Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2009 / Indian archbishop's visit highlights joining of faith and culture
Indian archbishop's visit highlights joining of faith and culture
by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published July 31, 2009
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Kristin Lukowski | The Michigan Catholic
Fr. Koshy Chirakkarottu addresses the Malankara Indian Catholic community and Church leaders Melkite Bishop Nicholas Samra, Malankara Major Archbishop Beselios Cleemis, and Archbishop Allen Vigneron after a special Mass last weekend. |
Warren - Three major branches of the Catholic Church came together last weekend to honor a visit from the shepherd of the Malankara Catholic Church, a rite from India.
Major Archbishop Baselios Cleemis visited St. Anne Parish, Warren, as did Bishop Nicholas Samra, of the Melkite Catholic Church, and Archbishop Allen Vigneron. Archbishop Cleemis celebrated Mass in Malayalam, a language spoken by 30 million in the south of India, wearing resplendent vestments of cream, red and gold, denoting his station as bishop.
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Kristin Lukowski | The Michigan Catholic
Major Archbishop Baselios Cleemis celebrated Mass in the Malankara rite last weekend in Warren. Among the differences between Malankara and Latin rites are the highly decorated priest’s robes worn by the former. |
And for the Malankara Catholics gathered, the head of their Church recognizing them as a significant and growing community, marked an important day. "It's a great honor for us as Malankara Catholics," said Cherian Idicheria, treasurer of the St. Joseph Malankara Mission, which meets at St. Clement Parish, Center Line. "It's a great opportunity to come here and welcome him."
The day also marked the first time Archbishop Vigneron visited the Indian community, now consisting of more than 25 families and growing, since his installation in January.
Indian culture and tradition was woven through the entire morning: As Archbishop Cleemis and Bishop Samra entered St. Anne, where St. Joseph administrator Fr. Koshy Chirakkarottu serves as associate pastor, they were adorned with garlands, then processed between two rows of worshipers holding candles. Bells jangled throughout the service, women wore traditional Indian saris, and several people removed their shoes.
After Mass, Fr. Mathew George Charthakuzhiyil, associate pastor of St. Thomas à Becket Parish, acknowledged the bishops, and children of the parish presented them with flowers and gifts. Archbishop Vigneron, who wasn't able to attend the Mass but participated afterward, spoke to the gathering about relationships, and how our ordinary human relationships, through the Holy Spirit, are filled with Divine Grace.
"I am honored to acknowledge the grace that comes through gifts of the Holy Spirit used in every culture," he said.
He also offered encouragement: "It is not easy to be the new people in the United States," he said. "You Malankara Catholics bring a wonderful, rich heritage, which I hope you are rightfully proud of."
Bishop Samra compared the Malankara people to a stained-glass window: Each person is a chunk of glass, but together, they make a beautiful picture. "Pull them all together and you see beauty - and through them the light of Christ shines," he said.
He said it took 100 years for his Church to come of age, as the first priests arrived in the United States, in 1889, and in 1989 he was ordained the first American-born Melkite bishop. Already, the Malankara church has their first man in seminary this year, Jerry Mathew.
After a long list of thanks, Archbishop Cleemis asked people to think about their contributions to society, considering the job and education opportunities that exist in America, and the space and fellowship the Catholic Church offers. "What is our contribution supposed to be in the building up of this great nation?" he said. "What will be your contribution in shaping the spirituality of America?"
Saji George, head of the mission's Sunday school, said that as a lifelong Catholic, he was proud of the day. "We try so hard to keep our traditions," he said. "That means our traditions are growing. That's very important to us."
Gracy Mathew, a member of and Sunday school teacher at St. Joseph Malankara Mission, and mother of the seminarian, said parishioners have been at the church since the early morning preparing. "It was wonderful, especially how everyone was there," she said.
Jeby Mathew, who served as master of ceremonies for the post-Mass event and another son of Gracy Mathew, pointed to the high youth involvement in the Mass: singing, participating, and presenting gifts to the Church leaders. He said it's important for the youth to know who the leader of their Church are, and "that they can see we're all part of this one, big community," he said.
Idicheria, the mission's treasurer, said he appreciated the attendance of Bishop Samra and Archbishop Vigneron, as well: "It means a lot to us how supportive they are of a small community like us," he said.
The Malankara Church
Indian Christianity has its roots from a visit from St. Thomas to India in A.D. 52. The community celebrated the East Syrian liturgy until the Church eventually split in two, dividing between the Latin rite and the Malankara Church. After failed attempts to regain communion with Rome, the Malankara rite eventually adopted the rite of the Jacobite Syrian Church of Antioch.
Finally, on June 11, 1932, Pope Pius XI established the Syro-Malankara hierarchy; the Malankara Catholic Church was elevated to the status of a Major Archiepiscopal Church Feb. 10, 2005. In North America, there are 14 Malankara communities.
In December 1999 Detroit Malankara Catholics requested a parish in Detroit, which led to the founding of the St. Joseph Malankara Catholic Mission. It officially became a mission Aug. 1, 2000, and now there are three priests and six religious sisters working for the community.
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