News Digest

The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India OLLUR Thrissur City India 680306 www.indianchristianity.com , kunjethy@gmail.com , +914872352468, +919846033713  Cardinal Gracias and Cardinal Toppo Dedicate the St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India to the Nation GUWAHATI, March 3 The publication of the three volumes of the St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India is a worthy model for the world Churches and an incomparable achievement and contribution of the Church in India, stated Oswald Cardinal Gracias in Guwahati, dedicating the work to the nation. The publication of the third and final volume is something of which the Encyclopaedia team can be justly proud, but they should not rest on their oars but must continue their much needed work of service to the Church in India today, His Eminence went on to say. Telespore P. Cardinal Toppo dedicated the volumes to the world Christian community. The two Cardinals officially released the Encyclopaedia by exchanging copies of the work, in the presence of Archbishops and Bishops from all over India and members of the CBCI Commissions. Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, Prof. George Menachery the Editor of the Encyclopaedia, and Dr. George Plathottam the secretary of the CBCI Commission for Media also spoke on the occasion.                             The Encyclopaedia comprises the contributions of hundreds of well-known scholars from all over India and abroad. There are articles on almost every aspect of Christianity in india, dealing with all chronological, denominational, and geographical divisions. The more than thousand illustrations on art plates, half of them on full colour art plates, in addition to the dozens of maps including a whole Christian and Linguistic atlas of India, and the graphs, tables, figures, and sketches go to make the work an exhaustive reference tool. Each major article is supported by bibliographies and inclusive end-notes, making the encyclopaedia an indispensible reference work for seminaries and teheological colleges. universities and colleges, and libraries of ecclesiastical establishments and headquarters and formation houses of religious congregations. GUWAHATI, Assam to Host Catholic Bishops’ Meet Assam will for the first time host the general body meeting of the apex body of the country’s Catholics, CBCI, from Feb. 24, 2010.  The objective of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India is to facilitate co-ordinated study and discussion on issues pertaining to the Church, besides adoption of a common policy and effective action in ecclesiastical matters. “It is good news that Assam has been chosen as the venue for the meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India. Many of the bishops wanted to see Assam as they have never come here. This is a wonderful opportunity for all of them,” Archbishop of Guwahati Diocese, Thomas Menamparampil, said. The meeting will be held at the Don Bosco Institute, Kharguli, from February 24 to March 3 and will be attended by 160 bishops from across the country. Menamparampil said chief minister Tarun Gogoi had also expressed happiness over the hosting of the meeting here for the first time. The first meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India in the region was held in Shillong about two decades back. The bishops will be treated to the region’s beauty and cultural diversity through programmes. “We want to show them that the Northeast is a ‘paradise on earth’ and not just a land of violence. It is a beautiful place with lots of cultural diversity,” the executive director of Don Bosco Institute, V.M. Thomas, said. Thomas said a seven-minute video film on the Northeast — a song sung and composed by national award winner Tarali Sarma — was being shot. Sarma won the coveted Rajat Kamal as the best female playback singer in 2004, becoming the first woman from the state to win the prestigious award. The film is being shot at different locations of the Northeast and will depict its land, people and culture. On February 28, a special cultural extravaganza will be held where 75 troupes from across the region will showcase the diversity of the region through music and dance. This time, the theme of the conference is Youth. Discussions will be held on the challenges confronting modern-day youth and the Church’s response.   Appointments of  Bishops (Catholic) 25.01.2010: Rev. Fr. Anthony Valiyavilayil, OIC, Clergy of the Order of the Imitation of Christ has been appointed Curia Bishop of the Archiepiscopal Curia of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, assigning him the Titular See of IGILGILLI. 25.01.2010: Rev. Fr. Stephen Thottathil, Clergy of the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla has been appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla, assigning him the Titular See of SOZOPOLI di EMIMONTO. 25.01.2010: Rev. Fr. Samuel Kattukallil, Clergy of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum has been appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum, assigning him the Titular See of TAMALLUMA. 25.01.2010: Rev. Fr. K. M. Vincent Kulapuravilai, Clergy of the Eparchy of Marthandom has been appointed Eparchial Bishop of Marthandom. 25.01.2010: Right Rev. Joseph Mar Thomas, Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum and Apostolic Visitator to North America and Europe has been appointed Eparchial Bishop of Bathery. 25.01.2010: Rev. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, Bishop of Bathery has been appointed Eparchial Bishop of the new Eparchy of Puthur. 25.01.2010: Right Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Bishop of Marthandom has been appointed Eparchial Bishop of the new Eparchy of Pathanamthitta. 18.01.2010: Rev. Monsignor George Njaralakatt, Proto-Syncellus of the Eparchy of Bhadravathi has been appointed Bishop of the new Eparchy of Mandya. 18.01.2010: Rev. Monsignor Paul Alappatt, Rector of St. Mary's Minor Seminary and Judicial Vicar of the Archeparchy of Trichur has been appointed Eparchial Bishop of the new Eparchy of Ramanathapuram. 18.01.2010: Rev. Monsignor Bosco Putur, Rector of Mangalapuzha Seminary, has been appointed Curia Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. 18.01.2010: Rev. Monsignor Raphael Tbattil, Proto-Syncellus of the Archreparchy of Trichur has been appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the same Archeparchy. 18.01.2010: Rev. Monsignor Remigiose Inchananiyil, Secretary , Chancellor and Judicial Vicar of the Eparchy of Thamarassery has been appointed Eparchial Bishop of the Eparchy of Thamarassery. 18.01.2010: Rev. Monsignor Pauly Kannookadan, Secretary of the Archepiscopal Commission for Liturgy , Clergy , Institutes for Consecrated Life and Executive Director of L.R.C, has been appointed Eparchial Bishop of the Eparchy of lrinjalakuda. 10.12.2009: Archbishop Felix Anthony Machado, Bishop of Nashik, has been appointed Bishop of Vasai. 10.12.2009: Bishop Lourdnada Daniel, Bishop of Amravati, appointed Apostolic Administrator of Nashik. 06.11.2009: Archbishop Dominic Lumon, Archbishop of Imphal, has been appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Kohima. 25.08.2009: Bishop Prakash Mallavarapu, Bishop of Vijayawada, has been appointed Apostolic Administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Diocese of Eluru. 14.08.2009: Rev. Fr. John Vadakel, CMI, appointed Eparchial Bishop of Bijnor 11.05.2009: Fr Arockia Sebastian Durairaj Alangaram svd, Provincial of SVD central India Province (Indore), has been appointed as bishop of the diocese of Khandwa. 11.05.2009: Fr Devprasad John Ganawa svd, Parish Priest of Khrist Jyoti Mandir, Meghnagar, has been appointed as bishop of the diocese of Jhabua. 08.05.2009: Bishop Joseph Kariyil, of Punalur, has been appointed as bishop of the diocese of Cochin. 08.05.2009: Rev. Fr. Selvister Ponnumuthan, of the Clergy of Neyyattinkara and Rector of the St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri, has been appointed as bishop of the diocese of Punalur. 07.04.2009: Rev. Fr. Sebastian Kallupura, of the clergy of Patna and Director of the Bihar Social Forum, Sewa Kendra, Patna, has been appointed as bishop of the diocese of Buxar. 04.04.2009: Bishop Thomas Dabre, bishop of Vasai diocese, has been appointed as bishop of the diocese of Poona and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Vasai. 02.04.2009: Bishop John Barwa, Coadjutor bishop of Rourkela diocese, has been appointed as bishop of the diocese of Rourkela. 10.02.2009: Fr. Ignatius Loyola Mascarenhas, of the clergy of Delhi, rector of the preparatory regional seminary at Kauli, has been appointed as bishop of the diocese of Simla-Chandigarh. 10.02.2009: Msgr. Binay Kandulna, of the clergy of Khunti, collaborator of the apostolic nunciature in New Delhi has been appointed as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Ranchi. 23.01.2009: Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo, archbishop of Ranchi, has been appointed member of the Pontifical Council for Culture. 23.01.2009: Fr. Sebastian Maria Michael S.V.D, director of the Andheri Institute of Indian Culture in Mumbai has been appointed consultor of the Pontifical Council for Culture. 22.01.2009: Fr. Edward S. Mudavassery, S.J, has been appointed Provincial Superior of South Asia. He will assume office on 31 May 2009. He succeeds Fr. Hector D'Souza S.J. 17.01.2009: Rev. Fr. Franco Mulakkal, the Treasurer of the Apostolic Union of the Clergy (Rome) has been appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi Archdiocese and titular Bishop of Chullu.   Church in India C. B. C. I.   