couple of the Parish were felicitated. Also, the budding musician, Mathew David was acknowledged for his musical initiatives at the Parish. His Excellency Mar Eusebius, Mr. George James and Arjun Abraham spoke on the occasion. Rev. Msgr. Kochery said the welcome speech and Fr. Jacob John proposed the vote of thanks. The celebration was concluded with an agape.
Christmas Celebration at Boston, USA
The Syro-Malankara Catholic community in Boston area celebrated Christmas on Dec. 20 at the St. Brigid Parish, Lexington. The celebration started with the Christmas liturgy followed by the celebration of the Holy Qurbono. His Excellency the Most Rev. Thomas Mar Eusebius was the main celebrant and Rev. Fr. Augustine Mangalath and Rev. Fr. Abraham Lukose were concelebrants. Bro. Jerry Mathew was the main server. After the celebration of the Holy Qurbono, all the members gathered in the parish hall for a cultural program. All the members – the children, the youth and the parents alike, participated in the program with various cultural items. It was a very meaningful being together. Mr. Thomas Abraham from our Rockland parish made a sharing on the importance of living our Malankara Catholic tradition in the US as a family and as a community. The celebration concluded with a common Christmas lunch. Special thanks to Mr. Prasanth Varghese who took the initiative to arrange this gathering. Around fifty people participated in the celebration.
Rev. Sr Dakia SIC called to eternal rest
Sr Dakia SIC a member of Trivandrum Province of the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ, was called to eternal reward on Wednesday 3 December 2014. She was 92 years old. She belongs to Kuttamperoor Chakkalakal family, Changanachery. She served as a school teacher in St Rita’s School, Aruviod for a long time. She also served as Superior in Nalanchira and Pirappencod Convents.
The funeral service was held at 3.00 pm on Thursday, 4th December, 2014 at Provincial house, Nalanchira. Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios, Bishop of Mavelikkara officiated the service. Most Rev. Thomas Mar Anthonis, Curia Bishop of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia, Most Rev. Samuel Mar Irenios, Auxiliary Bishop of Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum, Rt. Rev. James Paravila Corepiscopo, many priests, Sisters and lay faithful participated in the funeral Service.
May her soul rest in peace!
Catholic church organizes thanksgiving ceremony on the sainthood of Fr Kuriakose Chavara from Mannanam and Sr Euphrasia Eluvathingal from Ollur
At least 50,000 people attended a thanksgiving Mass and meeting on Sunday that the Church in Kerala organized in connection with the canonization of Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sister Euphrasia Eluvathinkal as Saints.
The Mass led by Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar church, was held at the Rajagiri valley at nearby Kakkanad.
Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India addressed the gathering from various parts of the state. Apostolic Nuncio to India Archbishop Salvatore Penancchio also attended the function.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy addressed a public meeting held later.
Priests and Bishops of three Catholic denominations–Syro Malabar Church, Latin Catholic Church and Malankara Church participated.
Earlier, the faithful carrying the holy relics of Fr Chavara from Mannanam and those of Sr Euphrasia from Ollur reached the valley.
Southwest Region Family Conference USA
The Southwest region Family Conference of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate was held from 28-30 November, 2014 at the St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic parish, Dallas. This was the third of the Regional Family Conferences organized by the Exarchate this year. The Conference was inaugurated by His Excellency the Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Eusebius at 6.30 pm. on Friday, Nov. 29 and it was concluded with the Holy Qurbono on Sunday, the 30th. The main speaker of the conference was the renowned preacher Rev. Dr. Joseph Pamplany. The children, youth and the adults had separate sessions. The resource persons for the youth group were provided by Mr. Roy Varghese. His Excellency Mar Eusebius was present all through the conference and gave classes to the adults and the youth. Around 225 people participated in the conference from our parishes in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and from Arizona. Rev. Fr. Joseph Nedumankuzhiyil was the coordinator of the conference. He and our parishioners in Dallas made all the arrangements for making this conference a fruitful and memorable one. The presence of Rev. Fathers John Puthenvila (Houston) and Kuriakose Mambrakatt (Los Angeles) further enriched the conference.
New priest in Qatar
Reverend Fr. Varghese Kuthineth (Vijay Varghese), from the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta, has taken charge as the new Parish Priest of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in Doha-Qatar. Born on 6th May 1973 at Konnithazham, Fr. Varghese Kuthineth had his philosophical and theological training in St. Mary’s Malankara Seminary, Trivndrum. He was ordained on 10th February 1999. He has a postgraduate degree in Islamic studies. He has served in Karavoor, Pandalam, Ranni-Perunad, Kadammanitta, Athirunkal and Marygiri-Mylapra parishes in the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta. While serving as the Rector of St. Thomas Minor Seminary of the Eparchy, he was appointed to the Syro-Malankara Catholic Parish in Qatar. Reverend Fr. Varghese Kuthineth is chaplain also of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Faithful in Bahrain.
