Syro Malankara Church marks Catholicos Day with renewed missionary call

Message urges faithful to spread the Gospel, lead others to the true faith and deepen participation in Year of the Liturgy celebrations.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Kerala (Indian Catholic News)—Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal has called on members of his Syro Malankara Church to embrace “the mission of spreading the Gospel message to those who do not know Christ” and to lead others “to the true faith by sharing our life of holiness and good examples,” in his message marking Catholicos Day.

The Feb. 1 message, issued for Catholicos Day-2026, commemorates the 21st anniversary of the elevation of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church as a Major Archiepiscopal Synodal Church with self-governance.

“We celebrate the 21st anniversary of the elevation of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church as a Major Archiepiscopal Synodal Church with the power of self-governance as Catholicos day on 1st February 2026,” states the circular that was read during the Feb. 1 Sunday Mass in all its Churches, Mission centres and Places of worship.

Describing the Church as “the mystical body of Christ and we are its members”, the Major Archbishop said the community has been “engaged in the effort to build up the Church of Christ throughout this time”.

Cardinal Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, urged the faithful to give thanks, quoting Scripture: “Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.”

“We, as a Church, continue the missionary ministry that Venerable Mar Ivanios began in 1930,” the message said, recalling the founder’s sacrifice “for the sake of the proclamation of the Gospel”.

Quoting his predecessor’s final sermon, the circular repeats: “Be proud of being Catholics. May your holy life and good example be a guiding light for the non-Catholics. You should reflect in yourselves our loving Lord, the Messiah”.

Year of Liturgy and centenary preparations

Looking ahead to the 2030 centenary of the Reunion, the Church has set aside a preparatory period “for the renewal of the entire Church and for the strengthening of various ministries”.

It notes that the celebration of the ‘Year of the Word’ “helped us to delve into the Word in the fullness of the Holy Spirit and live it” and highlights the ongoing ‘Year of the Liturgy’ from September 20, 2025 to September 19, 2026.

“The liturgy is a precious treasure handed down by our Holy Fathers. We have received the calling to protect it in holiness and sanctity and to glorify God through it,” the circular says.

Citing Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Vatican II document on the liturgy, the public prayer of the Church, it adds: “In the liturgy the whole public worship is performed by the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the Head and His members. From this it follows that every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the priest and of His Body which is the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others; no other action of the Church can equal its efficacy by the same title and to the same degree”.

The Church currently carries out its mission through “its 12 eparchies, the Apostolic Visitor’s Office in the UK for European ministries, and through the Mission centres in other countries”.

The circular also announced that the 30th Ordinary Episcopal Synod will be held from Feb. 23 to 27, 2026 at the Catholicate Centre, urging the faithful “to pray for the Synod to be a blessing”.

On Catholicos Day, it directs that “after Holy Mass, the Catholicos flag should be hoisted and the Catholicos Day Pledge should be recited in all our parishes, institutions and mission centres”.

“May the mercy and blessings of God be upon you abundantly forever!” the message concludes.