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Report

The first ever Global Meet of the Syro-Malabar emigrants, held at Mount St Thomas, the Major Archiepiscopal Curia of the Syro-Malabar Church at Kakkanad, Kochi, Kerala, India from 18 to 21 of August 2006, has been the realization of a long cherished dream of the Syro-Malabar Church. The Syro-Malabar Bishops’ Synodal Commission for the Evangelization and Pastoral Care of the Migrants (CEPCM) organized it, after a yearlong preparation. About 380 participants from all over the world participated in the Meet of whom some 100 were from outside India and others from various cities and Syro-Malabar dioceses in India.

The inaugural session began at 05.15 pm on August 18, 2006 with the solemn Malayalam Qurbana, celebrated with Archbishop Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy, as the main celebrant, Bp Gregory Karotemprel CMI, Bp Mathew Vaniakizhakkel VC, as the co-celebrants, other archbishops, bishops and priests. Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil preached homily during the Mass, attended by all the participants of the Meet.

 Mr Vayalar Ravi, Union Cabinet Minister for Overseas Affairs, inaugurated the Meet. The inaugural session started at 6.30 p.m. was presided over by Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church. Bp Mar Gregory Karotemprel CMI welcomed the dignitaries and the participants of the Meet. Terming the Meet as a venue for matters of the Spirit, Mar Varkey Vithayathil expressed confidence that the Meet would help regain the identity of the Syro-Malabar emigrants and that it would be an important step towards keeping the traditions of faith alive. Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakattu, Bp Paul Hinder, the Apostolic Vicar of Arabia and Dr Mohan Thomas, the Gulf Coordinator of the Syro-Malabar emigrants delivered felicitation speeches. Bp Mathew Vaniakizhakkel VC thanked all. Fr Antony Kollannur, the Chancellor of the Syro-Malabar Church presented the dynamics of the Meet and Fr Mathew Elappanickal gave general directions to the participants.

After dinner Bp A.D. Mattam released the Global Meet 2006 Souvenir by giving it to Mr John Anthraper and to his wife Mrs Alphiene. The students of Alphonsa College, Pala staged various entertainment items for the participants of the Meet.

On 19^th August 2006 the General Session began at 09.00 am.  After a short prayer by Fr Jos Kandathikudy, Fr Paul Thelakat gave the short orientation talk. Fr Antony Nariculam gave the keynote address on the liturgical heritage of the Church. Justice Kurian Joseph delivered the talk on the identity of the Syro-Malabar Church. Bp Paul Hinder spoke on the pastoral activities in the Vicariate of Arabia for various communities. All four of them enriched the participants with their words of wisdom.

By 11.15 am the participants got divided into 15 groups and discussed the social and pastoral problems of the emigrants, their expectation from the hierarchy, their contribution to the growth of the Church and other matters of importance. At 12.00 pm all came together in the auditorium and shared their problems, trials and tribulations, struggles, success and failures with all the bishops and other participants until lunch at 01.00 pm. The common sharing continued after lunch brought out the real problems that the emigrants were facing and their zeal for living the Christian faith in their own ecclesial traditions. At 03.00 pm there was a short presentation by Dr Mohan Thomas on the present situation of pastoral care in the Gulf States. At 03.30 pm Bp Gregory Karotemprel and Bp Jacob Angadiath gave responses to the views expressed in the sharing session.

After tea all the participants moved to Renewal Centre near Kaloor for the Public Reception, which was inaugurated by Mr P.J. Joseph, Minister for Public Works and presided over by Archbishop Mar George Valiamattam. Bp Mar Vijay Anand Nedumpuram CMI welcomed the dignitaries and the participants of the function. Mr K.M. Mani MLA, Mr Francis George MP, Mr Roshy Augustine MLA, Very Rev. Fr Antony Kariyil CMI and Very Rev. Sr Espirit SH gave felicitation speeches. Fr Joby Koottumkal, secretary to the Commission for the Evangelization and Pastoral Care of the Migrants, thanked the dignitaries and the participants. All enjoyed the variety entertainment programme, organized by CMC Provincial House Ernakulam, after the dinner.

On 20^th morning after a short prayer by Sr Jeseentha SKD and a hymn by Mrs Thresiamma at 09.00 am, the secretaries presented the reports of the group discussions in the general session. Bp Mar Thomas Elavanal MCBS moderated the session. By 10.15 am. Fr Antony Kollannur presented the statement of the Global Meet and Bp Andrews Thazhath directed the proceedings. With a few corrections and suggestions the statement was passed by the Meet.

The concluding session that began at 10.45 am was presided over by Archbishop Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy who blessed the Meet with a beautiful concluding message. Bp Sebastian Adayanthrath, the General Coordinator of the Global Meet, thanked all in a very special way. After the coffee break, the Holy Mass was celebrated in English at 11.30 am. Bp George Alencherry was the main celebrant with Bp Mar Sebastian Vadakel, Bp Lawrence Mukkuzhy, Fr Antony Kariyil CMI and Fr Kurian Ammanathukunnel MST as co-celebrants. All other bishops and priests joined them. Arcbishop Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy preached a very inspiring homily during the Mass.

