Kochi: The Latin Church of Kerala will hold a convention on the Mission Congress and Basic Christian Community.
Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro and secretary of the Pontifical Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples Archbishop Protase Rugambwa are expected to attend the three-day convention to be held at the famous Marian shrine at Vallarpadam in Kochi from October 6.
All bishops of the Latin Church in Kerala and Conference of Catholic Bishops of India president Cardinal Oswald Gracias are the other participants.
A 10-year plan of the Kerala Latin Church will be released at the convention. The convention will address various subjects related to the church in the southern Indian state.
Cardinal Gracias will open the convention and Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council president Archbishop Maria Calist Soosa Pakiam will preside over the inaugural session. Archbishop Diquattro will deliver a benedictory address. He will also inaugurate the exhibition being organized as part of the convention.
A reception is being arranged for the dignitaries at the entrance of the Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam. Kerala Region Latin Catholic Bishops’ Council secretary Father William Rajan will lead the prayer.
Bishop George Madathikandathil of Kothamangalam will represent the Syro Malabar Catholic Church while the Syro Malankara Church will be represented by Bishop Joshua Mar Ignatius of Mavelikkara at the inaugural session.
Archbishop Diquattro will be the chief celebrant of the opening Mass at 3 pm. He will vest Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparampil of Verapoly with the ‘Pallium’ (an ecclesiastical vestment). Sessions of the convention on the second day will be held at 22 different centers in Varapuzha, Alappuzha, Kochi and Kottappuram dioceses.
Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph will release the 10-year plan of the Latin Church at a function on the third day of the convention. Archbishop Protase Rugambwa will lead the Mass on the concluding day.
(Source: The New Indian Express)