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NEWSLETTER St.Thomas DECEMBER 2017, VOLUME 4, NO. 3 Eparchy of St.Thomas the Apostle of Melbourne of the Syro Malabars IN THIS ISSUE l 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE SYRO-MALABAR EPARCHY l BISHOPS’ PASTORAL LETTER l FOURTH PASTORAL COUNCIL REPORT l SR RANI MARIA’S BEATIFICATION l REX BAND LIVE AUSTRALIA TOUR 2017 1 ST. THOMAS NEWSLETTER 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE SYRO-MALABAR EPARCHY WELCOME SPEECH - BISHOP BOSCO PUTHUR Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, Thomas the apostle in India. We are lack of enough job opportunities and Today is the day that Lord has given to us, the children of St. Thomas and we demographic reasons lead us to migrate a day of thanksgiving for all the graces he consider him as our father of faith. to other places like Australia. abundantly showered on the Syro-Malabar That is why we were traditionally called Of course, we come here for job or for community in Australia, especially in WA Thomas Christians. At present there are study, but we uphold our tradition and and in Perth. I am sure you experienced 5 million Catholics in the Syro-Malabar faith and at the same time try to become the presence of god through this bible church and we got lot of migrants relevant to the Australian society. convention led by Fr. Dominic. from our church all over the world. in Australia, the Syro-Malabar diocese Now, I am entering into my duty of And a word about the Syro-Malabar was inaugurated in 2014. The place welcoming everyone. First of all, I would community in Australia especially for the where we come from, the southern like to introduce to you a man who is knowledge of our guests. Syro-Malabar state in India has got number of living according to the heart of Jesus church is an ancient catholic community educational institutions run by catholic here in Australia. I shall share with you bloomed from the apostleship of St. church. We have high literacy rate but an experience I had when I went to 2 ST. THOMAS NEWSLETTER meet Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey. DEAR FRIENDS, WE And then we have got Fr. Anish, the parish I saw a homeless old lady lying in front priest of the St. joseph Syro-Malabar of his house and came to know that he HAVE BEEN SPENDING parish in Perth. I am so happy to welcome accommodates many homeless like that. TIME KNOWING JESUS him to this meeting. And he even makes coffee for her. I was humiliated and edified to see that because AND LOVING JESUS. Dear friends, we have been spending time I am not able to do that by myself. Media MOTHER THERESA SAID, knowing Jesus and loving Jesus. Mother who speak about scandals of the church “THE FRUIT OF SILENCE Theresa said, “The fruit of silence is prayer, never see such kinds of goodness in the fruit of prayer is faith, fruit of faith is love, church and they don’t want to speak IS PRAYER, FRUIT OF and the fruit of love is service”. Important about it. A man according to the heart of PRAYER IS FAITH, FRUIT thing is to love and to serve. This is a Jesus. In the name of all gathered here I chance to know and love Jesus to prepare cordially welcome Archbishop Emeritus OF FAITH IS LOVE, AND ourselves to serve others. Let us make use Barry Hickey. THE FRUIT OF LOVE IS of this time effectively. And we have got Tony Buti, a politician, member of Armadale and representative SERVICE”. IMPORTANT Thanking God for everything and seeking of Hon. Minister Paul Papalia, minister for THING IS TO LOVE AND the intercession of Mother Mary, I multicultural affairs. His name shows he welcome all of you once again. Thank you. is an Italian. Italians are very generous, TO SERVE. loving and lively. I am happy that being the member of assembly he agreed to come for this meeting. I cordially welcome you to this meeting. Another distinguished personality with us is Adrian Martino, vice principal of La Salle College, Perth. Many of our children are studying here and they all agree that he is a good teacher and I am sure he is loved by all the students. Dear Adrian, thank you so much for being with us today and I welcome you to this meeting. Of course, here with us, Fr. Francis, the Vicar General of our diocese. I need not welcome him because he is one of us. Yet for all the hard work he has done for this great event, I thank Fr. Francis and welcome him to our midst. 