Origin and Aims C.B.C.I. is permanent association of the Catholic Hierarchy of India. It was formally constituted in September 1944 at the Conference of Metropolitans held in Madras. Its objectives are to facilitate co-ordinated study and discussion of questions affecting the Church, and adoption of a common policy and effective action in all matters concerning the interests of the Church in India. General Body The C.B.C.I. has now 201 members of whom 38 are honorary members. The 163 members with voting right consist of 27 Archbishop-Metropolitans (including one Archbishop-Patriarch), 122 Diocesan Bishops, 1 Co-adjutor Archbishop, 1 Co-adjutor Bishop, 13 Auxiliary Bishops. The members meet for Ordinary General Meetings once in every two years, while Extra-ordinary Meetings are held according to need. At the General Meetings the C.B.C.I. reviews the situation of the Church in India and takes appropriate decision on future plans and actions that are called for. These meetings also consider the annual reports presented by the Secretary General and by the various Commissions. The C.B.C.I. Centre The C.B.C.I. Centre is the headquarters of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. It is headed by the Deputy Secretary General who is assisted by various Secretaries of the C.B.C.I.. The Centre started functioning in 1962. Besides the C.B.C.I. Secretariat the Centre houses the Offices of some of the C.B.C.I. Commissions. Caritas India the Social and Developmental wing of the C.B.C.I. has its headquarters at the centre. The C.B.C.I. Secretariat Right from the establishment of the C.B.C.I. in 1944 the Secretariat was functioning in Bangalore until 1962 when it was shifted to Delhi. The functions are to watch over the various movements, to study legislative measures in the States and the Centre; to link together the various sections of the C.B.C.I. and to give information and guidance whenever required. Statistics at a Glance 1. Ecclesiastical Units   Archdioceses 30 Dioceses 129 Total 159 2. Rite     a) Latin     b) Syro-Malabar     c) Syro-Malankara 23 5 2 105 21 4 128 26 6 3. Bishops     a) Diocesan     b) Coadjutors     c) Auxiliaries     d) Apostolic Visitator     e) Retired 29 - 10 - 11 123 1 - 2 33 152 1 10 2 44 4. Cardinals 3 (3) - 3 (6) Statistics (2003) Total number of diocesan priests Religious Priests Religious Brothers Religious Sisters Total no. of Religious Congregations For men For women   14, 000 13, 500  4, 300 90, 000 300 70 230   Educational Institutions Institutions Students K. G. & Nursery Schools Primary Schools Secondary Schools Colleges Medical/Nursing School/Colleges Engineering College   3, 785 7, 319 3, 765 240 28 5   600,000 3,000,000 2,000,000 500,000 10,000 1,500   Social Welfare Activities Technical Training Schools & Polytechnics Hostels & Boarding Houses Orphanages Creches Hospitals Dispensaries & Health Centres Leprosaria Rehabilitation Centres Homes for Aged, Destitutes & Physically Challenged   Caldwell’s language laboratory was a small shack   CHENNAI: Conversion of the house of Bishop Robert Caldwell at Idayankudi in Tirunelveli district into a memorial will be the second honour bestowed on the scholar, who came to India as a Protestant missionary, by the Tamil Nadu government. The house was originally a small shack measuring just 17X11 feet when Caldwell occupied it in 1841 after walking down to Idayankudi from Chennai, covering about 800 km. He started the journey in July 1941 and reached the poverty-stricken backward village towards the end of that year, says H Vincent Kumaradoss, a former office bearer of the Church History AAssociation of India (CHAI) , who has written a biography of the Christian missionary from United Kingdom. After reaching Madras in 1838 as a 24 year-old evangelist, Caldwell spend three years before setting out on the odyssey down south and choosing Idayankudi for his missionary work. It was at that point that he lived in the small house, even as he was struggling to build the Holy Trinity Church in Idayankudi. It took Caldwell 33 years to build the church, which was consecrated in 1880. Besides pre a ch i n g , Caldwell, who had graduated from the University of Glasgow, spend enormous time on linguistic research. In 1849 he published an ethnographic treatise on Shanars, the local community of people, and then in 1856 came out with a book on Dravidian grammar. Besides coining the term ‘Dravidian’, he was the one who first who pointed out that the south Indian languages - Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada - had their origins outside the Indo-Aryan family and that they were distinctly different from Sanskrit. Honouring the seminal work on Dravidian grammar, the DMK government headed by C N Annadurai installed a statue of Caldwell on the Marina during the second World Tamil Conference that was held in Madras in 1968. The statue still stand hidden from public glare in a corner. The shack became a proper house much later when the Idayankudi church congregation felt the need for a bigger accommodation for their pastor. Caldwell vacated it only in 1882 to move into a Bishop bungalow in Thoothukudi. The shack, whose both walls you could touch by stretching both hands, was subsequently converted into a parish hall, says Kumaradoss, whose book, Robert Caldwell - A Scholar- Missionary in Colonial South India, is perhaps the only biography of the man who devoted his entire life for the uplift of the backward region in Tamil Nadu, besides setting the tone for the later day Dravidian movement. Caldwell died in 1891 and his body was interred beneath the chancelled floor of the Holy Trinity Church. 6 New Bishops for the Syro Malabar Church  Six new bishops have been announced for the Syro - Malabar Church of India. The names of these new bishops and their Sees were announced simultaneously from the Vatican and at the Major Archiepiscopal Curia, Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad, Kochi. The names were announced also at the respective Diocesan Seats. The Dioceses of Palghat and Manathavadi have been bifurcated forming the Diocese of Ramanathapuram (Tamilnadu), and Mandya (Karnataka).  The following are the new bishops: Remigius Inchakkananil (Bishop's Secretary and Chancellor and member of the Governing Body of the Christian Chair of the Calicut University) for Thamarassery in the vacancy created by Dr. Mar Paul Chittilappilly resigning; Dr. Msgr. Bosco Puthur (at present Rector of the St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary of Alwaye and former Vicar General of Trichur)  for the Major Archiepiscopal Seat of Kakkanad); Dr. Pauly Kannookkadan (Director LRC and Secretary Liturgy Commission) for the Diocese of Irinjalakuda in the vacacy created by Mar James Pazhayattil resigning; Dr. Paul Alappatt the former Chancellor of Trichur and at present Rector of the St. Mary's Madonna Seminary for the newly created Diocese of Ramanathapuram; Dr. Msgr. Raphael Thattil the present Vicar General of Trichur as the Auxiliary Bishop of Trichur; and Dr. George Njerelakkatt as the Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Mandya.  Other details will be announced later. [SARAS News] The CBCI gives some more details: New Eparchies of Ramanathapuram and Mandya created NEW DELHI, Jan. 18, 2010, 16.30 Hrs (CBCI News): His Beatitude Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Major Archbishop the of the Syro-Malabar Church, with the consent of the Synod of Bishops of the Syro- Malabar Church, having obtained the assent of the Holy See, has created the Eparchies of Ramanathapuram by carving out the civil districts of Coimbatore, Erobe, Karur and Thirueur from the Eparchy of Pal ghat, with its See and the Head-Quarters at Ramanathapuram and the Eparchy of Mandya by carving out the civil districts of Mandya, Haffan, Mysore and Chamaragnagar, from'" the Eparchy of Mananthavady, with the See and the Head Quarters at Mandya. In the same time, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has giving his assent to the appointment of: Reverend Monsignor Pauly Kannookadan, Secretary of the Archepiscopal Commission for Liturgy , Clergy , Institutes for Consecrated Life and Executive Director of L.R.C, as Eparchial Bishop of the Eparchy of lrinjalakuda Reverend Monsignor Remigiose Inchananiyil, Secretary , Chancellor and Judicial Vicar of the Eparchy of Thamarassery , as Eparchial Bishop of the same diocese. Reverend Monsignor Raphael Tbattil, Proto-Syncellus of the Archreparchy of Trichur, as Auxiliary Bishop of the same Archeparchy Reverend Monsignor Bosco Putur, Rector of Mangalapuzha Seminary , as Curia Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. Reverend Monsignor Paul Alappatt, Rector of St. Mary's Minor Seminary and Judicial Vicar of the Archeparchy of Trichur, as Eparchial Bishop of the new Eparchy of Ramanathapuram Reverend Monsignor George Njaralakatt, Proto-Syncellus of the Eparchy of Bhadravathi, as Bishop of the new Eparchy ofMandya. [These ecclesiastical provisions were made public on today the 18th of January, 2010 @ 1630 hrs. (IST), and were formally announced in L 'Osservatore Romano on today itself in Rome.] Indian President Pratibha Patil, Vice Prez, Other Dignitaries  attend Christmas celebration at Rashtrapati Bhavan The President of India recieives a present at the Christmas function in New Delhi. The official residence of the President of India witnessed moments of Christmas cheer. There was a Christmas tree and Carols. The Ashoka Hall in Rashtrapati Bhavan saw important dignitaries enjoying the Carols presented by troupes from the North East and Delhi itself. In addtion to the President Pratibha Patil herself the Vice President Ahmed Ansari, the wife of Prime Minister Manhoman Singh Gursharan Kaur, Lok Sabha Speaker Meera Kumar and some cabinet Ministers were present. The Programme featured carol singing by the Shillong Chamber Choir, Meghalaya; the Centenary Methodist Church, Delhi; Zowe Madrigal, Nagaland; St. Thomas Mar Thoma Syrian Church Choir, Delhi; Golden Jubilee Choir, Delhi; Mizo