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.
Media Workshop
Following the decision of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, the Synodal Commission for Media was to conduct a 3 Day Workshop for Laity, Priests and Religious who engage in the work of Media and Public Relations of the Church from various fields.
The Workshop was planned for the 8th, 9th, and 10 of October, however it was postponed and re-scheduled to Wednesday the 29th to Friday 31st October 2014 at the Catholicate Centre, Pattom, Trivandrum.
Mr Boby Abraham, a senior media person and a member of the Synodal Commission for Media will direct the Workshop. The workshop will be inaugurated by Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis, Catholicos and will be presided by Most Rev. Samuel Mar Irenios, Chairman of the Synodal Commission for Media.
Chancellors and PROs of various Eparchies, Media Co-ordinator, Bulletin Editors, Editors of different Publications, PROs of Institutions, Provincial Secretaries of the Religious Congregations Priests and Sisters who are qualified and graduates in the field, Presidents of different organizations of the Church and the members of the Synodal Commissions are to participate in the Workshop.
Three cardinals among five Indians at Vatican Synod
Five priests from India, including three Cardinals, are participating in the two-week long extraordinary Synod in Vatican on family life that began on Sunday. While the majority of around 200 delegates participating in the Synod are bishops or priests, the historical meet to deliberate issues like use of contraceptives, divorce and family life, is attended by some 12 married couples, a rarity for the Catholic Church.
Mumbai Archbishop Rev Dr Oswald Cardinal Gracias of the Latin Catholic Church, Major Archbishop of Syro Malabar Catholic Church Mar George Cardinal Alencherry and Cardinal Baselios Mar Cleemis Catholicos are attending the Synod as heads of three Catholic rites in India.
Apart from them, Fr Arulraj Gali, national director of Holy Cross Family Ministry in India and Fr Cajetan Menezes, director, Family Apostolate, Mumbai Archdiocese are also participating in the Synod from India which dwells on Pastoral Challenges for the Family in the Context of Evangelization.
Church sources said that only heads of churches and Bishops conferences have been invited for the Synod as regular participants. The priests are attending the Synod to assist in various capacities. The deliberations and findings of the Synod will be put before a General Assembly to be convened by the Vatican in October 2015. The ongoing Synod will conclude on October 19.
The 16th Ordinary Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
The 16th Ordinary Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church will take place at Dharmapitam, Catholic Bishopâs House, Sulthan Bathery from 21 to 22 September 2014. All the bishops of the Syro- Malankara Catholic Church are attending the Synod.
84th Reunion Anniversary, Ecclesial Gathering
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church celebrates the 84th Reunion anniversary and the Ecclesial Gathering in the Eparchy of Bathery, with various programmes, from 18 to 20 September 2014.
The plans for the three day gathering are as follows:
His Grace Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolic Nuncio to India, is the chief guest of the celebrations. The celebrations will begin in the afternoon (1.30 p.m.) of Thursday,18 September with the Deepasikhaprayanam and the Vilambara Rally. At 3 p.m., the Sahityasammelanam (gathering of the writers), the Mathrusangamam (the meeting of the mothers) and the inauguration of the exhibition will take place. At 5.30 p.m., His Beatitude Mar George Cardinal Alanchery, the head of the Syro-Malabar Church, will inaugurate Reunion celebrations.
On Friday, 19th morning at 9.00 a.m. special study seminars on âRenewal of the Familyâ, a theme announced by His Holiness Pope Francis, are organized by the associations MCCL, MCYM and MCA. On the same day afternoon, at 3.00 p.m. an Interreligious Meeting and in the evening at 5.30 p.m. SuviseshaSandhya is organised by the SuviseshaSangam of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
The solemn Holy Qurbono will begin at 8:00 a.m., on Saturday, 20 September. This is followed by the public meeting. His Grace Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolic Nuncio to India, and other religious, social and political leaders participate in the Public Meeting. The celebrations conclude with the Preshita Rally.
His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis in Kuwait
Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos, Head and Father of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, visited the Syro Malankara Catholic Faithful in Kuwait from 3rd to 8th September 2014. His pastoral visit was on the occasion of the Ettu Nombu in preparation for the Nativity of Mary, Mother of God. His Beatitude was present for various functions including the Pothuyogam of the Malankara Catholic Faithful on Wednesday 3rd September, 84th Reunion Anniversary, 20th Anniversary of KMRM and Onam Celebrations (Sneha Nilavu -2014) on 5th September organized by the Kuwait Malankara Rite Movement (KMRM), the organization which provides the hierarchically approved forum for the faithful in Kuwait. On Friday 5th September His Beatitude celebrated Holy Qurbono in the Holy Family Cathedral in the Latin Rite (English) and on Saturday 6th September in the St. Daniel Comboni Parish, Abbasiya (Malankara) for the Catholic Faithful in Kuwait. He celebrated Holy Qurbono on the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, Mother of God on Sunday evening, 7th September 2014 in the Holy Family Cathedral. His Beatitude also administered Baptism to children and gave First Communion to children. 106 Couples who celebrated their 20th and over Wedding Anniversary were also felicitated on the occasion and given a Blessing (Certificate) signed by His Beatitude.
His Beatitude received officials of various Catholic and Cultural Associations. He made courtesy visits to His Grace Petar Rajic, Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait and Dr. Abdul Rahaman A. Al-Awadi Executive Secretary, Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment and Former Minister of the Ministry of Health. His Beatitude attended a Press Conference in which prominent media representatives of Kuwait and India were present.
His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos met Prime Minister Narendra Modi
His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, 18 August 2014 at Prime Ministerâs house in New Delhi.
It was the first meeting of both Narendra Modi and His Beatitude after taking their responsibility as the Prime Minister of India and the President of CBCI respectively.