New Place of Worship for Washington Community
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Mission in Washington obtained a new place of worship from the Archdiocese of Washington. Henceforth the Church of the Holy Spirit in Forestville will be the place of worship for our community. Moreover, the Latin Catholic community in this parish will be given pastoral care by the Syro-Malankara Catholic priest. Both the communities will share this church for their liturgical celebrations and other such gatherings. The Malankara Catholic priest, taking care of our community will have as his residence, the Rectory attached to the parish. The Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate remains deeply thankful to the Archdiocese of Washington for this new arrangement. The inauguration of the new arrangement was held on November 9, 2014 by the celebration of the Holy Mass according to the Syro-Malankara Catholic rite for the first time in this church. His Excellency the Most Rev. Thomas Mar Eusebius was the main celebrant. Rev. Frs. Pearson, Jeffrey Samaha, Abraham Lukose and Thomas Vattaparambil were concelebrants. Rev. Fr. Mathai Mannoorvadakkethil and our parishioners in Washington hosted the celebration in which many members of the Latin Catholic parish also participated as a gesture of welcome to the Syro-Malankara Catholic community.
Three Day Workshop organized by the Synodal Commission on Media
The Synodal Commission on Media of the Malankara Catholic Church organized a three day workshop from 29 October, 2014 at the Catholicate Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. The aim of the residential workshop was to acquaint the nearly 60 participants with the opportunities and challenges offered by the media. It was inaugurated by HB Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos. HG Most Rev. Dr Samuel Mar Irenios, the Chairman of the Commission, Rev. Fr. Cherian Thazhamon the CEO of Deepika, Shri MG Radhakrishnan News Editor of Asianet News, Shri Boby Abraham Workshop Director and Dr Abraham Joseph Secretary Media Commission spoke on the occasion.
Experts who led the classes included Prof. VS Shashibhooshan Nair (Documentary), Dr MV Thomas ( Media Laws), Shri Biju Mathew ( Radio), Shri Mneme George ( Lay out), Shri B. Jayachandran ( Photography), Shri Mohammed Shah (Telefilm) and Shri Manoj K. Puthiyavila (Social Media). Rev. Fr Jolly Vadakkan KCBC Media Commission Secretary presented the theme of Church and Media. Shri Raju Mathew and Shri Sanu Thomas led a discussion on the portrayal of the Church in the media. A visit to the Asianet News studio and the group discussions on a variety of media related topics were the other highlights of the workshop.
The participants included Rev. Fathers, Rev. Sisters and youngsters associated with various publications and media ventures of the Church.
At the valedictory meeting, HB Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, Shri KC Joseph, Minister for Culture, HG Most Rev.Thomas Mar Anthonios, Dr George Onakkoor, Shri Sunnykutty Abraham, Rev. Fr Bovas Mathew Meloot and Shri Boby Abraham spoke.
Meeting of the Exarchial Pastoral Council – USA
The second ordinary meeting of the Pastoral Council of the Exarchate of the year 2014 was held on October 25, at the Exarchial Chancery in Elmont, New York. The meeting was presided over by His Excellency the Most Rev. Thomas Mar Eusebius. Besides Rt. Rev. Msgr. Peter Kochery, the Vicar General and Mr. Philip John, the secretary of the Pastoral Council, around 35 members participated in the meeting. The meeting began at 10.00 am. and was concluded with lunch at 1.00 pm. The main agenda of the meeting was the Malankara Catholic Convention 2015 which is to be held on August 6 – 9 at the National Convention Center, Leesburg, Virginia.
This was the last meeting of the present Pastoral Council. Msgr. Peter Kochery officially thanked Mr. Philip John the secretary and all the members for their whole-hearted cooperation and creative contributions to the Exarchate through this important body. Election to the new Pastoral Council is to be held in November 2014.
20th commemoration of Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church celebrated the 20th commemoration of His Grace Benedict Mar Gregorios, the Second Metropolitan Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church from Thursday, 9th October to Friday, 10th October, 2014.
The celebration started with an Anusmarana Seminar conducted by Malankara Social Service Society on Thursday, 9th morning. The Seminar was inaugurated by the Hon. Minister Sri. K.C. Joseph (Minister for Rural Development). In the evening there was a âShanthi Yathraâ from St. Thomas church, Nalanchira to the Tomb of Mar Gregorios at St. Maryâs Cathedral, Pattom. The Shanthi Yathra was inaugurated by His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mar Ignathios and was conducted by the MCA of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum. Rev. Priests, Seminarians, Religious, and Faithful participated in the Shanthi Yathra. It was followed by evening prayer at Cathedral and Dhoopaprarthana at the Tomb Chapel.
Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mar Ignathios was the main celebrant of the Holy Qurbono on 10th October. Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Mar Irenios, Most Rev. Dr. Philipos Mar Stephanos and many Rev. Priests concelebrated in the Holy Qurbono. Most Rev. Dr Philipos Mar Stephanos delivered the homily during the Holy Qurbono. It was followed by the Dhoopaprarthana. Many Religious, Seminarians and faithful participated in the celebration.