Minstrels Choir, Mizoram; Jesus and Mary College Choir, Delhi and Paranjoti Academy Chorus, Mumbai. The Christmas Message was delivered by Archbishop of Delhi, Rev. Vincent Concessao. Last year, the annual traditional programme was not held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in view of the terrorists’ attacks in Mumbai. The festivities were cancelled as a mark of respect for the victims of the attacks. However, Rashtrapati Bhavan had sent grocery items such as Rice, Sugar, Dal and Ghee to orphanages in Delhi on behalf of the President. The Christmas celebrations, last year, were also toned down in the wake of violence against Christians in Orissa and Karnataka. Churches that anticipated huge turnout of pilgrims apparently were discouraged as less people turned up. In Orissa, although there were no reports of violence, it was a gloomy Christmas for many. Still thousands are said to be living as refugees with lack of food and shelter. Few of these victims on Dec. 25 will be joining a carol-singing programme at India Gate organised by the Delhi Archdiocese. "Christmas carols will be sung by the victims of Kandhamal riots who would like to let the world know that Jesus' birthday is a good occasion to be reconciled with all and to share his message of love," said a note from the Archdiocese. [Courtesy Christian Today India] India Leads World In Women Religious   India led the world in the number of vocations to women’s Religious life in the Catholic Church, statistics show.   Asia and Africa made considerable gains in the number of female Religious since 2000, while Europe, Americas and Oceania showed a downward trend, according to Jeff Mirus of Catholic Culture, who analyzed the statistics for the website.   In Asia, India recorded an increase of 9,398 women religious during 2002-2007 while Vietnam added 2,545 more nuns. South Korea and the Philippines increased by about 500. Three Kerala-based congregations and Blessed Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity were among those showing an upward trend in world-wide scenario.   The Franciscan Clarist Congregation, the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel and the Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament continue to attract more members. Another rapidly growing congregation was the Claretian Missionary Sisters.   Major losers worldwide are the Salesian Sisters, the Order of Discalced Carmelites, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the Sisters of Charity of Saints Bartholomea Capitanio and Vincenzia Gerosa and Benedictine Nuns.   Upward trend was noticed all across Africa: Tanzania and the Congo increased by around 1,500 while Nigeria, Madagascar, Kenya andAngola added 500 to 800 more nuns.   The Middle East and the Caribbean also have added more nuns. Women Religious increased in 99 nations since 2000, according to the analysis.   Unfortunately, their gains are not yet quite enough to offset the 4.6 percent decline among women Religious worldwide during 2002-2007.   Most losers are the Western nations. For example, Italy had 11,156 less nuns during 2002-2007. The United States came second, losing 10,454 nuns during the period.   Germany and France lost around 6,000 nuns each, followed by Canada and Spain each had 4,000 less women Religious. Ireland,Belgium and the Netherlands in Europe, Argentina, Brazil and Columbia have also lost nuns in hundreds.   Between 1965 and 1995, the United States had lost 49 percent of its female Religious, while the number dropped by 46 percent in Canada, 44 percent in France, 48 percent in German, 43 percent in Great Britain, 51 percent in the Netherlands.   All together, there are about 750,000 women religious serving around the world, or approximately one nun for every 9,000 humans. Fabulous 50s Christmas Carols A Holly Jolly Christmas Burl Ives Away In A Manger Loretta Lynn Christmas Alphabet The McGuire Sisters Christmas Country Christmas The Statler Brothers Christmas In My Hometown Sonny James Christmas Song Alvin & The Chipmunks Christmas Times A Coming Bill Monroe And The Bluegrass Boys Christmas Waltz Frank Sinatra Christmas Without You Kenny Rogers Dolly Parton Frosty The Snowman Gene Autry Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer Elmo & Patsy Hard Rock Candy Christmas Dolly Parton Hark The Herald Angels Sing Nat King Cole Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas Rosemary Clooney Home For The Holidays Perry Como Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Jimmy Boyd Its a Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Johnny Mathis Jingle Bell Rock Bobby Helms Jingle Bells Roy Rogers Most Interesting Middle! Jingle Bells Perry Como Jingle Bells The Jingle Bell Piggie Joy To The World Nat King Cole Leroy, the Redneck Reindeer Joe Diffie Let It Snow Andy Williams Lets Put Christ Back Into Christmas Tammy Wynette Little Drummer Boy Neil Diamond O Christmas Tree Nat King Cole Please Come Home The Platters Pretty Paper Roy Orbison Rocking Around The Christmas Tree Brenda Lee Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer Gene Autry Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer Unknown Group Santa Baby Cynthia Basinet Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Bing Crosby Santa Claus Is Watching You Ray Stevens Silver Bells Bing Crosby/Peggy Lee Silent Night Dean Martin Sleigh Ride Johnny Mathis The First Noel Andy Williams Up On The Housetop Gene Autry White Christmas Bing Crosby White Christmas The Drifters (1954) Winter Wonderland Brenda Lee Christmas With Elvis Charismatic Churches attractLutheran Youths in India The enthusiasm and modern worship styles of charismatic churches are swaying away young Lutherans from parent churches. “Youth are drifting away from their parent churches to charismatic churches,” as the latter offer worship styles that fit the young generation, said Ms Sofia M. Samuel from the India Evangelical Lutheran Church, at the Asia Pre-Assembly Consultation of the Lutheran World Federation. Close to 100 delegates from many Asian countries have convened for the 6-9 Dec. Consultation in Bangkok, Thailand, to deliberate on the theme - “Give us today our daily bread". In a plenary presentation apprising the urgent issues that must be addressed for the inclusion and participation of young people, Samuel urged for worship and church life to be made more relevant to young people's needs. Says Samuel, young people are interested in being more actively involved, but they lacked initiative and encouragement from church leadership. To tackle this, she called for orientation and training in church administration and management to prepare them for such responsibilities. Meanwhile, presenting the LWF Asian region youth response, Rev. Sekino Kazuhiro from the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church, stressed the need for giving spiritual guidance to youths for helping them get their daily material bread and meet their spiritual needs. “Today, many young people are crying of physical hunger and of spiritual hunger,” said Kazuhiro, underlining the importance of gainful employment. “However, many young people cannot get a job; the unemployment rate is too high,” he noted, citing the unemployment crises in countries such as Hong Kong (China), India, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan and Thailand. “Sometimes they have to choose a job that is lower than what they are trained for and sometimes they don’t get a job at all,” noted Kazuhiro, who is a member of the LWF Council. In his keynote address, LWF Vice President Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan, called churches to speak out boldly about the underlying causes of hunger. The prayer for daily bread, he said, “speaks to a deep existential fear that still plagues humanity today, as millions of mothers and fathers do not know how they will feed their children tomorrow.” “It is a fear confirmed by the fact that 16,000 children die of hunger every day,” he added. [Courtesy Christian Today India] Father Joseph Neuner, SJ, at 96 : A Retrospect from ExpressIndia  Father Joseph Neuner, SJ, 96 Fr Neuner is a renowned theology professor teaching at different theological institutes. Through his long life he has witnessed landmark events such as the two World Wars, the rise of Nazism and communism and the rise and fall of the Soviet Union. Fr Neuner came to India and Pune due to an accident of fate - two others who had been appointed to be sent to Pune were not able to get the certificate of tropical fitness while Fr Neuner was able to do so. Neuner has written several books. TREASURED TIMES: “Working in the service of Church life in India has always being my mission. I treasured the moments when I shared my insights on theology with the priests and parishes. I have been lucky to have been in close association with Mother Teresa and a committee member when preparatory steps had been taken in the process of beatification. Not only that, I was in close contact with Mother Anna Huberta in setting up the Helpers of Mary, a diocesan congregation of the Archbishop of Bombay, “ muses Fr Neuner. A FULL DAY: Ask him what is his way of life today and he smiles. “By God’s grace, I do not suffer from any ailments. I spend time meeting with people who come to seek my spiritual guidance. I read books on the Church life from across the globe. I also write forewords and prefaces for books penned by theology scholars as well as letters to my Jesuit friends.” His day starts at 5.30 am with prayers, followed by a walk. My meals are a typical Indian breakfast and lunch, while for dinner I prefer a bowl of soup with chappatis. My day ends at sharp ten pm.” LONGEVITY LINES: ‘‘Life is immortal. It must be carried on in the service of humanity without thinking about dying,”he believes. WISHES: To meet the new Pope when he is elected.

