Kakkanad – Mar Raphael Thattil, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church and the Metropolitan Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly reaffirmed that there is no change in the decision to implement the uniform mode of celebrating the Holy Qurbana in the Syro-Malabar Church vide the circular no.4/2024 dt.09 June 2024.

The circular stated in strong words that priests who do not follow the instructions laid out by the Syro-Malabar Synod and reaffirmed by the Holy See for the uniform mode of the celebration of the Holy Eucharist after the 3rd of July 2024, shall remain outside the communion of the Catholic Church.

The declaration is stated in the circular jointly issued by the Mar Raphael Thattil and Mar Bosco Puthur, the Apostolic Administrator of the Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly.

Such priests will be barred from performing priestly ministry in the Catholic Church from July 4th without any kind of warning thereafter. The joint circular also states that this decree will be applicable to all priests celebrating the Holy Qurbana in the Syro-Malabar Rite in any part of the world.

Pope Francis have already requested twice through letters and once through a video message to implement the uniform mode of celebrating the Holy Qurbana decided by the Synod of the Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church.

The circular also states that deliberate disobedience of the Synod's guidelines will open the way to schism and thereby excommunication from Catholic priesthood.

Translated form of the circular follows
Joint Circular issued by Mar Raphael Thattil, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church and the Metropolitan Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly and Mar. Bosco Puthur, the Apostolic Administrator of the Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly (No. 4/2024 dt.09 June 2024).

Dear priests, consecrated and lay faithful of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archeparchy,

Blessings and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ to you all!

As you are aware, after being elected as the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, Mar Raphael Thatttil, members of the permanent Synod, Curia Bishop alongwith the Procurator of the Syro-Malabar Church in Rome visited the Holy Father, Pope Francis on May 13, 2024. On the same day, the sermon delivered by the Holy Father in the Consistory Hall of the Vatican Palace addressing the bishops and representatives of the Syro-Malabar Church in Rome, about the history of our Church, the apostolic spirit and Call of God in the Church displayed the approval of our Rite by the Universal Church.

Pope Francis spoke about the liturgical differences that have arisen in our Church during the recent times. The Holy Father's paternal heart is deeply hurt by the fact that his clear instructions rendered twice in writing and once by video message regarding the implementation of the uniform mode of celebrating the Holy Qurbana in the Syro-Malabar Church have been ignored. The Holy father has undoubtedly made it clear in the meeting with the bishops and the speech that followed, that the position of the disobedient is outside the communion of the Church.

We lovingly request once again to all priests and lay faithful of the archdiocese that you understand and obey these words of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church in utmost seriousness.

During the official visit of the Major Archbishop, on May 15, 2024, as instructed by the Holy Father, a meeting was held in the Office of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State; Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, other Archbishops of the Dicastery, Permanent Synod members of our Church; Archbishop Vasil, Papal delegate to Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, and Mar Bosco Puthur. Upon analysing the current crisis in Ernakulam- Angamaly Archdiocese, we are informing you to implement the decisions taken by the higher authorities of the Church in this meeting.

1. There is no change in the decision to implement uniform mode of celebrating the Holy Qurbana in the entire Syro-Malabar Church, which was decided by the Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church and approved by the Holy See, and which was directly requested by the Holy Father Pope Francis twice through letters and once through a video message. The Celebrant (Priest) is to face the faithful from the Bema during the introductory rites, sermon, including and until the recital of the Creed. The celebrant shall face the Altar (in the same direction that the faithful are facing) for the Anaphora and once again face the faithful during the concluding rites after reception of the Holy Communion.

2. Deliberate disobedience to the guidelines of the Holy Father and the Synod of Bishops can open the way to ‘schism’ and thereby excommunication from the Catholic community. As Pope Francis said in his homily on May 13 https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/may/documents/20240513-chiesa-siro-malabarese.html, “where obedience is present, there is the Church. Where there is disobedience, there is schism”.

