Establishment of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Hierarchy
In 1932 Mar Ivanios made a historic pilgrimage to Rome and he met Pope Pius XI. Mar Ivanios received the pallium. He also participated in the thirty second Eucharistic Congress held at Dublin, Ireland. There he met Mr. G.K. Chesterton, who addressed him 'The Newman of India'. Chesterton describes Mar Ivanios as follows, "The dignified Indian gentleman, who represented this faroff triumph in the Orient, had changed his neighbours by bringing them back in to the Roman Communion." On his return from Rome, Mar Ivanios made strenuous efforts towards the building up of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. He guided the church in its commitment of evangelization. Pope Pius XI established the Syro-Malankara Catholic Hierarchy on June 11, 1932 through the apostolic contstitution Cristo pastorum principi. |
Ecumenical Endeavours and Cultural Development of the Society
The chief motive of Mar Ivanios in his efforts of communion with the Catholic Church was to form a single fold of Christ, the Good Shepherd. His motto was "that all may be one" (John. 17, 21). He took great efforts to establish Christian unity in the Malankara community. He sent missionaries to different parts of the land to preach the good news of Catholic Communion. Besides the reunited Bishops and Priests from different Malankara denominations, he welcomed missionaries from the Syro
Malabar Church. Fr. Joseph Kuzhinjalil the founder of the congregation of the Daughters of Mary was a prominent missionary, appointed by Mar Ivanios to work in the southern parts of the land. Mar Ivanios co-ordinated the apostolate of ecclesial communion and that of evangelization at the same time. He was very and considerate to enquire about the missionary needs in various parts of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. He used to pray in the late hours of the night striking on his chest, for the different pastoral needs of parishes and mission stations. Under his leadership about 75 priests were reunited from different denominations of Malankara Church. About 150 parishes including mission stations were established.
The chief motive of Mar Ivanios in his efforts of communion with the Catholic Church was to form a single fold of Christ, the Good Shepherd. His motto was "that all may be one" (John. 17, 21). He took great efforts to establish Christian unity in the Malankara community. He sent missionaries to different parts of the land to preach the good news of Catholic Communion. Besides the reunited Bishops and Priests from different Malankara denominations, he welcomed missionaries from the Syro
Malabar Church. Fr. Joseph Kuzhinjalil the founder of the congregation of the Daughters of Mary was a prominent missionary, appointed by Mar Ivanios to work in the southern parts of the land. Mar Ivanios co-ordinated the apostolate of ecclesial communion and that of evangelization at the same time. He was very and considerate to enquire about the missionary needs in various parts of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. He used to pray in the late hours of the night striking on his chest, for the different pastoral needs of parishes and mission stations. Under his leadership about 75 priests were reunited from different denominations of Malankara Church. About 150 parishes including mission stations were established.