New Church Consecrated in Doha

23 May New Church Consecrated in Doha

The St Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, the largest among the Inter-Denominational Christian Church (IDCC) members, was consecrated on Friday at Mesaimeer, in the presence of thousands of faithful.

The blessing ceremony was led by the Syro-Malabar Church head Major Archbishop Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil and Vicar Apostolic of Arabia Bishop Paul Hinder, who had flown in from the Church’s homeland of Kerala, and the UAE, respectively.

Archbishop of Thrissur Mar Andrews Thazhathu, Archbishop of Rajkot Mar Gregory Karotemprel CMI, ad-hoc priest and church construction committee patron Fr Jose Thachukunnel and others participated in the consecration event.

Committee chairman and the ceremony’s general convener Dr Mohan Thomas, IDCC chief co-ordinator Siby Joseph, Fr Simon Cheruvathur, trustees Antony Tholath and Johnson Antony and officials of various committees were among those who attended.

Speaking during the ceremony, Mar Thazhathu described the St Thomas Syro-Malabar Church as a symbol of hope for the migrants from the community.

“The teachings of the Catholic Church has got a better expression in Doha with this Church,” he said while expressing gratitude to HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

The Syro-Malabar Church is an Apostolic Church which traces its origin to the Apostolate of St Thomas (one of the 12 apostles of Christ) who landed at Cranganore (present day Kodungallore, Kerala) in 52 AD and founded seven Christian communities.

It is one of the 22 sui juris (self-governing) Oriental Churches in Catholic Communion, under the Church of Rome, with its own particular characteristics expressed in worship, spirituality, theology and disciplinary laws.

There are 26 dioceses in the Syro-Malabar Church across the globe, with 15 in India. It is estimated that there are more than 3.7mn Syo-Malabar Catholics.

The IDCC complex at Mesaimeer, which houses the places of worship of 28 different Indian Christian denominations, was inaugurated on March 28 this year by HE the Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah.