Kerala archbishop cites scripture to appeal for flood aid

CHANGANASSERY, Kerala (Indian Catholic News) — A Syro Malabar archbishop in the southern Indian state of Kerala invoked scripture to appeal to Catholics for help for flood victims after extraordinary flood disasters left numerous people forced to vacate their homes.

In a circular, Archbishop Thomas Tharayil of Changanacherry, highlighted the “distressing plight of children unable to attend school and of patients forced to endure severe constraints”. Within the archdiocese alone, “across 92 parishes, more than 4,000 families are severely affected by flood distress”.

The Archdiocese of Changanacherry is the largest Catholic diocese in Kerala state. Spread over 8,450 square kilometres, the archdiocese covers five districts.

Heavy showers that battered parts of Kerala in August resulted in at least 15 deaths and seven missing, forcing more than 10,000 people to seek shelter in over 300 relief camps across the state.

Recalling Saint Paul’s exhortation of “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2), the archbishop emphasized that “extending aid to them is our imperative duty”.

The Sunday offertory collection of August 16 was dedicated for flood relief, noting that under the leadership of the social service wing, Changanacherry Social Service Society, “we shall be able to effectively execute rehabilitation and relief activities”.

Appreciation for relief efforts

Archbishop Tharayil said “it is our established tradition to strive to assist everyone without distinction of caste or creed”. Last year, the archdiocese transferred 5,000,000 rupees ($52,290) for victims in Wayanad, a landslide-prone mountainous district in northern Kerala where “72 houses have already been completed” and “construction of approximately one hundred additional houses is currently underway”.

In addition to relief, the archbishop addressed long-term measures, stating that “beyond immediate flood relief, what we fundamentally require are preventive measures and concerted efforts to avert flooding altogether”.

Archbishop Tharayil observed that “it has become a standard pattern to discuss flood mitigation only when floods occur and to forget about it entirely once the waters recede”. He noted that “deepening streams, canals, and lakes would, in itself, control flooding to a substantial degree” and earnestly appealed to the government for effective action.

While thanking public representatives and administrative mechanisms, he highlighted local volunteer efforts. Members of the Syro Malabar Youth Movement “have already volunteered to clean houses inundated by floodwaters,” he said.

 Citing scripture to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep”, Archbishop Tharayil urged members to “strive to transform this calamitous situation into a profound experience of divine grace”.

Full statement available: original Malayalam and AI‑generated English translation.