After Lunch, over 80 delegates went on a pilgrimage to the Mar Thoma Shrine at Kodungalloor and to St. Mary’s Church Kottakkavu with Bp Gregory Karotemprel, Bp James Pazhayattil, Bp Vijay Anand Nedumpuram and Fr Pauly Kannookadan. It was really an ever-memorable experience for the participants.

On 21^st morning by 09.00 am some 40 participants went to Ramapuram, Bharananganam and Mannanam on a pilgrimage and Fr Joby Koottumkal guided them. They prayed at the tombs of Blessed Thevarparampil Kunjachan, Blessed Alphonsa and Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara. Lunch was arranged by Bp Joseph Kallarangatt at Pala Bishops’ House. The team also visited the CMI monastery and Museum at Mannanam. All of them appreciated the museum and its maintenance.  By 08.00 pm the pilgrimage was concluded. All enjoyed the pilgrimage to their heart’s content.

Participants of the Global Meet 2006

Requests of the Global Meet 2006 to the Holy See

The Meet requested His Holiness Benedict XVI to immediately make arrangements for giving to the emigrants the just and rightful pastoral care guaranteed by the Second Vatican Council, both the codes of Canon Law and the recent apostolic documents. The Meet also requested His Holiness to elevate the Syro-Malabar Church to the Patriarchal status, as it is the second largest among the Catholic Oriental Churches. Another request was for the extension of Territoruim Proprium to whole of India so that the Syro-Malabar faithful would never feel migrants in their own mother country. As it was found necessary the Meet felt the need for the establishment of separate dioceses in the big cities of India, in Gulf countries and in Europe in order to meet the pastoral needs and concerns of the emigrant faithful. It requested for immediate steps for the appointment of one bishop each with personal jurisdiction to look after the pastoral needs of emigrant faithful in UK & Ireland, in Europe and in the Gulf.

General Views on the Meet

The participants of the Global Meet expressed happiness at the way the Meet was organized. Credit goes to those who worked day and night behind the successful conduct of the Meet. Among them Bp Sebastian Adayanthrath, Fr Bosco Puthur, Fr Mathew Manavalan, Fr Austin Kalappura CMI, Fr Zacharias Paranilam, Fr Paul Thelakat, Fr Mathew Kochupurackal, Fr Jacob Puthussery, Fr Thomas Pulickan CMI, Major Antony, Mr Joseph Vithayathil, Mr Francis Thekkethala, KCYM youth from Ernakulam, brothers from Ernakulam minor seminary, fathers, sisters and the staff at Mount St Thomas deserve special mention.

It is estimated that there are about one million Syro-Malabar emigrants outside the proper territory of the Church. They live in foreign countries and places away from homeland in different cultural and social milieu. Such a gathering of the representatives of the Syro-Malabar emigrants all over the world has been arranged for the first time in the Syro-Malabar Church. The Meet has been an occasion for them to come to their own home, to their origins. It has certainly been a home-coming for the representatives of the emigrants scattered all over the world. Their hearts have been filled with joy, zeal and enthusiasm.

The Meet was arranged for them to bring their pastoral, spiritual and social problems that they experience in the cities or countries where they are emigrants, to the attention of the bishops and the Mother Church. It provided the Syro-Malabar emigrants with a common venue and opportunity for sharing their experiences, possibilities and difficulties in the places where they live as emigrants. They shared their joys and sorrows, which they had been experiencing in their respective migrant places, far off from the homeland, with the bishops and the other participants of the Meet. They could freely interact with the Major Archbishop, Archbishops and the Bishops of the Church in close proximity and they really treasured such blissful moments.

The Meet has been successful in strengthening the emigrant faithful in faith, hope and charity through the meaningful and solemn liturgical celebrations, inspiring homilies, talks, discussions and sharing. They were led to a firm conviction that they formed an integral part of the Mother Church and that she was eager to listen to their problems and pay attention to their struggles. She believes that the traditional faith will encourage them to face the challenges that pose as a threat to their very existence in the countries or places where they are emigrants. The Meet also succeeded in rekindling in the Syro-Malabar emigrants a sense of total belongingness to the Mother Church.

The Meet has been important for the Mother Church also because it was an occasion for her to become aware of the fact that the emigrants, though living in foreign countries and cultures, also were part of the same Church and ecclesial traditions. The Meet also provided her with an opportunity to realize her responsibilities towards the pastoral care of her emigrant faithful. She could realize her children outside the proper territory, though struggling hard to preserve and practise faith, were more zealous and serious regarding matters of faith and morals, than her children in the proper territory. She congratulated them for discharging their duties of re-evangelizing countries and cultures in an excellent way by living among them as convincingly as possible as ambassadors of Christ and the Church. She could feel one with her emigrant children in their various trials and tribulations in fostering the treasure of faith, handed down by the forefathers and that was the reason why almost all the bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church and representatives from 26 Syro-Malabar dioceses took part in the Meet.  

Fr. Joby Koottumkal MST
Secretary, CEPCM