Church told to strive for nation-building

The church members should come forward in the service of the nation, Cardinal Baselius Cleemis Catholicos has said.

The Cardinal was addressing the 85th Reunion Meet of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church at Mar Ivanios Nagar at Thirumoolapuram, near Thiruvalla, on Sunday.

Mar Cleemis said all sections of the society had contributed in their own way for the cultural development of the country.

Cardinal Baselius Mar Cleemis Catholicos inaugurated the museum, ‘Beth Abo D’Malankara,’ as a memorial to Mar Ivanios at Thirumoolapuram on Sunday afternoon.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien inaugurated the clergy meet in the afternoon. Panakkad Syed Hyder Ali Shihab Thangal delivered the keynote address.

Swami Veerabhadrananda of Sri Ramakrishna Ashram at Haripad, Joshua Mar Ignatius Metropolitan, Laity Commision chairman; Geevarghese Mar Divannasius Metropolitan; Alexander Jacob, former DGP; and Philipose Mar Stephanos, Auxiliary Bishop of Thiruvalla; also spoke.

Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash inaugurated the Malankara Catholic Youth Movement meet, earlier, in the forenoon.

Mar Raphel Thattil, Auxiliary Bishop of Thrissur Archdiocese, delivered the keynote address and Vincent Mar Paulose Metropolitan, Synod Commission chairman, delivered the introductory speech.

The three-day meet began with the flag hoisting ceremony at the specially prepared venue near the St Thomas Catholic Church on Saturday forenoon. The Metropolitan Archbishop of Thiruvalla, Thomas Mar Coorlilos, hoisted the ceremonial flag in the presence of a large crowd of believers in the forenoon.