REUNION DAY CELEBRATION OF THE SYRO-MALANKARA CATHOLIC CHURCH AND EPISCOPAL ORDINATIONS

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church celebrated 87^th Reunion Day (Sabha Sangamam) and Episcopal Ordinations from 19 to 21 September 2017 at Adoor under the auspice of Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum. It was an occasion for the Church to remember and to give thanks to the God Almighty for the abundant blessings which he has showered upon this Church during the course of time. The chief guest of the program was His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius Youssef Younan III, the Syrian Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, and the other delegates His Excellency Youssef Habash, Bishop of USA-Canada, Archbishop of Egypt- His Grace Youssef Hanoush. All the bishops from the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, number of bishops from the Latin and the Syro-Malabar Church, Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, Malankara Syrian Jacobite Church and Marthoma Church were participated in the celebration. The program was attended by more than twenty-five thousand people including Vicar Generals, Core-Episcopos, Rambans, Priests, Religious and Lay faithful from various parts of the world.  There were representatives from the Hindu and Muslim communities and leaders from various political and other social realms. 

            As a memorial monument of the 87^th Reunion Day Celebrations, the newly constructed Sacred Heart church at Adoor, was consecrated and opened to all on 19 September 2017. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, was the principal Celebrant, and His Beatitude Moran Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, the Syrian Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and the dignitaries participated in it.

On 19 September, after the hoisting of Papal and Catholicate flags at the venue of the celebration there was an International Quiz competition organized by the Malankara Catholic Youth Movement (MCYM). On 20^th September there were gatherings of MCCL (children) MCYM (Youth), MCA (Laity) and Mathrusangam (Mothers Association) at various venues.   More than thousand Sunday school students and teachers took part in the MCCL meeting and Rev. Fr Bony OFM conducted the orientation class. The gathering of MCYM was inaugurated by Dr. Santhosh Mathew IAS, the Chairman, NCTE. Rev. Dr Jacob Manjaly presented the theme. More than three thousand youth participated in the session. The session of the lay people (MCA) was inaugurated by Dr. Cyriac Joseph, Hon’ Rtd. Justice of Supreme Court. Dr Jacob Punnoose IPS Rtd., DGP of Kerala, delivered the benedictory address. The gathering of the mothers (Mathrusamagam) was inaugurated by Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, and Adv. Grace Lal, Family Councillor, led the session.

Green protocol of the State was strictly observed throughout the celebrations. Hence, Mrs R. Girija IAS, Hon’ District Collector of Pathanamthitta, gave the green protocol certificate to His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos for keeping the entire premises under green protocol of the state. Several charitable acts have been launched during this reunion gathering.

There was a special gathering conducted under the title ‘Addressing of the Church in Fire’ in view of addressing the issues of the persecuted Church in Syria. The chief guest of the function His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius Youssef Younan III, the Syrian Catholic Patriarch of Antioch shared the concerns and anxieties of the people in Syria and Lebanon. As a token of love the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church offered Rs. 65,00,000/- to the persecuted church.