Bengaluru: The Catholic Congress, a prominent lay movement within the Syro-Malabar Church, has officially commenced its operations in the Mandya Diocese. The inaugural general meeting took place at the St. Thomas Forane Church auditorium in Dharmaram, Bengaluru. The event was formally opened by Mandya Bishop Mar Sebastian Adayanthrath, while K.P. Chakkappan, who has been appointed as the first Diocesan President, chaired the proceedings. In his address, Chakkappan emphasized that the organization will focus on initiatives aimed at safeguarding the faith and addressing the concerns of Malayali expatriates living in Karnataka.
Delivering the keynote speech, Catholic Congress Global President Prof. Rajeev Kochuparampil highlighted the organization's renewed commitment to community development and unity. The seminar session was led by Global General Secretary Dr. Josekutty J. Olickal.
Other dignitaries who addressed the gathering included Treasurer Adv. Tony Punchakunnel, Vice Presidents Benny Antony and Tresalis Sebastian, Secretaries Ross James and Jason Pattery, Diocesan Director Fr. Kuriakose Kollamulil, and office bearers Reena Prince, Lovely Jolly, and Darly Kuriakose. Pastoral Council Secretary Thomas Kalarikkal and various leaders from affiliated bodies also participated.
The Catholic Congress traces its origins back to 1905, when the seeds of a Catholic lay movement were sown during the ‘Forty Hours Adoration’ in Mannanam, Kottayam. The organization took formal shape in 1918 under the name Keraliya Katholikka Mahajana Sabha. Over the decades, it has grown into a mass movement with hundreds of thousands of members, serving as a unifying platform for the Syro-Malabar Catholic laity across the globe.