Jesuit Father Joseph Neuner, dead at 101, eulogized by Thomas C. Fox on Dec. 07, 2009 Courtesey NCR Today Jesuit Father Jesuit Father Joseph Neuner, spiritual advisor to Mother Teresa and probably the world’s oldest Jesuit, died Dec. 3 at 101 in Pune, India. Neuner, born in 1908 at Feldkirch in Austria, had been a Puneite since 1938. For many years, he taught theology at the city-based Jnana Deep Vidyapeeth. In the 1960s, Neuner served as an expert at the Second Vatican Council.

Janina Gomes, an NCR contributor and author of the recently published "Prayers from the Heart," (Pauline Publications @ Sister Bombay Society), wrote the following tribute.

IDEAL PRIEST

By Janina Gomes

If ever there was an ideal priest, I knew one. Father Joseph Neuner, who died at the ripe age of 101 years, sowed many seeds in his life and also reaped a spiritual harvest that is only possible for the faithful, humble and true servants of God.

I knew him for well over 30 years. As a friend, he saw me through the best and the worst, through moments of failure and moments of success. He wrote letters faithfully, even to those others had given up on, and I was one of them. I remember Fr. Richard De Smet, another Jesuit giant telling me that Neuner had an apostolate of letters. He wrote faithfully to those who needed spiritual direction and help in their lives.

A great theologian, who worked on documents for the Second Vatican no doubt, but his spirituality was practical and down to earth. I remember once writing to him about a bathroom leakage I had in my flat. When he visited next, he walked in and immediately asked to see the leakage. That must be what great theology is like, irretrievably linked to the daily and mundane details of life.

How did such a prolific priest who wrote regularly for, the Indian theological journal, Vidya Jyoti, in a series called ‘Listening to the Spirit’ get his originality and wisdom? When he was teaching theology at De Nobili College, he would everyday take a walk to the graveyard and meditate, most in touch with life by reflecting on death.

I remember the long walk he once took me on, the open maidan outside De Nobili. He was able to understand and resonate with the young as well as the old. I also remember the times I would meet him at Shradhha Vihar (He was founder of the Daughters of the Helpers of Mary and wrote their constitution.). He would share with me the special meals made for him by the nuns and be the generous host that he was.

Neuner was a walking marvel. He could walk from Bandra Station to my house and back, taking everything in his stride. When he had a fall and injured himself, once again it was the hardy, determined side of him that won over and gave him a longer lease of life. He was still exercising through most of the latter years.

He did present me with his memoirs which he wrote at the age of 90. But, his personality and person were much richer than a book could capture. He had a capacity to reason and analyze that would be the envy of many a scholar, but it was balanced by an earthy humaneness, compassion and quite strength.

I have a vivid memory of him in a bright yellow cotton checked shirt showing me the original rosary presented to him at his ordination, which he had tucked below his pillow.
The last I saw him was about a year ago still concelebrating mass from a wheelchair. Though he did not recognize people, he was still lucid in mind in many respects.

I once wanted to write a profile of him, but did not do it to his satisfaction and he was a little bit of a perfectionist in his work. What I could not do when he was alive, I am now attempting to do after his death- to pay tribute to a great soul and an ideal priest.

 

Josef Neuner S.J. passed away last night (Dec. 3);
Funeral today (Dec. 4)at Papal Seminary, Pune

Forwarded by Srampikal, sj, from Rome 

4th December 2009 

This is Fr. Noel Sheth, S.J. writing. I am at present in Manila, the Philippines, teaching a course on Buddhism at the Ateneo de Manila. I just got news about the passing away of Fr. Josef Neuner, S.J. Please pass on this news (see below) to those who knew him. The death of this renowned theologian, peritus of Vatican II, and one of the pillars of Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, leaves a great void in Pune, in India and the world.

Centenarian Fr. Josef Neuner, S.J. passed away last night (3rd December, the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Patron of India) at the Pune Provincial's House, Sanjeevan Ashram. His funeral is at 4.30 p.m. today in Papal Seminary-Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth. He will be buried in the Campus Cemetery, in accordance with his wish to be buried in the place where he spent most of his life, animating the professors and the students, building up the Church in India and radiating his influence throughout the world. 

I thank God for the gift of Neuner to Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, to Pune, to India and the world. May he continue to be an inspiration to all of us and in this way live on in our memories and our deeds. 

RIP

Noel Sheth, S.J.--

Prof. Dr. Noel Sheth, S.J.
Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth
Pontifical Institute of Philosophy and Religion
Ramwadi, Pune 411014,
India.
Tel.(Residence): 91-(0)20-41036237.

  
ARCHBISHOP ANDREWS THAZHATH OF TRICHUR ALONG WITH ABP. EMERITUS JACOB THOOMKUZHY CONFERS
PONTIFICAL EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT ON PROF. GEORGE MENACHERY

THRISSUR [Palayur] –  Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI  knighted Prof. George Menachery and the playwright C. L. Jose with The Equestrian Order of Saint Gregory the Great on Sunday March 9, at the ancient Palayur church during the Palayur Maha Theerthadanam in honour of St. Thomas the Apostle of Christ attended by more than 55000 faithful followed by the Eucharistic Celebration. While Mar Thazhath decorated Prof. Menachery with the official insignia of the Pontifical Order, the inscription of the Secretary of State was presented by Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy and a laudatory speech was made by Catholicos Mar Cleemis, Archbishop of Trivandrum. The investiture comes at the end of a yearlong celebration honoring the 70th birth anniversary or Sapthathi of Prof. George Menachery. Prof. Menachery made a suitable response.

 WCC News
Upcoming events

08.08.07 - 14.08.07

Intra-Christian consultations on conversion and Christian self-understanding

Toulouse, France

Photo : Jenny Bolliger, EAPPI, janvier 2007.

Christians
from various denominations and theological traditions - the WCC constituency, the Roman Catholic Church, Evangelical and Pentecostal churches - will be meeting in Toulouse from 8-12 August to discuss ways “Towards an ethical approach to conversion – Christian witness in a multi-religious world”. This includes a self-critical appraisal of Christian missionary activities to date. The consultation on conversion is directly followed by three days of reflection on “Religious plurality and Christian self-understanding”.


The first consultation is part of the 2006 to 2009 process towards a code of conduct on conversion, for which the WCC and the Vatican are jointly responsible. The process is both enriched by and contributing to the parallel efforts of a WCC-initiated multifaith expert group “Thinking Together”.

The second meeting is dedicated to the fundamental challenge of how to articulate the appropriate theological questions in relating to other religions. In so doing, it follows up on a document on Christian self-understanding prepared for a 2005 Conference on World Mission and Evangelism.

Previous News
22.06.07 - 01.07.07

Bangalore, India

Young adults from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka will be meeting at the Fireflies Ashram in Bangalore to reflect on the role of religion and religious identity in a context of tension and communalism.

