20th Ordinary Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church

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20th Ordinary Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church

The Twentieth Ordinary Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church was held on 16 September 2016, at KIDS, Puttur.

His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos presided over the Synod.

Archbishop His Grace Thomas Mar Koorilos, Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Most Rev.Joshua Mar Ignathios, Most Rev. Joseph Mar Thomas, Most Rev. Abraham Mar Julios, Most Rev. Jacob Mar Barnabas, Most Rev. Vincent Mar Paulos, Most Rev. Thomas Mar Anthonios OIC, Most Rev. Samuel Mar Irenios and Most Rev. Philipose Mar Stephanos were present the Synod.

Parish Established in Washington DC

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Parish Established in Washington DC

The St. Mary’s Syro-Malankara Catholic Mission in Washington DC was raised as a Parish in the St. Mary, Queen of Peace, Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy in the USA and Canada on September 11, 2016 on the occasion of the celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of St. Mary.

On September 11, at 11.00, His Excellency the Most Rev. Thomas Mar Eusebius celebrated the feast day Holy Mass for the community and during the Holy Mass, he read out the decree, establishing the parish.

The decree was later received together by the representatives of the parish, namely, by Reverend Fr. Mathai Mannoorvadakkethil, the Pastor, Mrs. Anita Thomas, the Secretary and Mr. Binu Varghese, the treasurer.

During the Holy Mass, His Excellency thanked all the lay leaders of the community and the priests who served here, for their contributions to the growth of the community.

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Mission in Washington was started in 1985 by His Grace the Most Rev. Benedict Mar Gregorios. Rev. Fr. John Kalloor (presently His Excellency the Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom) was the first priest in-charge of the Mission. He was followed by Rev. Fr. Thomas Poovannal, Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Charuvilayil and Rev. Fr. Jacob Chirayath. Rev. Fr. Mathai was appointed in charge of this community in 2011.

The Eparchial Inquiry into the sanctity of the Servant of God, Late Archbishop Mar Ivanios concludes

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The Eparchial Inquiry into the sanctity of the Servant of God, Late Archbishop Mar Ivanios concludes

The first stage of the canonical investigation into the sanctity of Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios concluded on 25th August 2016 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum.

During the solemn function, His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos officially received the documents and declared that the Major Archieparchial level inquiry of the same is over.

The solemn function started with a con-celebrated Holy Qurbono presided over by His Beatitude, Catholicos. His Grace Archbishop Thomas Mar Koorilos delivered the homily.

The closing ceremony started with the official declaration made by Rev. Dr. Saju Augustine, the Promoter of Justice that all the documents collected by the Historical Commission, the Theological Commission and the Board of Eparchial Inquiry which were constituted as part of the inquiry were canonically verified and contained no error. Then Rev. Dr. Michael Vattappalam, the Episcopal Delegate who had constituted various commissions at different times to aid the inquiry, officially handed over 96921 pages to his His Beatitude.

Post which, the official team of the Board of Archieparchial Inquiry, His Excellency Thomas Mar Anthonios, the Postulator, Rev. Dr Michael Vattappalam, the Episcopal Delegate, Rev. Dr Saju Augustine Kuthodiputhenpurayil CST, the Promoter of Justice, Rev. Sr Jose Mary SH, the Notary, Prof. Pushpa Augustine, the Adjunct Notary and Rev. Dr. Sandra SIC, the Vice-postulator, headed by His Beatitude Catholicos took the oath in public that they faithfully did their responsibility.

mar ivanios closing inquiry

Following this, His Beatitude handed over the copy of documents to His Excellency Thomas Mar Anthonios OIC, the Postulator of the Cause to be submitted to the Congregation for the cause of Saints in Rome in the beginning of September. The original documents were handed over to Msgr Dr. John Kochuthundil, the Chancellor of the Major Archdiocese to be kept in the Major Archieparchial Achieves.

Then His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis thanked the whole team of 500 members who meritoriously laboured for more than 7 years to collect, translate, copy and record the documents. During his speech His beatitude urged the whole Church to pray earnestly for the divine interventions with major miracles through the intercession of Mar Ivanios. The official representatives of the canonical petitioners, His Excellency Samuel Mar Irenios (Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum), Rev. Dr. Varghese Thykkoottathil OIC (Bethany Ashram) Rev. Dr. Ardra SIC (Bethany Madhom) and Rev Mother Giles DM (Daughters of Mary) witnessed all the acts.

His Grace Thomas Mar Koorilos, His Excellency Joshua Mar Ignatios, His Excellency Joseph Mar Thomas, His Excellency Jacob Mar Barnabas, His Excellency Samuel Mar Irenios, His Excellency Phillipose Mar Stephanos, His Excellency Most Rev. Thomas Mar Anthonios, the Postulator, Rev. Dr Sandra SIC, the Vice-Postulator, Rev. Fathers, Sisters, Seminarians and many faithful were present during the function.

