St Thomas Forane Reception to Syro-Malabar Bishops

Author: Jobi Varghese   Featured: Feb 26, 2006

Reception to Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church at St Thomas Forane Church, Bangalore on St Thomas Forane Day & Feast - February 12, 2006

Every feast ends with some form of pomp, splendour, and fanfare, but rarely does one leave such cherished memories as did the annual feast at the St Thomas Forane Church, Bangalore in February 2006.

The Forane Church and its believers had been preparing for and celebrating the feast of St Thomas and St Sebastian for nearly two weeks with a special Mass and sermon every evening. Sunday, February 12, 2006 was the finale of the feast, and it turned out to be an unforgettable occasion. The church and premises had been full well before the start of the morning Holy Mass with expectant members. The event: A civic reception to bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church. A few of the Syro-Malabar Bishops including Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Vithayathil, who were in Bangalore to attend the CBCI Conference, would attend a civic reception and address the gathering.

Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil himself led the 9 am Holy Mass, with Rev. Fr Mathew Koikkara, Rev. Fr James Narithookkil, Rev. Fr Antony Puthanangady, and Rev. Fr Thomas Kollamparambil being the co-celebrants. Rev. Fr Samuel of the Vincentian Congregation delivered a timely sermon, and spoke about the lives of the two saints - St Thomas and St Sebastian. Mar Varkey Vithayathil gave a brief speech after the conclusion of the Holy Mass.

At 11 am, the bishops who had by now reached the Church premises addressed expectant audience in the Church, and were seated right in front of the altar. There were 13 bishops (including Major Archbishop) who could make it to the church to address the laity. The forane vicar Rev. Fr Mathew Koikkara CMI introduced each bishop, and extended a warm welcome. Office bearers of the forane presented each bishop with a bouquet.

The bishops who were present were:
* Photograph below: Back row, Left to Right
Mar Lawrence Mukkuzhy (Belthangady), Mar George Alencherry (Thuckalay), Mar George Valiamattom (Thalassery), Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil (Major Archbishop), Mar Simon Stock Palathra (Jagdalpur), Mar Thomas Chakiath (Ernakulam-Angamaly), Mar Andrews Thazhath (Trichur), Mar Vijay Anand Nedumpuram (Chanda)
* Photograph below: Front row, Left to Right
Mar Thomas Elavanal (Kalyan), Mar Joseph Pastor Neelankavil (Sagar), Mar James Pazhayattil (Irinjalakuda), Mar Jacob Manathodath (Palghat), Mar Sebastian Adayanthrath (Ernakulam-Angamaly).
Forane Vicar Rev. Fr Mathew Koikkara is standing on the right side.

Each of the 13 bishops spoke to the crowd for a couple of minutes. They spoke about their respective dioceses, and invited the parishioners to visit their dioceses.

At the end of the short ceremony, everyone in the audience was beaming, having seen several of the diocesan heads together at the same venue. The day will certainly have a special place in the annals of St Thomas Forane, and nobody who witnessed this event shall ever forget it, with the sweet memories having been indelibly etched in their minds. Needless to say that the parish members made it a prized occasion for the bishops too.

Photographs: Jobi Varghese  © SyroMalabar.com

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