OCTOBER 2020 | Vol. 01 | Issue 03 | a Syro-malabar Major Archiepiscopal curia newsletter “She is the flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley.” - St. Augustine Editor’s Desk September 8 is the feast of the Nativity of Mother Mary, ever Virgin. We observe seven days of fasting and on the eighth day celebrate the feast of the nativity of the Virgin Mary. On this occassion, Major Archbishop, Mar Alenchery exhorted the faithful to observe a day of fasting, attend the Holy Qurbana on Friday, September 4, and pray for good health during this Covid-19 pandemic. He also requested prayers to illuminate the scientists and health department so they can come out with effective vaccines to control the spread of the virus. All priests were asked to offer Holy Qurbana for this special intention on the same day. The entire Archiepiscopal Curia and the premises were blessed after a marathon long days of paint work which came to an end last month. New Auxiliary Bishop to the Archeparchy of Kottayam, Mar George Kurisummoottil was given a warm reception at the Curia. The annual retreat for the priests and nuns in the Curial offices is being held during the last two weeks of the month of September. Apart from this, Curia had a normal rhythm during the month of September with Major Archbishop conducting various meetings online, curial administrative activities being carried out by the Curia Bishop and the staff at the Curia with Post-Synodal documentation alongside other works of immediate concerns. Different commissions and offices were committed to working in their respective areas. Let the celebration of the feast of the Nativity of Mother Mary rekindle in us the spirit of true discipleship with trust in God's providence and care for us. May Mother Mary intercede for us all. St. Bernard who gave impetus to the strong devotion to Our Lady in the middle ages wrote; When you pray to her, You will not despair; When you think of her, You will not err; “ When she holds you up, You will not fail... FR. ALEX ONAMPALLY SECRETARY, MEDIA COMMISSION INSIDE STORIES EVENTS Reception to the New Auxiliary Bishop of Kottayam 04 MOUNT VISION OCTOBER 2020 | VOL.01 | ISSUE 03 A SYRO-MALABAR MAJOR ARCHIEPISCOPAL CURIA NEWSLETTER CHIEF EDITOR FR. ALEX ONAMPALLY SECRETARY, MEDIA COMMISSION LANGUAGE EDITOR DR. GEORGE MADATHIPARAMBIL Vencharippu of the Archiepiscopal Curia 05 CONSULTORS MAR SEBASTIAN VANIYAPURACKAL CURIA BISHOP, Curia Inmates in Annual Retreat 06 MEMBER, MEDIA COMMISSION Winners of Edenthottam Garden 07 MAR JOSEPH Syriac Academy Inauguration 08 PAMPLANY CHAIRMAN, MEDIA COMMISSION Prathal, Christian Musical Album Released 09 MAR PAULY Heartlink Global Project of Catholica Congress 10 KANNOOKADAN MEMBER, MEDIA COMMISSION The Laity Forum Webinar Inauguration 11 DR. VINCENT CHERUVATHOOR PRESS RELEASES CHANCELLOR Bishop Mar Paul Chittilapilly was a Great Pastor 12 DR. ABRAHAM KAVILPURAYIDATHIL Archbishop Joseph Chennoth Called to Eternal Rest 12 VICE-CHANCELLOR, PRO C.F. Thomas was a Great Leader 13 FR. SEBY KOLANGARA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Protest of the Global Mathruvedhi 13 INTERNET MISSION SYRO-MALABAR CURIA NEWS MEDIA COMMISSION MOUNT ST. THOMAS, P.B. NO. 3110 Reports of the Commissions & Affiliated Offices 14 KAKKANAD P.O., KOCHI - 682 030 Major Archbishop’s Diary 15 Email: [email protected] Phone: +91 9946162280 Curia Bishop’s Diary 16 Website: www.syromalabarmc.in Events, Feasts & Birthdays 16 DESIGN & LAYOUT JOSEMON VAZHAYIL MUMBAI MOUNT VISION | OCTOBER 2020 | 04 ReceptionTO NEW AUXILIARY BISHOP OF KOTTAYAM || NEW AUXILIARY BISHOP FOR KOTTAYAM A warm reception was given to the newly elected Auxiliary Bishop to Archeparchy of Kottayam, Mar George Kurisummoottil on 14 September at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad. Mar George is elected to serve the Knanaya faithful from Syro-Malankara tradition in the Archeparchy of Kottayam. MOUNT VISION | OCTOBER 2020 | 05 Vencharippu OF THE ARCHIEPISCOPAL CURIA || VENCHARIPPU The Archiepiscopal Curia and the premises were blessed on 7 September at 12 PM after a marathon long days of paint work which came to an end last month. Major Archbishop officiated the Vencharippu Service along with Curia Bishop Mar Sebastian and other priests of the Curial office. MOUNT VISION | OCTOBER 2020 | 06 || ANNUAL RETREAT IN CURIA CURIA INMATES IN ANNUAL RETREAT Making use of the relaxations in the Covid lockdown, the inmates of the Curia spent days in prayer and silence, making their annual retreat in the month of September. The retreat was conducted in two batches. The first batch of retreat was for the priests and seminarians working in the Major Archiepiscopal Curia, from 14 to 18. Rev. Fr. Mathew Kakkattupillil, the Provincial Superior of St. Joseph’s Province of the Vincentian Congregation preached the retreat. Although Major Archbishop and Curia