ചിക്കാഗോ മേയ് വുഡ്‌ പള്ളിയില്‍ നിന്ന് മൂലക്കാട്ട് പിതാവിനയച്ച കത്ത്

Monday, December 31, 2012

Dear Your Grace Mar Mathew Moolakatt,

 Let us first wish you all the greetings of this wonderful Christmas season and the New Year. We hope that we find you in good spirits.

We have been selected by the Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Church parishioners as their representatives to formulate a response to the news of North America Knanaya Region Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholam’s request to leave the Kottayam diocese and join the Chicago Syro Malabar Diocese. As we all know, Fr. Mutholam has been a strong leader who has fought for the successful establishment of many Knanaya Catholic parishes and missions in North America. He has endured a lot of mental anguish during his efforts to establish these missions and churches. The Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Maywood, parishioners joined and stood behind him during the many struggles. Our community was the first to enjoy the fruits of his labor by the establishment of our Church. The community has grown considerably in their faith and social life because of this. This is especially true for the children of Sacred Heart families. Even today, many of our children are excited whenever they hear that Fr. Mutholam will be coming to celebrate the Mass with us.

So, it was with great sadness that the families of Sacred Heart Church received the news of Father’s intention to leave the Kottayam diocese. As you know, due to the denial of our right to continue the Knanaya traditions and practices here in North America, the only remaining link we have with our mother land is the priests from Kottayam diocese. Throughout the many years, this link kept us strong and hopeful for the eventual establishment of a Knanaya diocese in North America. Therefore, if our Vicar General or Vicar leaves the Kottayam diocese and joins a diocese that denies our right to practice Knanaya traditions then it is natural for the community to feel let down once again. The news is, especially hard to bear, when it is delivered as the community is preparing to celebrate the birth our Savior Jesus Christ.

After many informal discussions, the parishioners of Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Church decided to request a special parish meeting from the church executives. The trustees agreed to this request and the meeting was conducted on December 30, 2012 after the Sunday mass. All of the parishioners who attended the mass participated in this meeting. After much discussion, including the announcement that the ex-cardination/incardination process have been stopped, the community decided, unanimously, to pass a resolution requesting Your Grace to prevent any procedures and processes (ex: ex-cardination/incardination), that can adversely impact the North American Knanaya Community, of any priests from the Kottayam diocese serving the community in North America. In addition, the community would like to request transparency and their involvement in any future proceedings like this.

Parishioners, also, wanted to request Your Grace that, in the future, when appointing Vicars, Asst. Vicars, and Vicar Generals to the Knanaya Catholic churches, under the Knanaya Region, please make sure that the priests are from the Kottayam diocese only and will remain so during their service to the parish. The Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic church parishioners wish to communicate that they will not be providing any financial or other benefits to the Vicars, Asst. Vicars, and Vicar Generals who cease to remain under the Kottayam diocese.  The parishioners, also, wish to communicate that they will continue to appreciate the support and help of any priests who come to serve us on a temporary basis (ex. Sunday mass, special occasions, etc.). The minutes from this meeting has been recorded and stored in Church for future reference.

We hope your Excellency will understand our pain and accept our apologies, in advance, if we have crossed any boundaries with this letter. Once again, the Parishioners of Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Church, Maywood, wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

(On behalf of the Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Parish, Maywood)

Kurien Thottichira,

Jose Kaniyalil,

Jomon Chakiriamthadathil,

Jaimon Nanthikattu,

Shibu Mulayanikunnel,

cc:

His Grace Arch Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath

His Excellency Bishop Mar Joseph Pandarasseril

Mgr. Abraham Jacob Mutholam, Vicar General (Knanaya Region)

Fr. Saji Pinarkayil, Vicar, Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Parish, Maywood