Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said the canonisation of Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sister Euphrasia was a tribute to the richness of Indian culture.
He was addressing a meeting held here on Saturday as part of a Mass of Thanksgiving after the canonisation and the 150th anniversary of the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel.
“Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sister Euphrasia inspire not only the Church, but society in general. They represent the glory of Indian culture,” he added.
Presiding over the function, Cardinal George Alenchery, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, said prayers should be an important part of life.
Giuseppe Cardinal Versaldi, President of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, recalled the rich contribution of the CMC to society.
Apostolic Nuncio to India Salvatore Pennacchio said efforts should be made for welfare of the people and empowerment of the family.
Nagpur Archbishop Mar Abraham Viruthakulangara also spoke.
Cardinal George Alenchery led the Mass of Thanksgiving after canonisation of Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sister Euphrasia held at the St. Antony’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church in Ollur. They were canonised by Pope Francis at St Peter’s Square in Vatican in November.
Chavara Kuriakose Elias, born on February 10, 1805, at Kainakary,was a social reformer who played a major role in educating the downtrodden. He started a school at Mannanam in 1846, and founded the first printing press of the Indian Catholic Church. Nasrani Deepika , the first Malayalam daily was printed at the press. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on February 8, 1986.
Born as Rosa Eluvathingal to wealthy landowners Cherpukaran Antony and
Kunjethy Eluvathingal in Thrissur in 1877, she assumed the name Euphrasia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on joining the congregation. She was declared Blessed in December, 2006. She died in 1952.
Thanksgiving mass held at Ollur.
