The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church celebrates the Birth Centenary of its Second Metropolitan Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios in an unrivalled way. The one year centenary celebration (2015-2016) is planned not only to remember the life of this great bishop on this earth, but also to spread his ideology and message to humanity, especially to the Indian society and the younger generation, Fr. John Padipurackal (Director) said in a press meet held here.
As part of the Birth Centenary Celebration, the Syro Malankara Catholic Community in Kuwait, under the leadership of Kuwait Malankara Rite Movement (KMRM) is organizing a Program titled PRANAMAM-2015, which will be held at 9 am on 4 September 2015 at Carmel School, Khaitan. His Grace Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, bishop of Pathanmthitta, will inaugurate the function. The Memorial Speech will be delivered by honourable P.H Abdul Gaffar Moulavi, the Imam of Manakkad Valiya Pally, Trivandrum. He was a close associate of Archbishop Benedict Mar Gegorios in Trivandrum and a renowned scholar and an orator. He will focus of the theme of “Secularism and the Secularist Political Situation of India".
Born on 1st February 1916, at Kalluppara, Kerala, Mar Gregorios entered the Religious Order called Order of the Imitation of Christ or Bethany at the age of 15. He was ordained priest on 24th August 1940. While serving as the Principal of Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum, he was consecrated bishop on 29th January 1953. On 27th January, 1955 he was elevated as the second Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum and the Metropolitan of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. He died on 10th October 1994 after serving the Church and mankind for four decades.
While celebrating the Birth Centenary Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios (2015-2016), The Malankara Catholic Church has decided to spread his vision. It has launched programs attending to the poor such as providing assistance for the marriage of 100 girls from poor families, founding Cancer Care Home (palliative care unit) at Pirrappencode, Trivandrum, promoting Green Revolution, taking up Rural Development programs and distributing Food in Government Hospitals. There are also programs such as giving Scholarships and organizing Centenary Symposium in 100 centres across the world, organisers said.
George mathew (President), Babuji Bathery (General convener), Jacob Thomas (publicity), Sajitha Skaria, Jomon Cherian, K.K. Babu, George Thomas, Jacob Varghese and George Lowrance were also present at the press briefing.
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