Malankara Social Service Society (MSSS) in the United Nations Economic and Social Council

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Malankara Social Service Society (MSSS) in the United Nations Economic and Social Council

Malankara Social Service Society (MSSS) now enjoys a “Special Consultative Status” in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). ECOSOC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for coordinating the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, their functional commissions and five regional commissions.

The ECOSOC serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues, and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to member states and the United Nations system. Over 4600 non-governmental organizations have been granted consultative status to the Council to participate in the work of the United Nations globally.

Consultative status provides NGOs with access to not only ECOSOC, but also to its many subsidiary bodies, to the various human rights mechanisms of the United Nations, as well as special events organized by the President of the General Assembly.

Special consultative status is granted to NGOs which have a special competence in, and are concerned specifically with, a few fields of activity covered by the ECOSOC.

NGOs are granted the privilege of participating in a wide variety of United Nations-sponsored meetings and activities. In return, they are expected to contribute, each in their own way, to support the development aims of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations at large.

NGOs are encouraged to take part in the appropriate intergovernmental fora so that the work of the Council, and the United Nations at large, can benefit from their input. Participation in the work of the Council and its subsidiary bodies might include: contributions to meetings and outcome documents or reports; oral and written statements; proposal of agenda items; and organization of parallel NGO meetings or side events, among others. Cooperation with United Nations bodies or specialized agencies in the field or at Headquarters might include: preparation of, or contribution to, research papers and studies; joint sponsorship of meetings; humanitarian activities or operational projects; or financial assistance received from or given to the United Nations.

ECOSOC’s Millennium Development Goals, which forms the basis of the United Nations global peace and development agenda is the primary source from which Consultative Organisations are to draw their initiatives.

MSSS has received the Special Consultative Status for its contribution in the sustainable development of Children and Youth, Farmers and Non-governmental organizations.

A special meeting will be held on the 23rd of August, 2016 at 3pm at Pattom Major Arch Bishops house in the presence of His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis and the Director of MSSS, Fr . Bovas Mathew to thank the achievement.

10 Years of Syromalankara.church

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10 Years of Syromalankara.church

Syromalankara.church celebrates a decade of publishing Syro Malankara Catholic Church News today. The website has over 550 news articles spanning the last 29 years of our history.

The website came into being as there was no single point of reading news about the Syro Malankara Catholic Church from across the globe back then in 2006. Today, with the proliferation of the web, there is a lot of news being generated annually. In addition, under the auspices of His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis and the Holy Synod Fathers, the church has seen tremendous growth and initiatives that has contributed to an increase in news about our church.

I look forward to continuing this journey with you, the readers into the next decade of the website.

I have many plans to take the website beyond just news and to contribute to the spiritual development of all Malankarites. However paucity of time often derails the launch of these ideas. As the next decade of the website unfolds, I call upon volunteers who would like to be a part of the family to contribute news, develop new ideas and help maintain the website. In case you share my passion and want to be a part of this journey forward, please contact me here.

Happy Reading!

Rev. Sr. Jocelyn Edathil SIC, the first Indian Origin Religious Sister to take her Profession of Faith in USA

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Rev. Sr. Jocelyn Edathil SIC, the first Indian Origin Religious Sister to take her Profession of Faith in USA

On Saturday, August 6, 2016, on the feast of the Transfiguration, Jocelyn Edathil made her religious profession as a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ in the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. The liturgical service was held during the celebration of the Holy Qurbono at the Syro-Malankara Catholic Cathedral, Elmont, New York. The Holy Qurbono and the liturgy of the Religious Profession were presided over by His Excellency Dr. Thomas Mar Eusebius.

Sr. Jocelyn is the first religious sister from and for any Christian Church of Indian origin in America.

Reverend Mother Little Flower SIC, the Mother General of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ, Mother Karunya SIC, the Provincial Superior of the Trivandrum Province of the Congregation and many Bethany Sisters from the US, India and Germany also participated in this celebration. So also, many Reverend Fathers, Sisters and around 600 Faithful took part in the celebrations.

The St. Mary, Queen of Peace Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy in the USA and Canada extends hearty congratulations and prayerful best wishes to Sr. Jocelyn SIC.

Beatification Process for the Servant of God, Mar Ivanios, is over

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Beatification Process for the Servant of God, Mar Ivanios, is over

The procedures for beatification, the first step in the canonisation of the Servant of God, Mar Ivanios, the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, have completed at the Major Archdiocese level.

