Challenges faced by the Church have deep spiritual dimensions, says Thattil

The 34th Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church was inaugurated by Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil at St. Thomas Mount, the headquarters of the church, at Kakkanad on Wednesday (January 7, 2025).

In his inaugural address, Mar Thattil, who heads the Church, highlighted the Church’s recent growth in its pastoral mission, including the delimitation of 12 dioceses, the formation of four new ecclesiastical provinces outside Kerala, and the appointment of an apostolic visitor to the faithful in the Gulf region, the Church spokesperson said in a statement.

The Major Archbishop urged the Church to view the challenges it faces as matters of deep spiritual significance rather than mere administrative issues. The synod assembly began on Tuesday (January 6, 2025) with a spiritual session led by Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany, secretary of the Syro-Malabar Bishops’ Synod. Bishops attending the synod spent the first day in meditation and prayer.

The meeting will conclude on January 10. As many as 53 bishops, from within the country and abroad, are attending the synod.