From the bottom of our heart, each and every community loving Knananite want to express our gratitude and appreciation for providing us with one of the best Conventions in the history of KCCNA. A superbly organized convention, with absolutely no security incident. Each and every sub-committee performed their assigned task with skill, professionalism and conviction.
Our brothers and sisters in Tampa proved that they believe in results, not in stage dramatics. The Tampa community is the hero. It is the hundreds of volunteers who worked so hard, tirelessly, enduring numerous sleepless nights, continuously. There is no doubt that some in the KCCNA executive committee also worked extremely hard, and without any payback intentions. We salute each and every one who selflessly spent so much of their time and energy, for providing us, your community compatriots, the privilege of participating in an extremely memorable family get-together. In one word, we had a wonderful time.
The 2012 Convention was special in that from the very beginning, KCCNA experienced tremendous amount of challenges. Commencing from the Chicago venue fiasco, and culminating with the bishops' boycott, our bi-annual get together faced seemingly insurmountable roadblocks and "paaraas." The plethora of vicious and negative campaign, not only initiated by the very highest individuals in our hierarchical order, but also blessed and actively promoted by them, was designed to teach the non-conforming "Almayar" (which loosely means illiterate bunch), a lesson. The ferocious and nasty intimidation tactics of these sadists were almost successful, if it were not for the vigilance of KCCNA executive committee led by Dr. Shiens Akasala, Tampa executive committee led by Jose Uppottil, and the convention chair, James Illickal.
It is in this backdrop one looks at this convention and conclude "what a superb job". "adipoli". To many, the great time we had due to the commendable organizational superiority of the convention is the end result, however, in my view, it is a lot more than that. The very existence of KCCNA, as an independent, vibrant community organization was at stake. Tampa, you crushed the evil forces who were bent upon destroying the organization and community. This outcome is a lot more fundamental with long term consequences, than everything else.
Thanks, Tampa.
Please download (CLICK HERE) the document, which will introduce you to the selfless men and women, girls and boys, who worked so tirelessly so that we could have a great time.
Sonny Poozhikkala
Congrats Tampa and KCCNA
ReplyDeleteWhat next? How to make sure next KCCNA Executive is not self defeating anti-KNA?
ReplyDeleteNow the convention is over. Everything is clear. The attitude of the head of knanaya has been established.
ReplyDeleteNow no need to go after the Bishop who thinks it is the right of the exogamous to be members in knanaya parishes
or after the VICARS who support's the Bishop's view of membership, failing in their responsibility to stick on to the cause of the Community.
They dont want us or the Community. They dont love the Community or its members, but only their money! They want the address of KNANAYA to enjoy all the comforts it gives.
They are truly selfish and power-hungry. They never practice what they preach. It only for the laity to obey whatever they say. They are not dependable. Has no credibility, accountability or transparency. Not trustworthy. They cheat people by keeping the membership criteria in knanaya parishes a top-secret till they complete collection of contributions and till the end of Satabdi!!!
So, it is time for the KCCNA and KCC leadership to be strong on the side of the Community to show their mettle, courage and devotion. The whole community will be behind Mr. Shiens and Muprappally if they stick on preserving endogamy in knanaya. The majority who are silent too are actually your supporters. When the time comes they will prove that.
It is the KCC and KCCNA who have to save the Community from extinction. No doubt that the whole knanaya people depend and believe you in this matter.
Let the clergy make the rules for the Sabha only and not for the Community if they cant be loyal to it. They should have remembered that they are put in charge of the Diocese and parishes only because they members of the Community. They collect money, become rich and then rule over the same people who paid them. They are not even the elected representatives of the faithful to exert any authority on them!
These very Knanaya Bishops and Priests have a new found respect for the 1986 rescript by Moosa and they tend to believe it completely. At the same time they have no respect for the 100 year old order from the Pope.
DeleteThey have no problem in accepting the argument that the Pope is wrong but Moosa is right. WHy? Why can they not fight with their people and implement the words of the POPE, but instead fight to implement the words of Moosa? Can these Knanaya priests in America explain this strange behaviour during next sermon or in Church bulletin please?
I am very happy. BECAUSE I have been advocating separation of the church from the community for a long time. No one can be a knanaya bishop and a catholic bishop at the same time. There is a conflict of roles and a conflict of interests there. So KCCNA has two options left: keep your knanaya pure blood to yourself and be ordinary members of ordinary parishes where non-knanaya also are potentially members, OR leave Catholic Church and have your own group calling yourself any name you like.
ReplyDeleteYou say "No one can be a knanaya bishop and a catholic bishop at the same time"...That is why my lost brother the holy POPE created an exemption and tied the two words together to create a sperate word in the Vatical Dictionary called "KNANAYA CATHOLIC BISHOP". Go figure or keep complaining!
DeleteOK, Mr/Ms Anonymous, If knanayas are separate their clergy and religious must be banished from everywhere where there is no or little knanaya population. Let their bishops and priests minister to knanayas alone. The jurisdiction of Archbishop Abraham Viruthakulangara must be restricted to ministering to knanayas who live at Nagpur because he is knanaya. Bishops, priests and nuns who are knanaya and who live outside Kerala must be restrained from ministering to non-knanaya people outside Kerala. The term "Knanaya Catholic Bishop" in Vatican's dictionary must then mean Knanaya bishop for knanayas. So All outer-Kerala knanaya clergy and religious should be banished to Kerala.
