Bishops seek official delegation’s from India for canonization

www.mangaloretoday.com

Kochi, Sep 25, 2014:  Kerala bishops have decided to request the federal and state governments to send official delegations to the Vatican to attend the canonization ceremony of two saintly Catholics from Kerala on Nov. 23.

The Kerala Catholic Bishop Council has approached governments requesting official delegation to attend the canonization of Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sr Euphrasia Eluvathinkal, Church officials said.

 

“We have requested the governments to send a delegation. But the KCBC has not nominated anyone to be included in the government delegation. We expect the government would accept KCBC’s request,” KCBC deputy secretary Fr Varghese Vallikkattu said.

Around 1,500 people from Kerala are expected to attend the canonization ceremony in the Vatican at their personal level.

A dedicated cell has been also been opened by the Chavara Cultural Centre in Kochi in association with a private tour operator to coordinate and assist the pilgrims who want to participate in the ceremony.

Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara was a social reformer, publisher, educator and founder of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), the first Catholic indigenous religious order for men in India.

He was born near Alappuzha in 1805 and died at Koonammavu, Kochi, in 1871. Mother Euphrasia was a member of the order of the Sisters of the Congregation of Mother of Carmel, founded by Blessed Chavara. This is a long awaited land mark event for the church of Kerala.