Kochi: A historic day dawns for the Syro-Malabar Church as Archbishop Mar Sebastian Vaniyapurackal is set to be installed as the first Archbishop of the newly elevated Kalyan Archdiocese in Maharashtra. The solemn installation and proclamation ceremony will be held today at St. Thomas Cathedral, Kalyan West, marking a milestone in the Church’s pastoral journey among the Syro-Malabar faithful in western India.
The Holy Mass will begin at 2:30 pm, led by Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil, the head of the Syro-Malabar Church. The Archbishop of Bombay, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, will deliver the homily during the celebration, underscoring the unity and shared mission of the Catholic Church in India. The ceremony will also include a farewell to the outgoing Bishop, Mar Thomas Elavanal, who shepherded the Kalyan Eparchy with dedication for over three decades.
A large gathering of bishops, priests, religious, and lay faithful from across Kerala, Maharashtra, and abroad will witness the historic event. Among the dignitaries attending are Bishop Mar Jose Pulickal of Kanjirappally, Bishop Mar Mathew Arackal, Diocesan Vicars General Rev. Dr. Joseph Vellamattam and Rev. Dr. Sebastian Kollamkunnel, Diocesan Procurator Fr. Philip Thadathil, Minor Seminary Rector Rev. Dr. James Thalachelloor, Pastoral Animation Director Fr. Stanley Pullolikal, and Fr. Varghese Manjakuzhakunnel, Vicar of Nirmalagiri Church. Clergy, religious sisters, lay representatives, and family members of the new Archbishop will also take part.
The elevation of the Kalyan Diocese to an Archdiocese represents the growing strength and vitality of the Syro-Malabar community in western India. Established in 1988 to serve Syro-Malabar Catholics in Maharashtra, Goa, and parts of Gujarat, the Kalyan Eparchy has now matured into a flourishing ecclesiastical territory. With this elevation, the Church acknowledges its significant contribution to evangelization, social outreach, and the preservation of Syro-Malabar liturgical traditions outside Kerala.
As Archbishop Mar Sebastian Vaniyapurackal takes on his new pastoral responsibility, the faithful look forward to a renewed era of missionary zeal and unity within the Church. His installation marks not only a new chapter in the history of the Syro-Malabar Church but also a celebration of faith, service, and cultural heritage among its people spread across India and beyond.