During the phase of Beatification, the Postulation established by the Major Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram, to promote the Cause of Canonisation, gathered testimony about the life and virtues of the Servant of God, Mar Ivanios. Also, the public and private writings were collected and examined.

This documentary phase of the process has taken many years to conclude. The results, along with the bound volumes of documentation, or Acta (Acts) runs into 97,180 pages.

There will be a valedictory function at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, on August 25, 2016 in commemoration of having completed the work. The function will begin with a thanksgiving mass and Mar Baselios Cardinal Cleemis, the Major Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram, will preside over the function along with the Synodal Fathers.

As part of the function, the Episcopal Delegate Rev. Dr. Micheal Vattappalam will handover the documents to the Major Archbishop Mar Baselios Cardinal Cleemis. Rev. Dr. Saju Augustine will attest that there is no objection in handing over the documents to the Major Archbishop.

The team for the cause of canonisation will sign the documents and the Postulator, Bishop Thomas Mar Anthonios will seal the documents into 136 boxes to be handed over to Rome via the Apostolic Nunciature in India in the 1st week of September, 2016. The Major Archdiocese will retain a copy of the documents in its archives.

Mar Ivanios – Road to Canonization 2016

Mar Baselios Youth Excellence Award 2016

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Mar Baselios Youth Excellence Award 2016

The State government will hold discussions with banks to ensure that students are made to repay their education loans only after they secure a job, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. He was speaking after presenting the Mar Baselios Youth Excellence Award for the Best Engineering Student in the State to Nisha Mariam Johnson here on Friday.

“Not everyone in our society can fund their education. They have to depend on education loans. But, some of the banks are behaving like modern-day Shylocks in forcing the students to repay their loans, causing much difficulty to students and their families. The government intends to hold meetings with the banks to ensure that students are given time till they secure a job,” he said. Pointing out the case of State Bank of India, which has handed over the responsibility of getting the students to repay to a private company, he said that such measures were unfair.

‘Let students benefit’

“The private company which forcibly collects these education loans gets to keep 50 per cent of the money. Why not give this 50 percent to the students?” he asked. The Chief Minister said that there have been complaints about the quality of the engineering education and some of the colleges in the State. “We need to find a solution to this fall in quality. We are working on a system by which expertise from outside can be brought to the classrooms,” he said.

Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholicos presided over the function. The Mar Baselios Youth Excellence Award is instituted by the alumni association of the Mar Baselios Engineering College for the Best Engineering Student in the State.

Ms. Johnson passed out of the College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram this year. The award, consisting of Rs.1 lakh cash prize, a memento and a citation, was awarded to her based on her excellent academic and extra-curricular achievements.

Smt. Gayathri Krishnan IAS (Sub Collector- Pollachi) Dr T.M George (Principal), Prof. Viswanadh Rao (Vice Principal) and Rev. Fr Wilson Tattaruthundil (College Bursar) were present during the ceremony.

Sri Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates Asha Kiranam Southern Zone Meet held at Girideepam

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Sri Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates Asha Kiranam Southern Zone Meet held at Girideepam

The Chief Minister Sri. Pinarayi Vijayan appreciated the Asha Kiranam Cancer Programme of the Catholic Church during the volunteers’ meet of Asha Kiranam cancer care programme conducted by the Social Service Societies of the southern catholic Diocese of Trivandrum. He Said: “Asha Kiranam Cancer Care Project of Caritas India is one of the best social projects for the care of cancer patients.” His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos presided over the function held at Girideepam Convention Center on Friday 5th August 2016.

His Grace Most Rev. Dr M. Soosa Pakiam (Archbishop of the Latin Archdiocese), His Grace Most Rev. Vincent Samuel (Bishop of Neyyathinkara), Vicar Rev. Fr Biju Julian (Episcopal Vicar, Kollam), Rev. Fr Frederick D’souza (National Director, Caritas India), Rev. Fr Paul Munnjeli (Assistant Director), Rev. Fr George Vallikattil (Director, Kerala Social Service Forum), Rev. Fr Bovas Mathew (Director, Malankara Social Service Society), Rev. Fr Lenin Raj (Director, Trivandrum Social Service Society) and Rev. Fr Pius Malyar (Director, Kollam Social Service Society) participated in the meet.

Suvisesha Sangham, Third Batch

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Suvisesha Sangham, Third Batch

The first session of training for the third batch of Suvisesha Sangham was held at the Catholicate Centre, Pattom between 29 and 30 July 2016. Rev. Fr Antony Kakkanatt, Rev. Sr Francina D.M and Rev. Sr Mary Prasada D.M guided the classes. Holy Confession, Holy  Qurbono at Tomb Chapel, Eucharistic Adoration, and Dhoopaprarthana were conducted during the training programme.

78 members from 41 parishes participated in the programme.

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