ARCHDIOCESE OF CHANGANACHERRY
The Archdiocese of Changanacherry is one of the first two Vicariates and the second Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, after the establishment of the Syro Malabar hierarchy. It covers 13 Forane churches and more than 300 other churches in the Keralite districts of Kottayam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu. It also manages a lot of Hospitals, Colleges, Schools-both general and those for the physically/mentally challenged, Orphanages, De-addiction centers and Old-age homes.
The Archdiocese of Changanacherry now comprises the civil districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kottayam in Kerala and Palai, Kanjirapally and Thucklay as its suffragans. Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil assumed the office of the Archbishop of Changanacherry on 17th January 1986 and resigned in 2007. Mar Joseph Perumthottam was appointed on 20th January 2007 as the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Changanacherry and was installed on 19th March 2007.
HOLY FATHER POPE FRANCIS
Pope Francis is the 266th and current Pope of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis was elected Supreme Pontiff on 13 March 2013. The 76-year-old Jesuit Archbishop of Buenos Aires is a prominent figure throughout the continent, yet remains a simple pastor who is deeply loved by his diocese, throughout which he has travelled extensively on the underground and by bus during the 15 years of his episcopal ministry.
“My people are poor and I am one of them”, he has said more than once, explaining his decision to live in an apartment and cook his own supper. He has always advised his priests to show mercy and apostolic courage and to keep their doors open to everyone.The worst thing that could happen to the Church, he has said on various occasions, “is what de Lubac called spiritual worldliness”, which means, “being self-centred”. And when he speaks of social justice, he calls people first of all to pick up the Catechism, to rediscover the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. His project is simple: if you follow Christ, you understand that “trampling upon a person’s dignity is a serious sin”. |
MAJOR ARCH BISHOP-MAR GEORGE ALENCHERRY
Mar George Alencherry is the Major Arch Bishop of Archdiocese of Changanacherry He was born on 19th April 1945 in the parish of Thuruthy as the sixth child of the ten children of Mr. Philipose and Mary Alencherry of whom two others are priests (Fr. Jose Alencherry and Fr. Francis Alencherry, SDB) and one, a religious sister (Sr. Cherupushpam, S.A.B.S. )
When Pope John Paul II established the diocese of Thuckalay on 11th November 1996 Mar George Alencherry was appointed its first bishop. He was ordained bishop on 2nd February 1997 at Thuckalay by Mar Joseph Powathil, the then archbishop of Changanacherry. As bishop Mar George Alencherry served the Syro-Malabar Church in his capacity of the secretary of the Synod of Bishops and chairman of the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Catechism. He has also served as chairman of the Commission for Laity of the catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI). |
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Mar George Alencherry has to his credit a Book with the title Morality Today and Tomorrow in Malayalam and a number of articles on various topics in English and Malayalam. The new major archbishop is proficient in Malayalam, Tamil, English and French.
Mar George Alencherry has been elected the spiritual leader of the more than 40 lakhs Syro-Malabar faithful living all over the world. |
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ARCH BISHOP-MAR JOSEPH PERUMTHOTTAM
Mar Joseph Perumthottam was born on July 5, 1948, at Punnathura. Completing his seminary studies at St. Thomas Petit Seminary, Changanacherry and St.Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam, he was ordained priest on 18 December 1974 by Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil, then auxiliary bishop of Changanacherry. After his ministry as assistant parish priest for a few years he was appointed in 1979 as Director of Sandesanilayam, the Catechetical Centre of the Archdiocese and Chaplain of Catholic Workers’ Movement of the Archdiocese. In the Catechetical field, he introduced many training programmes, including Catechetical Leaders’ Training (CLT), which is being continued to this day by Sandesanilayam.
In 1983 he was sent for higher studies, at Gregorian University Rome where he took doctorate in Church History. Back from Rome, in 1989 he was appointed professor of St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor and Missionary Orientation Centre, Manganam, Kottayam and vicar of St. Sebastian’s Church, Kodinattukunnu. During this period he was instrumental in starting Marthoma Vidyanikethan, the higher institute of |
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religious sciences for the laity, at Changanacherry, with the active support of Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil. This institute is a unique venture affiliated to Paurastya Vidyapitam, Vadavathoor, conferring P.G. degree recognized by the Congregation for Catholic Education, Rome-Rev. Dr. Joseph Perumthottam has been at its helm for the last one decade.
Mar Joseph Perumthottam has been vicar of Mar Sleeva Church, Ponga. He was nominated auxiliary bishop on 24 April 2002 and was ordained bishop by Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil at St Mary’s Metropolitan Church, Changanacherry, on 20 May 2002, the 116th anniversary of the Archdiocese. On 20th January 2007 Mar Joseph Perumthottam was appointed the Metropolitan Archbishop of Changanacherry and was enthroned by His Beatitude Mar Varkey Vithayathil on 19th March 2007 at a solemn function held at the Metropolitan Church ground, Changanacherry. |
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METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS-MAR JOSEPH POWATHIL
Mar Joseph Powathil- P.J. Joseph was born on August 14, 1930
Bishop Powathil was appointed Archbishop of Changanacherry on November 05, 1985 and he assumed charge on January 17 the next year. True to his motto, the ministry of Mar Joseph Powathil as Bishop and Archbishop has been one of dedication and commitment to Truth and Charity. He served as President of CBCI (1994-98), Chairman of KCBC (1993-1996) & Chairman of Education Commission of C.B.C.I. He is at present a member of the Post Synodal Commission for Asia (1998) and founder Chairman of Inter Church Council and an Honourary Member of Pro-Oriente, Vienna. The Syro-Malabar Church in which he was born and brought up was always close to his heart. He was always a devoted son of this Church, and therefore always on the forefront in the struggles for the restoration of its legitimate rights and its identity as an Individual Church. |
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He did a great deal to promote formation based on this identity to priests, religious and the laity. Oriental Study Forum, Dukrana, Christian Orient, Missionary Orientation Centre (MOC), Amala Theological College, Marthoma Vidyanikethan, Zion Retreat House etc. He also founded an Eastern Monastic congregation – Sisters of St. Thomas (SST).
Archbishop Mar Powathil has been a staunch defender of the teachings of the Magisterium. His concern for the poor, the underprivileged and the marginalized was such that he initiated a number of schemes for their development. The Malanad Development Society in Kanjirapally diocese and the various projects of the Changanacherry Social Service Society (CHASS) bear ample testimony to this. Worthy of special mention also are the foundation of Bl. Alphonsa Sneha Nivas for street children and Bl. Alphonsa centre for the terminally ill. Mar Powathil’s pastoral outlook is broad and encompasses the non-Catholics and even the non-Christians. He is well-known in the ecumenical movement (Interchurch Council, Nilackal Ecumenical Trust) and the Church’s fellowship with followers of the other religions. The source of Mar Joseph Powathil’s vision, mission and dedication is undoubtedly his commitment to Truth and Charity, enriched by his solid faith and life in the spirit. |
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