View from the left side of the Ollur Church. Photo taken in 1904 - 
presented to Prof. G. Menachery by Henry C. Q. Brownrigg of the
British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia in October 2004

For more info cf. http://www.indianchristianity.com/html/New Article.htm

[one each in front of the three churches - the Western church cross, 27ft. tall- has been exactly reproduced in front of the Kakkanad Mount St. Thomas St. Thomas Christian Museum], Kanjoor, Malayattoor, Udayanperur, Kuravilangad,Uzhavoor,Chungam,Kaduthuruthy [2 Nos.], Muttuchira, Kudamaloor, Niranam, Kothamangalam, Chengannur, Thumpamon, Chathannur, Changanacherry [the base of the second cross was discovered by this writer in the Changanacherry cemetery], and many other places.

These crosses have four members: the base with a socket often fixed on a huge pedestal (see pic), the huge monolithic shaft with cylinder-like projections at both ends, the arm with sockets above and below, and the capital which forms the fourth arm of the cross with a cylinder arrangement at the bottom. All these crosses rise from the lotus carved at the top of the base member termed the Pookkallu. Many of these crosses have exquisite carvings and sculptures esp. on the four sides of the pedestal, and in rare cases on the shaft as the Adam, Eve, and the Serpent on the Chengannur Obelisk Cross. Like the Egyptian Obelisks the cross is a ray of the sun - Horus or Christ.

[Author Prof. George Menachery is a freelance Indian Journalist and Editor of the St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India and the Indian Church History Classics. After teaching university classes for thirty years, he gave up the job as Head of the Department of Post-Graduate Teaching in order to concentrate on research and publication. SARAS (South Asia Research Assistance Services) provides information and research assistance for topics dealing with India in particular and South Asia in general. He has to his credit a large number of publications, research papers, articles, radio talks and TV programmes. His research activities and lectures have taken him to more than 20 countries in 4 continents.]

Catholic Educational Institutions in India : Some Revealing Facts and Figures

The percentage of Catholic students in India's Catholic educational institutions is only 22.7%, other Christians 5.6%, while the vast majority of students are Hindus - a whopping 53%, Muslims 8.6% and others 10.1%.

Caste wise 25% are from SC/ST origin, 31% from BC origin, 11% from OBC origin and others are 33%.

Only 6.9% of the students are from the higher income group, 19% from the middle income group, 32.4% belong to the lower income group and the large majority of students - 41.4% - belong to the Below Poverty Line group BPL.

A German Youth Jumps on to Popemobile in St. Peter'e Square, the Vatican

 A German man jumped a security barrier and grabbed the back of Pope Benedict XVI's open popemobile before being swarmed by security guards Wednesday 6th June 2007. — reviving a debate over whether the pontiff needs stronger protection during his public audiences.

Benedict was not harmed and appeared not to even notice, never looking back as he waved to the crowd in St. Peter's Square. But security analysts said he exposes himself to undue risk by appearing at the same place and time each week in an open jeep.

"If he cannot change the route or the hour, he must use at least a protected car," said Claude Moniquet, head of the European Strategic Intelligence and Security Center, a Brussels-based think tank on security issues.

The man vaulted onto a wooden barrier and then over in an apparent attempt to get into the white popemobile. One guard grabbed him as he leaped, but the man managed to grab hold of the vehicle before security men trailing the car pinned him to the ground.

Benedict didn't flinch. The 80-year-old, German-born pope continued waving and blessing the cheering crowd of some 35,000 people as his jeep kept moving slowly forward and the audience proceeded as if nothing had happened.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the man was a 27-year-old German who showed signs of "mental imbalance." He declined to identify him.

"His aim was not an attempt on the pope's life but to attract attention to himself," Lombardi told reporters.

The man was interrogated by Vatican police and then taken to a hospital for psychiatric treatment, he said.

The incident rekindled memories of the assassination attempt against Pope John Paul II by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca in 1981. John Paul suffered a severe abdominal wound as he rode in an open jeep at the start of his weekly audience in the Vatican piazza — the same event as Wednesday's.

Moniquet, a security expert who has written about protecting heads of state, said leaders like the pope have to balance proximity to the public with their own need for security in today's violent world.

But unlike other leaders who make occasional forays into the public domain, the pope has a regular appointment with the faithful each Wednesday morning — precisely the type of routine that security guards try to avoid.

"The fact is you cannot ensure 100 percent protection," Moniquet said. "It's around the Vatican. It's a ritual. I'm afraid there are not a lot of options" other than an armored car.

Nevertheless, Vatican officials said there were no plans to change the long-standing use of open vehicles for the weekly audience at the Vatican. When the pope travels abroad, he does use a popemobile outfitted with bulletproof glass.

Moniquet noted that people go to the audiences to see the pope, saying that would still be possible with bulletproof glass. But such protection would prevent the pontiff from blessing babies that are occasionally passed to him by his guards, as he did Wednesday.

Since the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S., the Vatican has tightened security in St. Peter's Square when the pope is present. All visitors must pass by police to get into the square, with some going through metal detectors or being scanned by metal-detecting wands.

Nevertheless, virtually anyone can attend. Tickets can often be obtained at the last minute — particularly in good weather, when the audience is held outside in the piazza.

St. Peter's Square is cordoned off with wooden barricades to create lanes for the popemobile to cruise through the crowd and make the pope more visible to the throngs.

The pope is protected by a combination of Swiss Guards, Vatican police and Italian police.

On Wednesday, the head of the Swiss Guards, Col. Elmar Maeder, walked along one side of the popemobile while Benedict's personal bodyguard, Domenico Giani, took the other. Several plainclothes security officers trailed them.

Benedict stood up behind the driver, holding onto a bar to steady himself, with his personal secretary, Monsignor Georg Ganswein, seated behind him.

Asked why the pontiff didn't react to the disturbance, Vatican officials noted that the incident occurred quickly, that there was a lot of noise in the piazza and that the popemobile kept moving.

The officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly, said no extra security measures were being considered for Thursday, when the pope planned to take part in an annual religious procession outside the Vatican walls in central Rome. (Yahoo News)
 

Pope clears way for Canonization of Syro-Malabar Indian Nun Blessed Alphonsa Muttathupandathu and an Ecuadorean Laywoman VATICAN CITY June 1--  Pope Benedict XVI cleared the way for the canonization of a Syro-Malabar nun from India and a laywoman from Ecuador. By approving a series of decrees, and  publishing those martyrdom decrees, the beatification ceremonies can be scheduled. However, the Vatican did not announce the dates for the ceremonies. Pope Benedict XVI recognized miracles attributed to the intercession of the two women, who now can be declared saints. The Malabar Church 'sister' is  Blessed Alphonsa Muttathupandathu, a member of the Poor Clares (Franciscan Clarist Congregation) who died at Bharananganam in the Diocese of Palai in 1946 just before her 36th birthday, well known for her spirit of sacrifice, deep prayer-life, and self-mortification. A miracle that took place in the case of a Kuruppanthura boy as the result of the Bl. Alphonsa's intercession has been recognised by the Vatican and the Pope after the examination of the case by a series of panels of doctors from India and abroad.

She will be the first person from the Indian Catholic Church to be raised to sainthood. Today there are four others from Kerala who are Blessed : Bl. Chavara Kuriakose Elias CMI, Bl.Mariam Thresia CHF, Bl. Kunjachan a secular priest from Ramapuram, and Bl. Euphrasia CMC of Ollur. Also from India there is Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, West Bengal and Bl. Joseph Vaz a missionary in Canara and Sri Lanka.

St. Francis Xavier and St. John de Britto though they spent most of their lives in India were born in Spain (Pamplona) and Portugal (Lisbon) respectively. The Vasai-Fort born Lucitanian martyr St. Gonsalo Garcia is technically the first Indian Saint - having been born in "India" and his mother being a Kannadiga-; but he left India for Japan and the Philippines as a missionary and died a martyr in Japan, one of the 26 missionaries crucified at Nagasaki Hills in 1597. He was canonized on 8 June 1862 by Pope Pius IX.

There are a number of books available both in Malayalam and English on Sr. Alphonsa (one by Chev. K.C . Chacko); a documentary scripted by Prof. George Menachery and produced by ICS (2001) depicts the life of Alphonsamma at Kudamaloor, Muttuchira, Vazhapally etc. with special emphasis on the places and persons, institutions and edifices in her life.

