UCAN REPORT:
New jurisdiction overturns previous restrictions to operate only in Kerala state
Cardinal Alencherry, at right, greets Msgr Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, the new head of Faridabad diocese
The Syro-Malabar Church (SMC) yesterday created a new diocese for its members in northern India.
The Vatican had previously limited the jurisdiction of the SMC to the southern state of Kerala, and the new diocese now allows the SMC to have a larger jurisdiction and the ability to create other dioceses wherever members need support.
Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the Oriental Church, said the new diocese – the rite’s 29th – would be based in Faridabad in Haryana state.
He also announced the appointment of Monsignor Kuriakose Bharanikulangara as the first prelate to head the diocese, which will have administrative control over Delhi, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh states.
Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi said the Faridabad diocese would “definitely help provide more attention to the pastoral and spiritual needs of the Syro-Malabar community in metropolitan cities.”
He told ucanews.com that the Delhi archdiocese would cooperate with the new diocese and avoid occasions of rivalry and tension among the different Catholic rites in the country.
Fr Dominic Emmanuel, Delhi archdiocesan spokesperson, said it would help provide better administration to SMC Catholics in the national capital.
“Differences between the rites will only help the Church to grow,” he said today.
The Church in India comprises Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara rites. The Latin rite, the largest, follows the Roman liturgy, while the other two are Oriental rites based in the southern Indian state of Kerala follow Syrian Church traditions.
The move comes as SMC prelates have been asking for more administrative structures and dioceses across India, a move the Latin bishops have previously resisted.
Parishes in Delhi archdiocese had experienced tension when some SMC groups accused the archdiocesan systems of curtailing their rights to have SMC liturgies.
Ligi Thomas, an SMC Catholic, said the new diocese is a dream come true.
“This will help our children learn our traditions and practice the faith we were brought up in,” she said.
http://www.ucanews.com/2012/03/07/syro-malabar-church-gets-new-diocese/
The Vatican had previously limited the jurisdiction of the SMC to the southern state of Kerala, and the new diocese now allows the SMC to have a larger jurisdiction and the ability to create other dioceses wherever members need support.
Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the Oriental Church, said the new diocese – the rite’s 29th – would be based in Faridabad in Haryana state.
He also announced the appointment of Monsignor Kuriakose Bharanikulangara as the first prelate to head the diocese, which will have administrative control over Delhi, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh states.
Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi said the Faridabad diocese would “definitely help provide more attention to the pastoral and spiritual needs of the Syro-Malabar community in metropolitan cities.”
He told ucanews.com that the Delhi archdiocese would cooperate with the new diocese and avoid occasions of rivalry and tension among the different Catholic rites in the country.
Fr Dominic Emmanuel, Delhi archdiocesan spokesperson, said it would help provide better administration to SMC Catholics in the national capital.
“Differences between the rites will only help the Church to grow,” he said today.
The Church in India comprises Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara rites. The Latin rite, the largest, follows the Roman liturgy, while the other two are Oriental rites based in the southern Indian state of Kerala follow Syrian Church traditions.
The move comes as SMC prelates have been asking for more administrative structures and dioceses across India, a move the Latin bishops have previously resisted.
Parishes in Delhi archdiocese had experienced tension when some SMC groups accused the archdiocesan systems of curtailing their rights to have SMC liturgies.
Ligi Thomas, an SMC Catholic, said the new diocese is a dream come true.
“This will help our children learn our traditions and practice the faith we were brought up in,” she said.
http://www.ucanews.com/2012/03/07/syro-malabar-church-gets-new-diocese/
Comments