A jubilee ark procession being taken out in connection with the post-quasquicentennial celebrations of the Changanassery archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church will enter Kollam district on July 28 for tour of parishes under the Kollam-Ayur forane. The procession began from the Amburi forane in Thiruvananthapuram district on July 3.
Parish priest of the Kollam-Ayur forane Fr. James Kunnil will formally receive the ark from vicar-general of the Changanassery archdiocese Fr. John V. Thadathil at the St. Alphonsa church at Pongumoodu in Thiruvananthapuram at 2 p.m. on Thursday. The ark will then be kept in a vehicle designed on the models of the Changanassery cathedral and brought to Ayur by 4 p.m. in a convoy of 125 vehicles. The ark will be given a rousing reception at the Ayur Kristraj church.
After rituals at the church, a public meeting will be inaugurated by general convener of the procession Fr. Kurien D. Elamkulam. The jubilee discourse will be delivered by general coordinator of the archdiocese Fr. Joseph Panakezham. The ark will tour all Syro-Malabar churches in the district from July 28 to August 20.
The valedictory function of the Kollam district tour will be held at the Punalur Sacred Hearts' parish church at 2.30 p.m. on August 20. The ark will then be formally handed over to the parish priest of the Thrikodithanam forane.