		Beatification took place on 03 December at the Square of the Forane Parish Church of Saint Antony, Ollur (Kerala, India), presided by Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil , Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church.
Bd. Euphrasia Eluvathingal
		Beatification took place on 30 April at the Square of the Parish Church of Saint Augustine in Ramapuram  (Kerala, India), presided by Mar Varkey Cardinal  Vithayathil Syro Malabar Major Archbishop.
Bd. Augustine Thevarparampil

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Trustees Elected Father Johns Abraham Konatt (Kandanad Diocese) and M.G. George Muthoot (Delhi Diocese) were elected by the Fifty-First Malankara Syrian Christian Association meet as Clergy and Lay Trustees of the Church on 21st inst. At the same time the MSCA meeting also ratified the nomination of 43 clergy representatives and 86 lay members from 25 different parishes. Catholicos of the East Baselius Mar Thoma Didymos I presided.

Baselius Mar Thoma Didymos the First addresses the Assembled Delegates at Parumala

Meanwhile, the Catholicos also nominated 30 members, including 10 priests, to the MSCA managing committee on Wednesday.

The Priests nominated are: Fr. K.M.George, Fr. V.M.Abraham, Fr. Spenser Koshy, Fr. T.C.John Mavelikkara, Fr. John Paul Chengannur, Fr. O.Thomas, Fr. K.A. Abraham, P.C. Yohanan Ramban, Fr. P.K. Geevarghese Niranom, Fr. Shaji Mathews, Delhi.

Lay members: Philip Mathew (Malayala Manorama), P.C. Abraham (Kottayam Central), P.G. Jacob (Kottayam), Shaji Abraham (Calcutta), Jacob Mathew (Malaysia), Dr. George Poovathoor (the United States), George Paul (Ernakulam), Thomas John Mambara (Mahatma Gandhi University), A.K. Thomas (Kollam), Jacob John (Thiruvananthapuram), K.T.Idiculla (the United States), K.V. Jacob (Ernakulam), T.A.George (Thumpamon), I.C. Thampan (Kottayam), P.C.John Painummoottil (Thumpamon), Thomas Varghese (Aluva Thrikkunnathu), P.K.Pathrose (Servant of the Cross), P.K. Kuriakose (Idukki), E.J.John (Kottayam) and George Mathai Nooranal (Malabar).

Catholicos designate Paulose Mar Milithios and other Metropolitans of the Church addressed the delegates.

State Land Revenue Commissioner, Tamil Nadu, O.P. Sosamma was the returning officer.

Of the total 3,244 votes polled Fr. Konatthu got a total of 2,059 votes while George Muthoot received 2,097 votes.

Catholicos Designate Poulose Mar Milithius to Make Efforts to Solve Dispute

Catholicos designate Metropolitan Poulose Mar Milithius has said his main endeavour would be to end the century-old faction feud in the Malankara church. Milithius was unanimously elected by the 4051-member Parliament of the MOSC as Catholicose designate.
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) and the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church (MJSC) are the two warring factions of the Malankara Syrian Christian Church.

He would be succeeding the incumbent Baselius Mar Thoma Didimos I as Catholicos of the East and head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

MOSC has about 20 lakh faithful spread over the different parts of the world mainly the US, the EU, Canada and the Gulf besides India, said a spokesman.

The legal battle between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions was going on since 1905 and at least Rs 1000 crore has been totally spent by both the factions for waging legal battles, Milithius told reporters at Kunnamkulam recently.

There are several cases still pending in the Supreme Court and various courts of Kerala, he said.

About 10 churches under the Malankara Syrian Christian church were still lying closed in the state following court orders.

Hence, the Metropolitan felt that it was time to make best efforts to solve the disputes between the two factions, he said.

Pattanam in the MUZIRIS - Kodungallur Area Attracting Archaeologists and Historians

Pattanam, a sleepy town in Ernakulam district, separated from the Thrissur District and Cranganore by a section of River Periyar will see a flurry of activities in the coming days as renowned archaeologists and experts will visit the place to examine the findings of the ongoing excavation there.

Pattanam, near North Paravur, on the opposite side of Kodungallur across the river came once again to the limelight a couple of years ago when pieces of pottery, beads, coins and bottles were unearthed, giving the first indication that the place could really be the ancient trading port of Muziris, which was the link between Rome and India 2000 years ago.

This week, experts from the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) dug up a stone platform beneath a floor of baked bricks.

And now a wooden piece that formed part of an ancient boat and a quey have been unearthed, recalling to one's mind the descriptions in the first century (ca.) Sangham works and Roman writers how the western ships anchored at a distance from the Muziris emporium (Primum Empoium Indiae-Pliny) and boats dug out of a single piece of timber carried huge quantities of Roman Coins to Muziris, along with other commodities.

This platform is as hard as concrete. Wooden pieces and logs, believed to be of a historical age, were also found there during excavation this month.

M V Nair from Lucknow, an expert in this field, will visit Pattanam in the next couple of days to examine the findings.

Scientists from the Kerala Forest Research Institute at Peechi will also inspect the area. A team from the Southern Naval Command visited the place on Tuesday to study the artifacts found there. It is believed that they will cooperate with the KCHR team to investigate the bottom of the Sea nearby for archaeological vestiges like remains and cargo of ships, and also to examine the theory that around the 10th Century CE something happened to demolish and obliterate the Muziris of Pliny and other first century writers from Greece and Rome.

Kerala Council for Historical Research director P J Cherian is leading the Muziris Heritage Project which is again bringing national and international attention to this remote place.

It was archaeologists K P Shajan and V Selvakumar who traced the presence of ancient history there first and identified Muziris with Pattanam, two years back.

Trial excavations held in the past couple of years had earlier unearthed imported Roman amphora, Yemenese and West Asian pottery, bricks, tiles and beads. Potsherds with Tamil Brahmi inscription and 'Vattezhuthu' script were also excavated from the area earlier.

''On preliminary reading, the new findings are very relevant. We can say for sure only after an official confirmation. We expect more experts to come here in the next few days,'' says Cherian.

Based on the findings there, the Archaeological Survey of India issued an archaeological licence to KCHR for conducting excavations at the site.

The State Archaeology Department is also associating with the programme. KCHR is also looking for support from other agencies and organisations involved in the field.

The findings were found to be the first evidence in recent years of Roman presence on the Malabar coast.

The theory about the port of Muziris being on the belt of the Kodungallur-Chettuva belt has also been strengthened by this excavation [Based on a report in the New Indian Express, March 24 2007.]

Recent Apointments of Catholic Bishops (Courtesy CBCI Site)
 

23.03.06 : Fr. Paul Toppo, Vicar General of the diocese of Raigarh, has been appointed as the new Bishop of Raigarh.

04.02.06 : Fr John Barwa, SVD, former provincial superior of India Eastern province of Society of Divine Word, appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Rourkela Diocese in Orissa.

02.02.06 : Rev. Peter Machado, Judicial Vicar of Karwar diocese has been appointed new Bishop of Belgaum.

02.02.06 : Msgr. Antony Chirayath appointed as the new Bishop of Sagar.

31.01.06 : Mons. Clement Tirkey, Vicar General of Bagdogra diocese has been appointed new Bishop of Jalpaiguri diocese.

28.01.06 : Mons. Paul Lakra has been appointed Bishop of Gumla Diocese in Jarkhand.

28.01.06 :Fr. Vincent Kympat has been appointed the first bishop of Jowai, in Meghalaya.

28.01.06 : Fr. Victor Lyngdoh is appointed the first Bishop of Nongstoin in Meghalaya.  

12.12.05  : Fr. William D'Souza has been appointed the first bishop of the newly erected diocese of Buxar.

07.12.05  : Bishop John Thomas Kattrukudiyil of Diphu has been appointed as the first bishop of the newly created diocese of Itanagar.
 
07.12.05  : Fr. P. K. George Palliparampil, rector of Salesian house Tinsukia, Assam has been appointed as the first bishop of the
newly created diocese of Miao.

05.12.05 : Bishop Mathew Moolakkat, OSB appointed Archbishop of Kottayam

20.07.05  : Bishop Oswald Lewis,  co-adjutor bishop of Meerut appointed  bishop of newly created diocese of Jaipur.

