KOCHI (UCAN/AsiaNews): The Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala, India, appeared to end on January 14 without any agreement on unifying the style of the Holy Qurbana, the Eucharistic celebration of the Eastern rite, AsiaNews reported.
In a post-synodal circular, major archbishop George Cardinal Alencherry reiterated that the final decision on matters relating to the liturgy belongs to the Synod and the Holy See. No one else has the right to decide otherwise.
The cardinal cautioned that everyone should understand that ignoring the synod’s decision is illicit UCAN reported. “The possibility of discussions is only within the framework of that decision,” he said.
Earlier, a five-member delegation of bishops led by Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry, held prolonged closed-door discussions with representatives of the priests and laity of the Archdiocese if Ernakulam-Angamaly, who have been on a warpath over the mode of celebrating Mass.
A majority of priests and laypeople in the archdiocese want to continue with the traditional mode where priests say Mass facing the congregation. They refuse to accept the synod-approved form, in which the celebrant has to face the altar during the liturgy of the Eucharist.
In a post-synodal circular, major archbishop George Cardinal Alencherry reiterated that the final decision on matters relating to the liturgy belongs to the Synod and the Holy See. No one else has the right to decide otherwise
“The initial talks were successful barring few contentious issues,” a Church source, who did not want to be named, said.
The issues include the removal of apostolic administrator, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, and reinstatement of the former metropolitan vicar, Archbishop Antony Kariyil, as well as allowing visiting bishops and priests to celebrate the synod-approved Mass in the archdiocese.
It was the synod’s decision in August 2021 to impose the uniform mode of Mass across 35 dioceses that triggered a division and conflict.
The five-member delegation of bishops discussed these issues with five priests and five laypeople representing the archdiocese.
“The delegates of the priests and laity refused to have any interaction whatsoever with the apostolic administrator and have asked the synod to withdraw him,” the Church source said.
The bishops gave assurances that their demand would be considered but wanted them to allow visiting bishops and priests from other dioceses to celebrate the Mass in the synod-approved mode.
However, according to UCAN, the source said, “No such concession will be allowed as in other dioceses no such practice exists. The visitors follow the local tradition in liturgy, not their own.”
The priests and laity also opposed a suggestion by the bishops that Cardinal Alencherry offer the uniform Mass five times a year.
The Vatican appointed Archbishop Thazhath as the administrator in place of Archbishop Kariyil, after the latter failed to implement the uniform mode of Mass, on July 30 last year.
However, the appointment further worsened the situation after the archbishop unilaterally ordered the priests to adopt the synod-approved mode.
“The hope of bishops at the synod was to start the process of reconciliation by starting the uniform Mass at the Cathedral basilica at least on Sundays,” Cardinal Alencherry said in the post-synod circular, AsiaNews reported.
The Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly is the second largest diocese in India with more than half a million Catholics, who constitute some 10 per cent of the members of the Syro-Malabar Church.
