www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Syro-Malabar Catholic Church In The News

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The Syro-Malabar Church, of the St. Thomas Diocese of Chicago, recently purchased what used to be the St. Jeremiah Parish of Framingham, MA in the Archdiocese of Boston. It is the only Syro-Malabar diocese in the United States. [b][color:#3333FF]See full article[/color][/b] [thebostonpilot.com].

Here are some related links:
[color:#3333FF][b]About Syro-Malabar Church[/b][/color] [smcim.smonline.org]
[color:#3333FF][b]Syro-Malabar Catholic Church[/b][/color] [en.wikipedia.org]
[color:#3333FF][b]History of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese, Chicago[/b][/color] [stthomasdiocese.org]

Having only participated in the Melkite Church for three years, this is the first time I have heard of the Syro-Malabar Church. Has anyone been to any of the three forms of their [b][color:#3333FF]Divine Liturgy of Addai and Mari[/color][/b] [easterncatholichymns.homestead.com]? I notice in some places their service is referred to as a Mass rather than a DL. Can anyone clarify why that might be, or is it an error on the authors' parts?

Kathleen,

The Syro-Malabarese are the second largest of the Eastern & Oriental Catholic Churches (only the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church is larger) and the largest of those constituting the Oriental (non-Byzantine) Communion.

This is an interesting conclusion to the story of St Thomas the Apostle Syro-Malabar Mission in Framingham. You can see some background here

What I find really intriguing in Justin's article is the comment that the former parishioners of St Jeremiah's will base their latest appeal to Rome on the fact that the Boston Archdiocese is transferring the parish to another Catholic Rite. Would love to read the rationale on which they will claim that to be contestable It seems that the warm relationship of the two communities may be at an end.

As regards your question about the author's use of 'Mass', it would be more properly termed the Holy Qurbana. However, the Malabarese are heavily latinized and will not uncommonly use the terminology 'Mass' themselves, although the Framingham mission has tended to the proper use generally. I've been blessed to attend the Holy Qurbana of Sainted Addai & Mari once, several years ago.

I see from St Thomas' website [malayalamchurchboston.com], that their priest is now also serving a mission in Nashua and I suspect that St Thomas' has been elevated to parish status. Will need to do some updates to their directory entry.

Many years,

Neil

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Thank you Neil.

Neil,

I'm not sure how to square the information you provide re: the allegedly deteriorating relationship between the Syro-Malabars and the Latins of St. Jeremian's Church, but I just read an article a couple of days ago where it mentioned the warm relationship between the two existed to such an extent that the Syro-Malabars have graciously agreed to allow the Latins to celebrate Holy Mass at the parish once a week (with either the Latin parish priest or a former Latin parish priest of St. Jeremiah's). So that seems pretty warm and fuzzy, and hopefully it is true. It allows the Latin faithful of St. Jeremian's to continue to worship in their church.

Alexis

Alexis,

Inteesting. I'll have to search that out. Until recently, the Malabarese priest was serving the Latin Rite for the former parishioners. My sense regarding the relationship between the two communities was based on the statement that the transfer to the Malabarese would be the grounds for the next appeal by St Jeremiah's former parishioners.

The scenario you present has its own interesting twist to it. I'm wondering if the Latin Archbishop is okay with one of his clergy serving the Mass there, now that the earlier appeal has been denied and he has transferred ownership or is about to do so. The previous arrangement was a bit of a surprise, but the circumstances were somewhat unique, since the church was not being shuttered, as is usually the case, but was going to continue in ecclesiastical use.

Many years,

Neil

Addendum: Just read a couple of the local news stories on the matter. The presumption on the part of the protestors seems to be that the Malabarese pastor will continue to serve a Latin Rite Mass for them on Sundays.

As far as I can tell, Father has given no indication as yet whether this will be the case and I suspect the answer may depend on Cardinal O'Malley being ok with it. The priest has bi-ritual faculties - whether from Boston or elsewhere isn't clear (a lot of Syro-Malabarese priests have such faculties); the question is the 'right' to use them in such circumstances - in effect creating an extra-territorial Latin worship community within a church of his eparchy. Time will tell.

The other interesting tidbit that I found in the articles is the rationale behind the planned new appeal. In effect, they are arguing that by transferring the church to another Church sui iuris, the Archdiocese is depriving the Latin Rite former parishioners of a place to worship, or failing to accomodate their pastoral needs. (Ironically, the latter allegation is akin to that sometimes leveled against Latin hierarchs who fail to provide for E&O Catholics in their jurisdiction who are without clergy of their own.)

Given the very close geographical proximity of several other Latin parishes, this argument would likely be dismissed out-of-hand, as frivilous, were this appeal being mounted in the civil courts. I don't see it going much of anywhere in the ecclesiastical courts either.