DeleteKnanayas are separate only when separate parishes and diocese are allowed for them by the Catholic church. Then only they should be managed by knanites alone. If not, they are simply Syro-Malabar.
DeleteSo the clergy need not be banished as they are Catholics and SM. So, they could be bishops and vicars in any SM parish. Even now no rule prevents them to be bishops of Changanacherry, Palai, Kanjirappally etc. dioceses as they are SM catholics!
If the above commentator has been advocating and sincere about the saperation of Church from the community, then he should work hard to implement it in the Syro Malabar community. It is there that the Syro Malabar Church & Diocese consumed the vibrant Syro Malabar community of NorthAmerica.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you take the saperating of Church & Community argumment to Angadiath Bishop and see what happens. Hypocrate!
Correct. 'Saperation of church and community' is a politicians way of saying that NO more community organisations and keep ONLY Churches. As you pointed out this is exactly what happend in zyromalabar churches of america.
DeleteIt is interesting to see the blogger (Anonymous August 2, 2012 2:36 PM) say that KCCNA has two options. Dear blogger, thank you for the suggestions but Vadhi-Predi-Akelle. Let me start by reminding you that the 'K' in KCCNA stands for 'Knanaya' and all the members of the association are Knanites. Similarly a church that has the word 'Knanaya' on its name board should stand for its true word. Thats all KCCNA and all local associations are saying.
ReplyDeleteOne of the option the writer says is to "be ordinary members of ordinary parishes where non-knanaya also are potentially members" - Well, thats what we 100's of us have already said in so many previous blogs. We have no problem with us being part of any ordinary churches. BUT if a Knanaya priests want to take money from Knanaites to purchase a church and use the name 'Knanaya' on the church and all its documents and then give all kind of spin as to why they can call it a Knanaya church but cannot honor the centuries old meaning of the Knanaya word and cannot give membership for knanayites, please explain to me how did it become a Knanaya chruch in the first place? Its just a regular Syro Malabar Malayalam church (what he calls ordinary parishes).
The second option the author suggests is to "leave Catholic Church and have your own group calling yourself any name you like" - That option is a failed point because KCCNA, KCC, local associations and no Knanite has ever questioned our allegiance to the Catholic faith. All we have said is give us a Knanaya catholic church for the knanaites by the knanaites. If you cannot provide us with that simple thing then fine we will be part of any Catholic church convenient to us. But if we have to contribute big money and travel 5-25 miles and pass many good Catholic churches to bring our families to a 'Knanaya' church, then that church better be a true Knanaya church, not a fake or watered down knanaya church.
So actually the options are other way around - The Knanaya churches are the ones who have employed lies and deception during this past 10 years and now have 2 Options.
(1) If they call the Church a KNANAYA then keep the membership for Knanites OR
(2) Remove the word KNANAYA from the churches name and call it a SYRO MALABAR CATHOLIC CHURCH and give membership to everybody who asks for it, including the lost-brother who commented above. No problem.
But don't call it a Knanaya church, take money from Knanaya, not give membership to knanayites, try to change the definition of knanaya. Athu Pallil-Parunjal-mathi.
This new chapter has just started friends. For the past 10 years nobody was understanding what was going on behind the seens. Only during this past 6-10 months due to all these blogs the truths, lies, deceptions, manipulations, new definitions etc is coming out.
The knanites kept their communal feelings quite out of the church and went on well with the other SM in the regular SM parishes.
ReplyDeleteIt is the SM that looked upon the knanites as communal. Otherwise when Mar Makil was Changanachery bishop, they need not have to disapprove him as the Catholic bishop of the whole Syrian Christians. They were reluctant to accept him as their bishop and objected to his appointment. So, who is communal?, SM or knanites?! It was only the SM that separated the SM and the knanaya community.
If we think of merging knanaya diocese with SM, does the Syro-Malabar ready to be ruled by the knanaya bishop?! If they make an assurance, then the knanaya might think of the possibility. Then the knanaya might look after the community matters outside the church. Anyhow, they will never abandon their beloved traditions.
Are you ready, SM ?! Then put up a proposal.
the above comment is very true. for example in Chicago the very first Kerala catholic priest who was appointed as spiritual director of knanaya and non- knanayas was fr. chollampel (knanaya). this upset the non knanites and they refused to accept him and sent letters to their native dioceses in Kerala for vadakkan priests.
Deleteeven in kerala they claim to be good Christians for converting many dalits to syro malabar but they wont let these dalits sit in their churches, so they construct separate churches for them sarcastically called "pelaya palli".
If Knanaya churches are against Syromalabar catholic faith, go and ask Mar Angadiyath, why he created a separate VG position for Knas or why HE created a Knanaya mission or even a mixed Knanaya parish? What was the purpose of creating it? Why didn't he boldly say that having a Knanaya diocese is against catholic faith and hence he cannot approve a Knanaya or mixed Knanaya parish?
DeletePeople should go to (www.syromalabarvoice.blogspot.com) and (www.almayasabdam.blogspot.com) to see what is really happening outside the knanaya community in the Syromalabar church itself. Then you will see the true face of the syromalabar church and clergies.