Text of Pastoral Letter from Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath

കഴിഞ്ഞ ഞായറാഴ്ച അമേരിക്കയിലെ ക്നാനായ പള്ളികളില്‍ വായിച്ച അങ്ങാടിയത്ത് പിതാവിന്റെ ഇടയലേഖനം നമ്മുടെ വൈദികര്‍ ആര്‍ക്കും മനസ്സിലാക്കാന്‍ സാധിക്കാത്ത എന്തോ കാരണംമൂലം പരമ രഹസ്യമായി സൂക്ഷിക്കുകയാണ്. എന്നാല്‍ അരമനരഹസ്യം ഇതാ അങ്ങാടി പാട്ടായിരിക്കുന്നു. അന്ന് വായിച്ച ഇടയലേഖനം അതേപടി ചുവടെ കൊടുക്കുന്നു. 

Administrator.

Establishment of Sero-Malabar Knanaya Catholic Parishes/Mission

Prot. No.6/2012

December 20, 2012.

Dear and Reverend Fathers and dear faithful of Knanaya Community.

During this period of Advent, let us prepare ourselves in the spirit of prayer to welcome Infant Jesus, born for us as our Saviour.

I would like to recall the instructions given to me by the Congregation for Oriental Churches in Rome

"This congregation foresees a pastoral care which is sensitive to the Knanaya expectation to be served by Knanya priests, but does not make any allowance for endogamy to play a role in defining the membership of faithful in any mission or parish established by the Eparchy"

Based on these instruction, things have been clarified in many occasions. The membership of those Knananities who marry from outside Knanaya has been a question. All Parishes and missions for Knanaya people in this diocese are established only on basis of this instruction.

SO NO PARISH/MISSION IS STRICTLY ENDOGAMOUS

In the analysis of this statement, we understand that those Knananites who marry non-Knanaya , WILL NOT BE EXCLUDED FROM THEIR KNANAYA PARISH. It is true that the Syro- malabar aparish is open to welcome those Knanayites who marry non-Knanaya spouses. If they wish, they can continue as members of the Knanaya parish/mission.

Since family is one unit and its unity is very important, his/her spouse and children will enjoy all pastoral and spiritual care from Knanaya priests at Knanaya parish/mission where his/her Knanaya spouse belongs.  The priests in charge of Knanaya parish/mission should see that the spiritual and pastoral needs of those non Knanaya faithful are fully attended. Family unity and spiritual well-being are our primary concerns.

Mar Jacob Angadiath

Bishop