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

CBCI10 October,2017(CBCI)

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church celebrated 87th 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 87th 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 20th 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 BaseliosCardinal 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. 65,00000/- to the persecuted church.

Episcopal Ordinations

The Episcopal Ordinations of His Excellency Most. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Makarios (George Kalayil Ramban) as the Bishop of Puttur and His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Yoohanon Mar Theodoisus (Yoohanon Kochuthundil Ramban), as Bishop of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia and Apostolic Visitator for Europe and Oceania were taken place on 21st September 2017. The Principal celebrant was Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos. His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III Younan, all the prelates of the Syro-Malankara CatholicChurch and other Bishops delegates from various Churches solemnized the ceremony.

Inauguration of the Diocese of Parassala and the Installation of His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Eusebius

The inauguration of the newly erected eparchy of Parassala and the enthronement ceremony of Most Rev. Thomas Mar Eusebius, the first bishop of the Eparchy, was took place at Nazareth Home School, Balaramapuram on 23 September 2017. Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos was the Chief celebrant. His Beatitude Ignatius Youssef III Younan, the Antiochean Syrian Patriarch, Archbishop Giambattista Diquatro, the Apostolic Nuncio to India, Mother Prema, the Superior General of the Sisters of Charity, and other Bishops were given ecclesial reception at the main entrance of the venue. The sunthroniso ceremony or the installation was conducted during the concelebrated Holy Mass. Archbishop Giambattista Diquatro, the Apostolic Nuncio to India, gave the homily. It was followed by a felicitation meeting. Rev. Mother Prema, the Superior General of the Sisters of Charity, inaugurated the public meeting. She showed a special thanks to Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos for taking up Saint Mother Teresa of Kolkota as the patroness saint of the newly erected eparchy and offered prayers and support of the congregation to the new Eparchy. It is the first eparchy in the world which took Mother Teresa of Kolkota as the patroness saint. A good number of political-religious and social leaders were participated in the function.

Installation of His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Makarios

The enthronement ceremony of Most Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Makarios, the second bishop of the Eparchy of Puttur, was took place at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Nujibalthala, Karanataka on 30 September 2017. Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos was the Chief celebrant. The sunthroniso ceremony or the installation was conducted during the concelebrated Holy Mass. His Grace Archbishop Bernard Moris, the Archbishop of Bangalore delivered the homily. All the bishop’s from the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and His Excellency Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’sousa (Mangalore), Rt. Rev. Dr. Mar Lawrence Mukkuzhy (Belthangadi), and other members of the Bishop’s Conference of Karnataka graced the occasion. It was followed by a felicitation meeting in which the Chief-Vip of Karnataka delivered the Key Note Address. A good number of political-religious and social leaders were participated in the function.