3 ST. THOMAS NEWSLETTER SPEECH BY EMERITUS ARCHBISHOP BARRY HICKEY ON THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY MEETING AT PERTH Most Rev. Bosco Puthur, Distinguished cater for the particular needs of the Syro- guests, Vincentian Priests, ladies and Malabar community. gentlemen… I am deeply impressed by their enthusiasm and dynamism, especially in It was indeed a pleasure to receive this country where Christianity is facing an invitation to address this public formidable challenges. meeting on the third Anniversary of the establishment of the Syro- Your excellency, Bishop Bosco, I Malabar Eparchy in Australia. I do congratulate you for adding new life and so on my own behalf and on behalf vigour to Christian life in Australia in these of the Most Rev. Timothy Costelloe difficult times. SDB, Archbishop of Perth, who unfortunately could not be here I can assure state and federal governments today. around Australia that the members of The establishment of the eparchy is the newly established eparchy will add an indication of the strong religious Since then they have shown remarkable new religious and cultural richness to desire of the many people from Kerala energy and zeal in offering not only those Australian life and be an enormous force and other parts of India who are now of Syro-Malabar rite but all of our people for good. residents in Australia, to participate in vibrant preaching, healing services, retreats May god’s blessings continue to bring the vibrancy of the Syro-Malabar rites, and Christian formation programmes. Very energy, happiness and love to and community life and language that recently they opened a residential retreat through the Syro-Malabar eparchy of St. they enjoyed back home. centre in Byford (Karrakup). Thomas. In my visits over the years to India Thank you. and to Kerala in particular, I have Now, since the establishment of the eparchy personally witnessed the strong faith they are pioneering even more activities to and traditions of the Syro-Malabar people, and count amount the priests some seminary classmates. FELICITATION SPEECHE This public meeting comes at the end of the three days of a bible ADRIAN MARTINO convention during which faith Honestly it’s a pleasure for us to host and was shared by huge number of have you all here at La Salle College. John enthusiastic participants. De La Salle is a great saint on whose name I am pleased to note that some years this college is known. So there is nothing before the establishment of the wrong when you hold a Bible convention at eparchy, the Syro-Malabar Vincentian this place, which proves education and faith priests accepted my invitation goes hand in hand. So we welcome you to to come to Perth to administer La sale Collage. It’s our pleasure to have it two of our parishes, Shenton Park here in the lovely swan valley and we wish and Maddington and to provide you all the best for the rest of your Bible chaplaincy at some of our public Convention and for the established of your hospitals. community here in Perth. Thank you. 4 ST. THOMAS NEWSLETTER Prot.No.MPL: 52/17/19 (ENG) institutions that arrange a home for these homeless people in our homeland. I am very happy to introduce to you one of PASTORAL LETTER these charity institutions called “Deivadhan” (meaning Gift of BISHOP’S God), which specially deserves PASTORAL Dear Rev Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, our helping hand. and my dear Children in Jesus Christ, LETTER Many of you may know Fr. The liturgical season of Annunciation Abraham Kaippanplackal who has commenced. It is a graceful was a priest from Palai Diocese. season for us to prepare spiritually He was a saintly priest who was and mentally for the birth of our Lord called to his heavenly abode Jesus. Let us prepare ourselves these at the age of 100, while taking days before Christmas with prayer, care of thousands of homeless penance and fasting. Christmas people. Fr. Kaippanplackal greetings to everyone! Not just in the established a religious order cribs, but let the baby Jesus be born for sisters called “Deivadhan” in our hearts and families as well. (DDS) at Malayattoor in 1998. Currently this congregation “Fear not, for behold, I bring you has 23 professed sisters (Nuns). good news of great joy that will be for More than 800 homeless all the people. For unto you is born people receive their shelter and this day in the city of David a Saviour, services across Malayattoor, Bishop Bosco Puthur who is the Messiah, the Lord. And this Kanjoor, Vadakancherry, Kolayad, will be a sign for you: you will find a Thankamani under Deivadhan baby wrapped in swaddling clothes institutions. I invite you to give and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2: 10-12) this year’s Christmas gift to the Yes, dear ones, today also God invite poor as “a shelter for baby Jesus” us to meet Jesus! Each Christmas to Deivadhan.