: St. Phelomena’s Church, Koonammavu, on the outskirts of Kochi is fully prepared to celebrate the canonisation of Chavara Kuriakose Elias, who spent the last seven years of his life at the parish.
The high point of the celebrations on Sunday would be a concelebrated Mass, led by Bishop of Cochin Diocese Joseph Kariyil, said the spokesman for Varappuzha Archdiocese Fr. Antony Vibin Xavier here. Bishop of Kannur Alex Vadakkumthala will deliver the homily.
Before the mass, believers from parishes under the archdiocese will gather at Kongorpilly, Kochaal and Thevarkaad at 3 p.m. They will then come in a procession to the Koonammavu parish church for the mass. The believers will be led by priests, religious and lay leaders from the parishes.
A life-size statue of Chavara Kuriakose Elias will be unveiled by Bishop of Kottappuram Joseph Karikkassery before the concelebrated mass. Massive LED screens have been set up on the St. Phelomena’s Church premises to allow the faithful to witness live the ceremonies in the Vatican where Chavara Kuriakose Elias and Mother Euphrasia will be declared saints by Pope Francis on Sunday. The ceremonies at Konammavu have been timed to coincide with the ceremonies in Vatican.
A procession carrying the statue of Chavara Kuriakose Elias will follow the Mass. A statement issued by the organisers of the celebrations claimed that Sunday’s procession would be the first carrying the statue of the newly declared Saint of the Catholic Church.
Fr. Xavier said that a pandhal that can seat 25,000 people is ready for the celebrations.
Archbishop of Varappuzha Francis Kallarakkal is in Vatican to participate in the ceremonies.
The Koonammavu parish has been central to the life of Chavara Kuriakose Elias, who died here in January 1871.
