Indian citizens have the right to propagate religion, Cardinal Cleemis Baselios

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Indian citizens have the right to propagate religion, Cardinal Cleemis Baselios

Every Indian citizen has the right to live in his own motherland and to follow and propagate the religious faith he belongs to, Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholicos has said.

Cardinal Cleemis was delivering the presidential address at the Archbishop Mar Benedict Mar Gregorios commemoration meet held under the auspices of the Pathanamthitta diocese of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church on Monday.

“India is the land of the Rishis of the yore who taught the world the noble message of universal brotherhood and peace. The broadminded outlook of India and its rich contributions to the world at large belonged to those who have deeply felt the Hindu culture and tradition,” said Cardinal Cleemis.

Benedict Mar Gregorios was a real symbol of Indian secularism. Mar Gregorios could whole heartedly accommodate the diverse Indian culture, firmly following the Christian faith and upholding the secular credentials of the country. Both believers and atheists supported him, the Cardinal said.

Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash inaugurated the commemoration meet and Jacob Punnose, former Director General of Police, delivered the keynote address.

K. Sivadasan Nair, MLA; Youhanon Mar Chrysostum, Pathanamthitta Bishop of the Malankara Catholic Church; Mon. Jose Chamakkalayil Corepiscopa, Mon. Joseph Antony, Vicar Generals; Thykkoottathil Zakeer, Fr Ignatius Thangalathil, and Fr Mathew Alummoottil, also spoke.

Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos will be the chief guest at the 15th anniversary celebrations of the Oman Syro Malankara Catholic Community

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Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos will be the chief guest at the 15th anniversary celebrations of the Oman Syro Malankara Catholic Community

Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, the major archbishop and head of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, will be the chief guest at the 15th anniversary celebrations of the Oman Syro Malankara Catholic Community.

The anniversary is scheduled to be celebrated from December 1 – 4, 2015.

The main functions are scheduled to be held on December 4 at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Ruwi, Muscat.

Bishop Paul Hinder OFM Cap., the apostolic vicar of the Vicariate of Southern Arabia, is also expected to take part in the function as the guest of honour.

The function will start with a liturgical reception being given for the dignitaries at 2 pm followed by a Mass being held by Bishop Paul Hinder and Cardinal Cleemis, along with the priests in Oman.

After the Mass, the OSMCC 15th anniversary celebrations will be held in the Parish Hall, which will be followed by an entertainment programme by the members of the community.

Secretary to the Servant of God Arch Bishop Mar Ivanios, Rev. Fr Philip C. Pantholil called to eternal rest

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Secretary to the Servant of God Arch Bishop Mar Ivanios, Rev. Fr Philip C. Pantholil called to eternal rest

Rev. Fr Philip C. Pantholil (101), a senior priest of the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, was called to eternal rest. The funeral ceremony will begin at 9.30am on Tuesday, 17th November, 2015 at home and thereafter at the St Patrick Church, Ayroor. The funeral ceremony will be officiated by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos together with other Bishops of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church.

Fr. Pantholil served as the Secretary to the Servant of God Arch Bishop Mar Ivanios and Benedict Mar Gregorios, the Bursar for Mar Ivanios College and the Principal of the St John’s College Anchel.

He was awarded the Shreshta Guru award for the year 2014 on his 100th birthday by St John’s College for having served as it’s first Principal.

May God Reward him Eternal Rest.

condolances rev fr Pantholil

9th Prathinidhi Sangamam – UAE

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9th Prathinidhi Sangamam – UAE

The 9th UAE Malankara Catholic Community Prathinidhi Samelanam took place at St. Francis of Assissi Church, Jebal Ali on the 6th of November 2015. Representatives from all the Emirates reached St. Claire’s Hall by 0930 and the event began with prayer song by the Ras Al Khaimah choir followed by an inaugural meeting where Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas lead the inauguration proceedings by lighting the velak. Rev. Fr. Mathew Kandathil, Rev. Fr. Biju Payyampallil was also present on the stage along with the members of the UAE Central Committee. Representatives of the MCYM sang the Papal Anthem and the National Anthem of India to conclude the meeting.

 A short documentary film followed the meeting on Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios. The Sharjah Choir performed a group song, which then lead to the most awaited Seminar by Joseph Pithav. After the Seminar, lunch was served.

In the evening, Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas celebrated Holy Qurbono at the St. Mary’s Church Dubai. Rev. Fr. Alex Vachaparampil and the Dubai Malankara Catholic Community Chaplin Rev. Fr. Mathew Kandathil concelebrated the Holy Qurbono.

Three children from the Dubai Catholic Community received their First Holy Communion from Joseph Pithav. After the Holy Mass, 5 new boys of the community were blessed and welcomed to the Alter Service Ministry of the Dubai Catholic Community.

Mar Gregorios Day 2015 – Dubai, UAE

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Mar Gregorios Day 2015 – Dubai, UAE

The Dubai Malankara Catholic Community celebrated Mar Gregorios Day, its 13th Annual get together on the 29th of Oct from 07.00 pm. The evening began with an inaugural meeting lead by the UAE Malankara Catholic Community Chaplin, Rev. Fr. Mathew Kandathil. The inaguration was fullfilled by Rev. Fr. Alex Vachaparampil, the Malayalee Community Priest from St. Mary’s Church, Dubai.

 The meeting was followed by electrifying and synitilating visual treat, beautifully composed and performed by the children, youth and the adults of the Dubai Malankara Catholic Community. The event concluded with a lucky draw organised by the MCYM unit and dinner.

Synod to revitalise Indian Church: Cardinal Cleemis

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Synod to revitalise Indian Church: Cardinal Cleemis

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI),has said the recently concluded Synod on Family in Vatican will revitalise the Church in India.

Cardinal Cleemis, who took part in the synod, said on Oct. 26 that serious efforts would be made to strengthen the families under the Indian Church according to the publication of the ‘Apostolic Exhortation’ (official document) in view of the recommendations submitted to Pope Francis by the Bishops. He made this comment in his press briefing to the media just after the completion of the Synod in Vatican.

The Synod of Bishops on Family and Marriage in Rome concluded with a call from Pope Francis addressing members of the Church and of the wider society to work together to achieve this goal. The Pope invited those engaged in pastoral ministry to handle matters related to family with mercy and compassion, it said.

The Synod also discussed the pressures the families face due to abandonment of core values which knit the family life together in the society, it said.

On October 24, the Synod participants submitted a 49 page document with 94 propositions to Pope Francis after they had been voted by the official delegates. After evaluating each proposal, Pope Francis will publish an official document, which is known as the Post Apostolic Exhortation.

“One noteworthy element in the Synod was its openness to approach families with mercy and compassion since families are already struggling with various temptations,” it said.

There were 270 Bishops, 55 laymen and experts under the leadership of Pope gathered for three weeks in discussing the role of families in the Church and society, it said. As many as 12 representatives from the sister churches also participated in the Synod. Indian Church was represented by three Cardinals, eight Bishops besides three lay people.

The representatives from India talked about the style of family life existing in the country and the spiritual basis which sustains and nourishes the families, it said.

Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, who is also president of Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council, handed over an envelope to Pope Francis containing a special collection the Kerala Catholic Church took for the persecuted Christians of the Middle East, the release added.

Source: New Indian Express

Exarchial Pastoral Council Meeting USA

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Exarchial Pastoral Council Meeting USA

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

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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

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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

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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.

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