Kochi: Mount St. Thomas, the vibrant nerve center of the Syro-Malabar Church, turned into a confluence of theological minds and ecclesiastical wisdom on Tuesday as the KCBC Doctrinal Commission hosted a one-day Theological Colloquium, drawing together bishops, scholars, seminary rectors, and thinkers from across Kerala.
The event was formally inaugurated by Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, President of the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC), who emphasized the Church’s need to respond intellectually and pastorally to the cultural currents of the day. Bishop Mar Pauly Kannukkadan, KCBC Vice President, presided over the meeting, while Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil of the Syro-Malabar Church offered heartfelt greetings, commending the initiative for deepening the Church’s doctrinal clarity amidst today’s shifting ideologies.
Delivering scholarly insights, Rev. Dr. Jolly Karimbil from St. Mary's Malankara Major Seminary and Rev. Dr. Augustine Pamplany CST, Director of Aluva Research Center, presented thought-provoking papers addressing the rising tide of rationalist and atheistic movements in Kerala, and their implications for faith formation and pastoral action.
Theological Commission Chairman Bishop Mar Tony Neelankavil welcomed participants, while youth speaker Aleena Kevin and Team Stars Palakkad added a refreshing lay perspective to the academic discourse.
Participants included eminent theologians elected by the Bishops’ Council, professors from major seminaries, and secretaries of various KCBC commissions, making the colloquium a significant space of dialogue between doctrine and contemporary concerns.
As the day’s academic discussions concluded, the KCBC’s formal annual conference commenced at 5 PM, bringing bishops together to deliberate on pressing ecclesial and social issues confronting the Church in Kerala. The session will be followed by a four-day spiritual retreat for the bishops, led by Rev. Dr. Roy Palatty CMI, Spiritual Director of Shalom Media, from August 5 to 9.
This twin gathering of intellect and introspection marks a pivotal moment in the KCBC’s mission to shape a Church that remains theologically sound, pastorally engaged, and spiritually renewed in the face of modern challenges.