March to Syro-Malabar church headquarters

Members of the archdiocese are protesting against a recent circular on the practice of Mass

Members of the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, who are demanding a continuation of the practice of the celebration of the Mass with the celebrant (priest) facing the congregation throughout the ceremonies should be continued, marched to the headquarters of the Syro-Malabar Church at St. Thomas Mount, Kakkanad on Sunday.

The protest was against a recent circular issued by the synod of bishops of the Syro-Malabar church that the celebration of the Mass should be uniform across the Syrian Catholic church with the celebrant facing the congress for one half and facing away from the congregation for the rest of the ceremonies.

Riju Kanjookkaran, speaking for Almaya Munnettam, a group of lay people, religious and priests calling for more transparency in church administration, said that the synod of bishops should not impose a uniform way of celebrating the Mass on the people. A statement issued by Almaya Munnettam said that the current practice of the celebrant facing the congregation throughout the Mass has been a practice in the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly over the last 54 years.