By Biju Veticad

Kochi, Aug 23, 2020: The Syro-Malabar Church ended its 28th synod calling upon its people to help the nation increase its productivity and encourage agricultural and industrial activities.

As many as 61 bishops from around the world attended the August 19-21 synod held through videoconference because of the health regulations to control the coronavirus pandemic.

The second synod of the year synod addressed the Church’s commitment to the poor at time of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Syro-Malabar Church, the larger of India’s two Oriental Catholic rites, has spent some US$ 7.3 million to help the poor since the country imposed a nationwide lockdown on the midnight of March 24.

The bishops urged their faithful to cooperate with the authorities to help society’s poorest, irrespective of caste or creed.

The synod’s first session was held January 7 to 15 at Mount Thomas, the Church’s headquarters at Kakkanad, a Kochi suburb.

The Church has total 64 bishops heading dioceses all over the world.

Cardinal George Alencherry, the head of the Church, opened the synod reminding the participants that time had come to make fundamental changes in the pastoral care of the faithful.

Other prelates shared what the Church has done for people during the pandemic.

A major topic for discussion was about the socioeconomic consequences of the epidemic on ordinary people. Cardinal Alencherry said the Church should focus on the integral development to help people overcome such consequences.

The cardinal also urged the bishops to work with the authorities to host quarantined expatriates in Church institutions as well as help the faithful achieve some financial security.

“We need to encourage our faithful to boost the nation’s production capacity, encouraging agricultural and industrial activities,” he added,

However, the most pressing issue is ensuring food for all those who have been badly affected by the health emergency. Church authorities, institutions and parishes must help society’s poor, irrespective of caste or creed, the cardinal explained.

The lockdown has led to millions of domestic migrant workers lose their jobs, increasing the number of the extreme poor in the country.
Recognizing that the government alone cannot solve these problems, the Kerala-based Church has offered to help the authorities in all ways possible.

During their deliberations, the bishops expressed appreciation for the parishes that provide rice and vegetables at the entrance of their churches for the needy, who are encouraged to take what they without asking for permission.

A statement issued at the end of the Synod, the bishops urged the faithful to follow Jesus, who got involved with the poor, fed them and created a Church that stands by them, that is a “poor Church,” as Pope Francis often refers.

Cardinal Alencherry thanked the pontiff for making the Church of Saint Anastasia available to the Syro-Malabar community in Rome.

Source: asianews.it