Mary O’Donnell meets theSyro-Malabar community in Derry
The Syro-Malabar community recently celebrated the fifth year of its ongoing catechetical programme in the Derry diocese, with a music-filled ceremony on the theme of Consecrated Life which was attended by Bishop Donal McKeown.
Attired in traditional dress, St Mary’s Syro-Malabar Catholic parish community welcomed all who came along to St Columb’s Church, in the Waterside area of Derry, for the colourful celebration of the faith handed down from St Thomas, the Apostle.
The Malabar Church takes its name from the Malabar Coast of South West India, where the people dwelt who received their faith from St Thomas the Apostle in 52AD. The attribute ‘Syro’ was added as the community had its liturgical celebration in the Syriac language, which Jesus had spoken, and while Malabar is now called Kerala, the Church is now known as the Syro-Malabar Church.
Today, it is the second largest Eastern Church in Catholic communion and constitutes the largest group of St Thomas Christians.
It is a sui juris (individual Church) governed by the Synod of Bishops and headed by the Major Archbishop. The Syro-Malabar Church, with its deep-rooted spirituality and high rate of vocations to priesthood and religious life, can be considered as the most vibrant Catholic community in the world.
It currently has over four million members, with 9,000 priests and 33,000 nuns, and they are very proud of their three saints – St Alphonsa, St Chavara Kuriakose Elias and St Euphrasia.
Focusing on the theme of Consecrated Life during the past year, the families and children learnt about the lives of the saints and they shared this with those gathered for the annual prize giving ceremony, which highlighted the amount of time and attention they devote to learning about and developing their faith.
About 32 families take part in the fortnightly programme, which involves catechetical instructions and liturgical celebration in St Columb’s Church, and it first got underway when Fr JosephKarukayilVarghese was appointed as chaplain of the community in 2010 by Bishop Seamus Hegarty.
Ordained in 1997 in India, as a priest from the Syro-Malabar Church of the Archdiocese of Changancherry, Kerala, Fr Joseph worked in two parishes as a curate and as a parish priest for five years back home. He was greatly involved in the catechetical programme of his own archdiocese and had obtained a Masters degree in Christian Theology, from Heythrop College, University of London, before being sent to minister to the Syro-Malabar community in Ireland, North and south.
The Syro-Malabar community has had a presence in Derry, mainly in the Waterside area, for about 15 years and its catechetical programme has been greatly admired locally for the depth of faith it has instilled in both younger and older members.
The programme caters for children from year one in primary school upwards into adulthood and Fr Joseph is delighted at its success in encouraging members to keep up the practice of their faith and liturgical tradition.
The young people have catechesis on two Sundays each month, during which they follow a curriculum for each class, with examinations at the end of each catechetical year. From Year 1 to 12 they learn about the Holy Trinity and sacraments, salvation history, the teaching of Jesus, the Church and liturgical season, and about the Christian life in society.
The students are divided into four groups to encourage team building, and each group is named after a saint – St Columba, St Patrick, St Thomas and St Francis. Throughout the year, the groups take part in many competitions based on individual skills, such as elocution, essay writing and Bible knowledge, and the winners of each category go on to compete in the Bible Fest, in Belfast.
The children also gather for prayer on the first Saturday of each month for prayer and reflection with the Cherupushpa Mission League – a forum of young people in parishes that helps missions by raising funds and offering prayers, and Fr Joseph is hoping that this will lead to some of the younger members “following the faith of consecrated life, especially in the Derry diocese”.
Happily settled in Derry, Fr Joseph has wholeheartedly embraced the opportunity to help the members of the local Syro-Malabar community keep their identity, by encouraging commitment to their faith and witness in the modern world.
“The identity of the Church is made up of five elements: spiritual patrimony, theological heritage, liturgical tradition, juridical heirloom and artistic treasure,” he says.
As well as helping them to continue with their own tradition and spirituality, the 44-year-old said that he would like to see the Syro-Malabar community “integrate more into local parishes”, so that they feel at home.
“I would like them to become more involved in helping their local parish community to be alive and vibrant.”
Since being appointed to this ministry, Fr Joseph says that he has involved himself in the community’s “socio-cultural and religious events not just as an observer, but as a participant”.
“This has given me an opportunity to understand the problems and challenges that they face as a migrant community. These need to be addressed with proper care and capable guidance,” he says.
“I would hope to discover the extent to which the Syro-Malabar community has something to offer the host Church, more than just their presence and continuing fidelity to their Faith.”
