1 FAITH CONFESSION OF ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago The faith confession of St. Thomas the Apostle, “My Lord and My God”, stands in history as the most profound confession on Jesus’ true identity. ‘Lord’ and ‘God’ are the equivalent words for the Greek terms ‘Kyrios’ and ‘Theos’ respectively used to denote the Hebrew words ‘Yahweh’ and ‘Elohim’, two expressions used to address the Almighty One. Making use of these words to the Resurrected Lord, Thomas equates Jesus to the Absolute Deity. He connects the Old Testament and New Testament St. Thomas Syro-Malabar understanding of God in the person of Jesus Christ. Catholic Diocese of Chicago St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago, by living My Lord and My God and experiencing the faith confession of her patron through the celebration of her liturgy, aims at the deepening of the identity and heritage of Syro- Malabar Church in the United States of America. Diocesan Curia Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath Auxiliary Bishop & Protosyncellus May 2019 to December 2020, Vol 15. No.4 Mar Joy Alappatt Published by : Syncellus Rev. Fr. Thomas Kadukappillil Rev. Fr. Johnykutty George Puleessery, Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Thomas Mulavanal St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago 372 S. Prairie Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126-4020 Ph: 630-279-1386, 630-279-1383 Fax: 630-279-1479 Chancellor email: [email protected] Rev. Fr. Johnykutty George Puleessery www.stthomasdiocese.org Finance Officer 2 Coordinators : Jose Thomas & Merline Mary Augustine Rev. Fr. George Maliekal Layout : Jijo Mathew CHRISTMAS 2020 Table of Contents 1. Pope Mar Francis .................................................................................................................................07 36. Office of the Protection of Children and Youth. ......................................................................................75 2. Major Archbishop George Cardinal Alencherry. .....................................................................................06 37. 4 LIFE Ministry. ......................................................................................................................................76 3. Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath. ................................................................................................................08 38. Diocesan Youth Apostolate. ...................................................................................................................78 4. Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt. .......................................................................................................................08 39. SMCC 2019- 2020. ................................................................................................................................87 5. Christmas 2020, Pastoral Letter 32/2020: Mar Jacob Angadiath (English). ..........................................09 40. Pastoral Council 2019- report. ...............................................................................................................88 6. Christmas 2020, Pastoral Letter 32/2020: Mar Jacob Angadiath (Malayalam)......................................12 41. Pastoral Council 2020 – a report. ..........................................................................................................90 7. Christmas Celebration with Mary: Mar Joy Alappatt. .............................................................................15 42. Priestly Spirituality: Reflections by Malpan Rev. Dr. Fr.Mathew Vellanickal. .........................................94 8. Congratulations to Bishop Gheevarghese Mar Aprem . ........................................................................17 43. Church consecrations: 9. 75th Birthday celebrations of Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath . ................................................................18 St. Alphonsa Forane, ATLANTA, Holy Family, ROCKLAND & St. Alphonsa Church, RICHMOND. ......98 10. Eparchial Consultors (Photos). ..............................................................................................................20 44. Inauguration of New Missions: 11. Glorious Moments: Deacon Br. Joby Joseph Vellookunnel, St. Sebastian’s MISSION, Exton PA, Our Lady of Fatima MISSION, Fayetteville, NC Subdeacon Joseph Steiger (JY) & Subdeacon Joel Pius. .....................................................................21 St. Teresa of Calcutta MISSION, San Francisco East Bay. CA. ............................................................99 12. Glorious Moments: Ordinations: 45. Pastoral Letters and Circulars of Bishop Jacob Angadiath Rev. Fr. Melvin Paul Mangalath & Rev. Fr. Thomas Pulickal . ........................................................ 22&23 Pastoral letter: No 31 (Edayalekhanam No 31) ...................................................................................100 13. Glorious Moments: Vestition and First Profession of Sr. Deana Therese Love CMC. ...........................24 46. Photo: Presbyterium with Major Archbishop Mar George Cardinal Alencherry 14. SABHATHAARAM -Josekutty Nadackapadam. .....................................................................................25 (Priests’ Conference August 2019) & Presbyterium with His Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri (Priests’ Annual Retreat June 2019) . .................................102 15. Diocesan Award winners. ......................................................................................................................28 47. Pastoral letter No 30 (Edayalekhanam No 30) ....................................................................................105 16. Farewell . ...............................................................................................................................................30 48. Circulars of Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath: Nos. 58 to 78. .......................................................... 108-139 17. Welcome . ..............................................................................................................................................31 49. Pastoral Letter of Major Archbishop – SABHADINAM 2020 (Prot. No. 0714/2020). ...........................140 18. Ad Limina Visit of Eastern Catholic Bishops of US. ...............................................................................32 50. EDAYALEKHANAM of Major Archbishop – SABHADINAM 2020 (Prot. No. 0714/2020) . ..................145 19. Reception to Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, prefect of the Oriental Congregation Rome. ..........................35 20. “Baptized and Sent”- 20 years of Amazing Grace- Fr. Johnykutty Puleessery. .....................................37 51. Additional Circular on SABHADINAM to the Eparchies outside India (Prot.No. 0789/2020). ..............149 21. Fratelli Tutti: Summary of the Encyclical by Fr. Thomas Pulickal. .........................................................40 52. Pastoral Letter of Major Archbishop – SABHADINAM 2019 (Prot. No. 0984/2019). ...........................151 22. Women of Grace series: Rev. Fr. Kevin Mundackal . ............................................................................42 53. EDAYALEKHANAM of Major Archbishop – SABHADINAM 2019 (Prot. No. 0984/2019). ...................154 23. SyroCreatives: Rev. Fr. Rajeev Valiyaveettil . ........................................................................................44 54. Circular 0127/2019: Letter after the synod- January 2019 . ................................................................157 24. Kodimaram & Kalkurissu Rev. Fr. Melvin Paul Mangalathu. ..................................................................46 55. Circular 0482/2019: Reflections on Lent . ...........................................................................................160 25. Report of the Presbyterium 2019. ..........................................................................................................48 56. Circular 1345/2019: Letter by the Fathers of the Syro-Malabar Synod. ..............................................162 26. Bishop’s House Annex- Work in Progress. ............................................................................................52 57. Circular 1644/2019: Ad Limina Visit . ...................................................................................................168 27. Syro-Malabar National Convention Houston 2019. ...............................................................................53 58. Circular 1823/2019: Year of St. Chavara. ............................................................................................172 28. News from Chancery . ...........................................................................................................................62 59. Circular 0989/2020: Observing Ettunombu. ........................................................................................175 29. Appointments: Feb.1, 2020 to Dec. 13, 2020. .......................................................................................62 60. Circular 1008/2020: Letter after the synod-(on-line) August 2020. ......................................................176 30. A report of the Pastoral & Spiritual Care during the Pandemic COVID-19. ...........................................65 61. Bishops’ Diary 2020: Mar Jacob Angadiath. ........................................................................................180 31. Flood Relief Fund. .................................................................................................................................67