Thanksgiving Day was observed

The entire Syro-Malankara Catholic Church observed 1 December 2012 as a Thanksgiving Day following the Investiture of His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, the Father and Head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church as Cardinal of the Holy Catholic Church by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on 24 November 2012 in Vatican.

His Beatitude, His Grace Most Rev, Salvatore Penacchio, Apostolic Nuncio of India, all the Bishops of the Malankara Catholic Churches and a number of other Bishops from the Syro-Malabar and Latin Catholic churches, Priests, Religious and Faithful gathered at the tomb of the Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios and the other venerable prelates of the Church for Morning Prayer at 8.30 a.m. It was followed by the liturgical procession from the Tomb Chapel to the temporary Sanctuary made in the Auditorium of St. Mary’s HSS, Pattom. Most Rev. Mar Andrews Thazhath, President of the KCBC and Archbishop of Trichur representing the KCBC and the Syro-Malabar Church preached the homily.

The Holy Qurbono was followed by a public meeting. It started with a prayer song. His Grace Most Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos (Secretary of the Episcopal Synod and Metroplitan Archbishop of Tiruvalla) made the Welcome Speech. His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias (President of the CBCI, Secretary General of the FABC, and Archbishop of Mumbai), inaugurated the public meeting which was presided over by His Grace Most Rev. Salvatore Penacchio (Apostolic Nuncio of India). His Beatitude was felicitated by His Excellency Joseph Marthoma Metropolitan, His Grace Soosa Pakaiam( President of Kerala Latin Catholic Bishops Council and Archbishop, Latin Archdiocese of Trivandrum), Bishop Dharmaraj Rasalam(CSI Bishop of South Kerala Diocese), His Excellency Thomas Mar Timotheos Metropolitan( Jacobite Bishop of Kottayam Diocese), Very Rev. Dr. Jose Mariadas OIC( Superior General of Order of the Imitation of Christ and Representative of the Priests and Religious),Sri. Jacob Punnoose( Representative of Laity), Miss. Shyila Marthandum(Representative of Women)

The book, Daivamahathwavum Manushyananmayum written by His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, was released by His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias and S’himo Namaskarathile Vedokthikal, and another book written by Rev. Fr. S. Kakkanattu, was released by His Beatitude the Catholicos. Then the Cardinal delivered the Reply Speech. The meeting concluded with the Papal Anthem and National Anthem. An agape was arranged for all the participants.