06.07.05  : Rev Fr Alwyn Barreto of Poona diocese has been appointed as Bishop of the newly created diocese of Sindhudurg, Maharashtra.

24.06.05  : Mons. Robert Miranda, episcopal vicar of Bidar has been appointed as bishop of the newly created diocese of Gulbarga, Karnataka. 

01.04.05  : Bishop Malayappan Chinnappa, Bishop of Vellore has been appointed as Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore Archdiocese.

01.04.05  : Rev Fr Yvon Ambroise former executive director of Caritas India has been appointed Bishop of Tuticorin Diocese.
 
01.04.05  : Mons. Jabamalai Susaimanickam Vicar General of Madurai  Archdiocese has been appointed Co-adjutor Bishop of Sivagangai Diocese.

12.03.05 : Mons. Joseph Kariyil appointed Bishop of Punalur.

12.03.05 : Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo Appointed  as one of the three President- Delegates of the next Synod of Bishops on the EUCHARIST to be held in Rome in October 2005.

10.02.05 : Most Rev Cyril Mar Baselios appointed as Major Archbishop of the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum.  

05.01.05 : Rev Fr Joseph Konnath appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archeparchy of Trivandrum (Syro-Malankara).

29.09.04 : Most Rev Vincent Barwa appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi. 

22.07.04 : Most Rev Bernard Moras appointed as Archbishop of Bangalore. 

17.06.04 : Most Rev Maria Calist Soosa Pakiam promoted as the first Archbishop of Trivandrum Archdiocese (Latin Rite). 

17.06.04 : Rev Fr Andrew Marak appointed as Coadjutor Bishop of Tura.  

10.06.04 : Most Rev Anthony Anandarayar appointed as Archbishop of Pondicherry- Cuddalore.   

18.03.04 : Most Rev Joseph A. Charanakunnel promoted as the  first Archbishop of Raipur.  

18.03.04 : Rev Fr Joseph Kallarangatt appointed as Bishop of Palai.  

18.03.04 : Rev Fr Jose Porunnedom appointed as Bishop of Mananthavady.

18.03.04 : Mons. Andrews Thazhath appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of Trichur. 

16.01.04 : Most Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao appointed as Archbishop of Goa  Daman. 

"Praying Mother" Venerable Euphrasia Beatified

Ollur, Kerala, Dec. 03, 2006  

Venerable Euphrasia was beatified today during a ceremony at the Ollur Saint Anthony's Forane Church grounds seven kilometers from Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala..

Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil of the Syro-Malabar Church with the Apostolic Nuncio for India, Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana,  and Archbishop Jacob Thoomkuzhy of Thrissur, presided over the ceremonial high Mass along with 31 archbishops and bishops and over 150 priests. The ceremony was attended by over 1000 priests and 3000 nuns in addition to more than 30000 faithful from all over the undivided Vicariate of trichur and from all parts of Kerala and India.  

Cardinal Vithayathil reading out the decree of Pope Benedict XVI declared Euphrasia Blessed and raised her to the status of beatified. Major Archbishop Vithayathil, Archbishops Quintana and Thoomkuzhy later unveiled the portrait of Blessed Eurphrasia.

With Euphrasia's beatification, seven religious persons from India have been elevated to the status of Blessed. In addition to Kuriakose Elias  Chavara CMI, Sister Alphonsa Muttathupadath FCC, Mariam Theresa Chiramal CHF and Father Augustine Thevarparambil of Ramapuram (all from Kerala) Joseph Vaz of Goa and Mother Teresa of Calcutta have been  beatified. (For details vide article on the Saints and Sages of India, in the Indian Christian Directory, Rashtra Deepiks, 2006 (or 2000) by Prof. George Menachery.The work has photographs and details on all these and others, and details of beatification, canonisation etc.) Euphrasia, popularly known as 'Praying Mother', was born in 1877 at Kattur Village near Irinjalakuda in the former Trichur Vicariate, in the parish of Edathurhty, as Rosa to Eluvathingal Cherpukaran Anthony and Kunjethy.

At age 12, she joined the boarding house of the Carmelite Sisters at Koonammavu under patronage of Chavara Achan and Leopold missionary. Later, she was brought to Ambazhakkad and received her headdress and the religious name Euphrasia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, January 10, 1898, and donned the habit of Carmel.

Euphrasia received her veil as a full-fledged nun in 1900 at the Saint Mary's Convent at Ollur, the day on which it started its mission work.

Out of her over 52-year-old life of nunhood, Euphrasia lived 48 years in the Ollur convent itself,.

She died at the Ollur convent in August 1952 where she has been buried.

She prayed the rosary hours on end day in and day out throughout her convent life, earning her the name 'Praying Mother'.

Like her mother, Euphrasia was simple, extremely calm and composed and had a deep spirit of prayer.During her convent life, she had been appointed assistant superior, novice mistress and mother superior.

"Even if you lack money, do not lack in virtue," was her instruction to her family members, said vice-postulator Dr.Cleopatra at the Ollur convent talking after the body of the saintly nun was removed for examination in the presence of Archbishop Thoomkuzhy and Bishop Pazhayattil.. Euphrasia was declared Servant of God in 1987 and Venerable in 2002.

Earlier, all the prelates, including Cardinal Vithayathil and Archbishop Quintana, visited the tomb of Euphrasia and offered prayers, before proceeding to the venue of the beatification ceremony. All the ecclesiastical dignitaries went in a procession from the historic Ollur church, famous for its murals and woodwork.

Union Minister for Labour, Oscar Fernandez, was present at the function. 

Augustine Thevarparambil "Apostle of the Untouchables" Beatified  

RAMAPUAN, India, APRIL 30, 2006 :Father Augustine Thevarparampil, known as the apostle of the untouchables, was beatified in Ramapuan, India.  

Cardinal Varkev Vithayathil, major archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, presided at the beatification ceremony today in the name of Pope Benedict XVI.  

Here is a short biography of Father Thevarparampil:   

Everybody knew Fr. Augustine or ‘Agusthy’ as Kunjachan which, in the Malayalam language of India, means "little priest."  

Father Augustine Thevarparampil was very short, but was a giant in announcing Christ among the dalits and the outcastes.  

Born in Ramapuram, in the Diocese of Palai, Kerala, on April 1, 1891, Augustine entered the seminary after completing his studies in public schools.  

He was ordained a priest at age 33, on Dec. 17, 1921, by Servant of God Mar Thomas Kurialacherry. In 1923 Kunjachan was sent as assistant parish priest to Kadanad, in the Church of St. Sebastian. His pastoral service in this place did not last long. Ill-health forced him to return to his native village in 1926.  

During his convalescence, he became aware of the miserable living conditions of the "untouchables," those belonging to the lowest caste of the Indian society. Gandhi used to call them Harijan -- "the people of God."  

Father Augustine decided to devote his life to the evangelization and human betterment of the poorest of his society.  

The priest rose at 4 each morning. After celebrating Mass, he and a catechist used to go and visit the families in the villages. He took care of the dalit Pulayas in his parish, as well as all those he could materially reach.  

He used to call "child" anybody who needed help. He offered assistance and comfort, tried to solve disputes and took care of the sick. Some used to avoid him and hide from him.  

His short height was a blessing because he could go in and out, without any difficulty, of the poor village huts. Kunjachan was a friend to the children; he always carried some sweets for them. The children enjoyed his company tremendously.  

Father Augustine spent his entire life in simplicity, living like the poor to whom he had devoted his existence.  

His will begins: "I possess neither land nor money, and I owe no one anything. I want my funeral to be a very simple one."  

A man of great spirituality, he used to pray continuously even during his frequent traveling. He was always patient and understanding with the outcasts. He knew how to overcome mistrust.  

During his priesthood days among the dalits he personally baptized almost 6,000 people. And he was known as the "apostle of the untouchables."  

After celebrating 50 years of priesthood, he died on Oct. 16, 1973, at age 82.  

He wished to be buried among his beloved children, in the barren land, but the parishioners demanded that he be laid to rest in the church, at the foot of the altar of St. Augustine, patron of the community.  

Ever since then his tomb has been the destination of thousands of pilgrims every year. Solemn celebrations are held especially on Oct. 16 to commemorate his death. 

Elevated to the ranks of the `blessed'

PALA: Augustine Thevarparambil, popularly known as Thevarparambil Kunjachan, was elevated to the ranks of the `blessed' at a solemn ceremony, witnessed by thousands of devotees, at St. Augstine's Forane Church at Ramapuram, near here, on Sunday.