3. Therefore, as the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church and as the Apostolic Administrator of the Ernakulam Archdiocese, the Holy Qurbana will be offered in the uniform mode from July 3, 2024, as prescribed in the updated ‘Taksa’ of the Syro-Malabar Church, which came into effect on 28th November, 2021. We hereby finally request that you are formally informed of the fact that priests who do not comply with this final instruction of ours and offer the Holy Qurbana in any manner other than the mode prescribed by the Synod of Bishops after the 3rd of July, will be considered to have left the communion of the Catholic Church. These priests will also be barred from performing any priestly ministry in the Catholic Church from July 4, 2024 without further warning. This decree shall apply to all priests who celebrate the Holy Qurbana in the Syro-Malabar Rite.

4. Priests from the Archdiocese serving or pursuing higher studies outside the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese must submit a written affidavit to the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese before July 3, 2024 stating their compliance and willingness to comply with the Synod Resolution related to the uniform mode of offering of the Holy Qurbana. Those who do not give the said oath within the specified time will be barred from performing priestly ministry in the Catholic Church without further warning. This will also be reported to the authorities of the places where these priests are serving or studying for further action.

5. All faithful of the Syro-Malabar Church and especially those from the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese are hereby requested to abstain from Holy Qurbana and any other sacraments if any priest is celebrating the Syro-Malabar Holy Qurbana in any other manner after July 3rd, 2024. This also informs all the faithful participating in the Holy Qurbana celebrated by priests in any other manner, defying the Pope and are excommunicated from the Church shall not be considered as fulfilling their Sunday obligation. We hope that everyone will understand the practical difficulties that arise due to the disobedience of the priests.

6. Marriages solemnized by such priests who are excommunicated by the Church from performing priestly services are ‘invalid’ (lacking canonical validity). Priests who are not approved by their respective Diocesan Bishop cannot administer parishes and institutions or even legally represent them.

7. Seminarians of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly will not be ordained as a Deacon or Priest until they have expressed their willingness to celebrate Holy Qurbana only in the uniform mode prescribed by the Synod.

8. We gratefully remember the priests and the consecrated and lay faithful who have intervened in various ways for the implementation of the Synod's decision. We call upon the faithful of the Archdiocese to serve with vigilance and zeal for the unity of the Holy Qurbana in all the parishes of the Archdiocese and for the entire Archdiocese to remain in communion with the Catholic Church. We expect that the learned enlightened lay faithful of the archdiocese will counter the efforts of vested interests to alienate the Catholic Church and sow the seeds of sectarianism and disbelieve any false propaganda spread through the social media and thus exercise prudence, fellowship and Christian way of living. Let it be reminded that any kind of interventions by those who adhere to the decision of the Church should be evangelical and Christian, and any kind of opposite responses have only caused the Church to be portrayed poorly in the public.

Dear Priests, Consecrated and Laity Faithful of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, the representatives of the Synod held several discussions with some of the priests and laity of the Archdiocese regarding the implementation of the Uniform Mode of Celebration of Holy Qurbana in the Archdiocese. Since November 28, 2021, many recommendations have been put forward to implement the Uniform Mode of Holy Qurbana already celebrated in 34 out of 35 dioceses of our Church, in the Apostolic Visitation of Europe and other expatriate Churches, in this Archdiocese as well. However, the matter has become so complicated due to the blatant disobedience, stubbornness, unecclesiastical and illogical strictures adopted by a few priests and laity, and the never-acceptable slogans and evil propaganda against the Holy Father Pope Francis and Synod of Bishops.

Anyone who stands against the ecclesiastical structure or hierarchy and does not observe ecclesiastical discipline will no longer be allowed to remain in the Catholic Church. We are hence forced to resort to drastic measures.

As the Holy Father Pope Francis called for in his video message, we strongly desire that not even one of you should fall out of communion of the Holy Catholic Church by believing the words of a few priests and other persons with vested interests. In the name of God, we beseech you all to remain united with our mother, the Holy Catholic Church; the head of the Church, the Holy Father; the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church, and with our Catholic heritage formed over the millennia.