Bishop had already made their annual retreat, they joined the priests in prayer and silence in the retreat days. The second batch of the retreat was scheduled for the MSJ Sisters working at the Curia from 21 to 25. The preacher was Rev. Fr. Mariadas Palatty OFM Conv. The MSJ Congregation sent two Sisters from the Generalate to make the Sisters at the Curia totally free to make their retreat fruitfully. MOUNT VISION | OCTOBER 2020 | 07 || WINNERS OF EDENTHOTTAM GARDEN WINNERS OF GARDEN COMPETITIONSEden HONOUREDthottam Service to Farmers should be regarded as Church’s Mission Activity: Cardinal Mar George Alencherry. lockdown for promoting non-toxic The Church is committed to helping the vegetable cultivation. The meeting was helpless and distressed farmers and it presided by Catholic Congress Global should be regarded as a missionary President Adv. Biju Parayanilam, Mar activity of the Church. Major Archbishop Sebastian Vaniyapurackal, the Curia Cardinal George Alencherry was speaking Bishop, Fr. Abraham Kavilpurayidathil, after distributing the cash awards and Mr. Benny Antony, Dr. Josekutty Ozhukayil, certificates to the winners of the Mr. Thomas Peedikayil and Mr. P. J. state-level kitchen vegetable garden Pappachan addressed the gathering. Mr. competition, the "Garden of Eden Davis Edakkalathoor and Justice Kurian Competition", organized by the Catholic Joseph sponsored the first and second Congress Global Committee. The function prizes of Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 25,000 was held at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad. respectively. The third prize of Rs. 10,000 Farmers are subjected to constant each was sponsored by generous persons exploitation as they become unorganized. from various parts of the world. Mr. P. K. The Major Archbishop congratulated the Alexander from Ernakulum-Angamaly and participants and winners of the Garden of Mr. Lenu Mathew from Palai won the first Eden competition for making use of the and second prizes respectively. MOUNT VISION | OCTOBER 2020 | 08 || SYRIAC ACADEMY INAUGURATION The Syriac language is of paramount SYRIAC LANGUAGE importance to experience the mystery aspect of the liturgy. It is the key to the IS THE KEY TO THE richness of our Liturgy. The Major Archbishop was inaugurating online the Mar Kariyattil Syriac Academy started under the RICHNESS OF LITURGY: aegis of the Liturgical Committee of the CARDINAL ALENCHERRY Eparchy of Thamarassery on 23 September 2020. He congratulated Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil and the priests involved in the initiative of teaching Syriac language. In the inaugural function conducted online, Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil welcomed the Major Archbishop. As a first step, now a course is arranged for the priests who are interested to learn this language. 20 priests who have registered to learn Syriac also participated in the meeting. Fr. Joseph Kalathil, the Convenor of the Liturgical Committee thanked the major Archbishop and others who collaborated with the event. Rev. Dr. Mathew Kulathinkal of the Eparchy of Thamarassery, an expert of the language, is the resource person. MOUNT VISION | OCTOBER 2020 | 09 || PRATHAL, MUSICAL ALBUM RELEASED PRATHAL, Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alencherry released the Christian Album ‘Prathal’ at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad. The CHRISTIAN famous singer Kester sang the songs in the album. The songs are composed by Jacob Koratty. Fr. Nevin Attokkaran, the Chancellor of the Eparchy of Irinjalakuda is the lyricist and director of the MUSICAL ALBUM album. ‘Prathal’, a musical album featuring priests, nuns and other artists from the Eparchy of Irinjalakuda, was released on September 6 on the YouTube channel, ‘Love Home’. RELEASED This album presents the life experience of suffering people who find solace in the Eucharistic presence. Eucharist gives a great hope to those who keep their home a dwelling place for Lord our God especially in the Corona period. Cardinal Alencherry gave a remark during the album release that it narrates the story of human survival in the fullness of the Eucharist. MOUNT VISION | OCTOBER 2020 | 10 || HEARTLINK GLOBAL PROJECT OF CATHOLICA CONGRESS CATHOLICA CONGRESS LINKS THE HEARTS THROUGH ‘HEARTLINK GLOBAL PROJECT’ Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry, inaugurating through a video conferencing the new project Heartlinks started by the Global Committee of the Catholic Congress with the participation of representatives from 34 countries, stated that it is a new face of organizational work of the lay movement of the Syro-Malabar Church. Cardinal Alencherry inaugurated also first housing project under Heartlinks for a deserving family. His Beatitude expressed his hope that the participation of community members from all over the world through