He is the fourth from the Syro-Malabar Church to be elevated to one order preceding sainthood. The others so elevated were Alphonsa of Pala, Kuriakose Elias Chavara of Mannanam and Mariam Teresia of Ollur.

Fr. Augustine was born on April 1, 1891, and had worked as a Catholic priest among Dalits till his death on October 16, 1973. The process of beatification and canonisation began on August 11, 1987, when he was declared a servant of God. It was on June 22, 2004, that he was declared venerable by the then Pope, John Paul II. The way was opened for his beatification when the findings of the miraculous cure of the clubfoot of a boy from Idukki district, through the mediation of Kunjachan, was approved by Pope Benedict XVI.

The special ceremonies, led by Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Vithayathil, on Sunday began with the welcome speech by Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt of Pala, at a specially erected pandal on the church premises. This was followed by the Holy Mass. Nearly 70 bishops, led by Telesphore Cardinal Toppo, president of the Catholic Bishop's Council of India, along with more than 500 priests, concelebrated the solemn Eucharistic Liturgy during which the Papal decree elevating Kunjachan as blessed was read out. Following this, a portrait of Kunjachan was unveiled and his relics were placed for obeisance. Later, a procession carrying the idol of beatified Kunjachan was taken out to mark the conclusion of the ceremony.

Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, Papal Nuncio to India, preached the homily. Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil and Bishop Joseph Pallickaparabil also spoke.

Also present on the occasion was Gilson from Adimali, whose clubfoot was miraculously cured and scores of Dalits who were served by the priest during his lifetime.  

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 30, 2006.- During his address today before praying the midday Regina Caeli with tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square Pope Benedict XVI said:

I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors here today, including those gathered to mark the beatification of Father Augustine Kunjachan Thevarparampil taking place at Ramapuram, in Kerala, India.

St. Francis Xavier 500^th Birthday Celebrated in Goa

      ‘St Francis Xavier’s heart was burning with love for Jesus’

OLD GOA, APRIL 7 - St Francis Xavier’s heart was burning with love for Jesus and therefore, he gave up his worldly riches for the sake of his Jesuit brethren and others, recalled Fr Vasco Rego, former Bom Jesus Rector on Friday. In his homily at the Eucharistic Celebration to mark the 500th birth anniversary of the 16th century Basque saint Francis Xavier, outside the Bom Jesus Basilica, attended by thousands of devotees, he quoted the words of Xavier’s companion, Simon, ‘Francis used to often pray loudly in the nights saying ‘Give me more and more (crosses and sufferings) O Lord.’

The service one does to his brethren is visible from one’s good deeds to others, which Xavier, “Goencho Saib” rightfully did. His heart was ablaze and he went about preaching the Good News of Jesus and his salvation, concluded Fr Rego.

At the offertory, a copy of the Holy bible, crucifix, Jesuit literature, Goa Jesuit annual bulletin, a Portuguese book and Bread and Wine were placed at the hands of the main celebrant, the Archbishop of Goa and Patriarch of the East. 

Several bishops, priests, nuns also participated at the Eucharistic celebration. The Merces Parish Choir assisted the devotees in singing during the Mass.

The Jesuit Provincial Fr Anthony D’Silva, who cut the cake, thanked the prelates, the priests, the congregation and the government for providing the necessary facilities for the celebrations.

The well written and excellently produced book “Saint Francis Xavier : A Man For All Others”  by Miguel Correa Monteiro was released at the end of the function. 

Later, a 20-minute film on the life of St Francis Xavier was screened on the occasion.
Devotees had to pass through metal detectors installed at the entrance to the Basilica’s campus.

For 100s of references to Xavier in India and South Asia cf. the SEVEN indices in the
St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India Ed. Prof.George Menachery
(Vol.I, 1982; Vol.II, 1973) Esp. articles by A. M. Jagatheesan and J. M. Villarvarayan.

“Three Companions: One Jubilee”
Ignatius Loyola: 450th Death Anniversary
Francis Xavier: 500th Birth Anniversary
Peter Faber: 500th Birth Anniversary

Among the participants at the Bom Jesus Basilica function was a large consignment of Church Historians who had assembled at the Xavier Institute of Historical Research, Alto Porvorim, to discuss and celebrate the “Three Companions: One Jubilee” viz., St. Ignatius Loyola’s 450th Death Anniversary and St. Francis Xavier’s and Bl. Peter Faber’s 500th Birth Anniversary. The Seminar (April 6. 7) had been organized by the Xavier Institute, Goa (Director: Delio Mendonza s.j.) and the Bihar Social Institute, Patna (Director: Dr. Jose Kalapra s.j.) under the sponsorship of the Jesuit Provincial of the South Asian Assistancy.

The Seminar was inaugurated by Shri Eduardo Faleiro, Commissioner of NRI Affairs.
Papers Presented
Dr. Mathias Mundadan:
Earnest Hanxeledon (Arnos Padri): A Scholar and a Popular Poet (1681-1732).
Dr. Delio de Mendonza, s.j.:
Constructing and Deconstructing Identity: A Study of the Society of Jesus-1558-1758.
Prof. George Menachery:
The Inspiration of Ignatius Loyola in Francis Xavier’s Vision for South Asia.
Prof.Gu Wei-min:
Christianity in Asia since Xavier: Past, Present and Future Orientation.
Dr. Jose Kalapua, s.j.:
India Inscribed: Jesuit Contribution to Development of Printing in India.
Prof. Joseph Parmar, s.j.:
Jesuit Contribution in the making of Christian Communities in Gujarat,1893-ff.
Prof. Joseph Velinkar, s.j.:
Re-examining Xavier’s Contribution in India.
Dr. Kranthi K. Farias:
Jesuit Presence in South Kanara:Identity, Discontinuity, Initiatives.
Savio Abreu, s.j.:
Catholic Charismatic Reneal: A Challenge to the InstitutionalisedChurch.
Prof. Sunny Jose, s.j.:
Cultural Confrontations and Adaptations:The Legacy of Malabar Province.
Dr. Thomas Anchukandam, s.d.b.
Return of the Jesuits to India and the Establishment of the Vicariate Apostolic of Madurai – The MEP Factor (1838-1847).
 

AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION IN THE AREA OF     CULTURE, HISTORY
 AND TRADITIONS OF THE ST. THOMAS  CHRIDTIANS

Vadavathoor, Kottayam, Jan. 25, 2005

Today at the St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor , Kottayam the Most Rev. Dr. Soosai Pakiam, Archbishop of Trivandrum  presented Prof. George Menachery, Chief Editor of the STCEI and the ICHC and author of various other works  with the Rev. John Arancheril Award 2002 for Outstanding Contributions in the Area of Culture, History, and Traditions of the St. Thomas Christians. Dr. George Madathikkandathil read out the citation. Dr. Thomas Srampikal the rector of the St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary and Dr. Joseph Naduvilezham the President of the Paurasthya Vidya Peedhom participated in the function. The staff and students of the Seminary were present in  addition to the invited guests. The award for 2003 was presented to Dr. Pius Malekandathil, reader, Sri Sankara Sanskrit University of Kalady. The award being given from 1998 onwards – in the first year it was awarded to Dr. Xavier Koodapuzha – consists of a cash prize of Rs. 10001 and a plaque and citation.

Bharateeya DHARMA common heritage of all

               Indians--Cyril Mar Baselius    
          

Trivandrum, 18th December, 2004.

The great religious and cultural heritage of India is the common heritage of all Indians and the Christian community of Kerla has been living all these centuries based on this great heritage, said Cyril Mar Baselius, Archbishop of Trivandrum and president of the Kerala Catholic Bishops'Council [KCBC]. He was releasing today at the Trivandrum Press Club Auditorium   Prof. George Menachery's  book of essays "GLIMPSES OF NAZRANEY HERITAGE", presenting the first copy to Sri. T. N. Jayachandran, former Addl.Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala, and Vice-Chancellor of the Calicut University. The Christian culture is in no way opposed to the Indian culture added Mar Baselius who was till recently also the chairman of the Catholic Bishops'

Prof. B. Hrudayakumari and Dr. George Onakkur spoke at length about Kerala culture and the Christian contribution to it and about Prof. Menachery's contributions in the field.