Kochi: The 29th Synod of the Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church got under way on August 16 at its headquarters in Kochi, Kerala.
The deliberations of the Synod, led by the Church’s major archbishop, Cardinal George Alencherry, are being conducted online because of the coronavirus pandemic.
A total of 61 bishops from India and abroad are participating in the August 16-27 Synod, a Church spokesperson told reporters.
Two hours of each day are set apart for interactions among the Synod members in view of the differences in the time zones of the participants.
Besides India, the bishops are stationed in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States.
One of the key issues that will come up before the Synod is the way Mass should be celebrated.
There have been differences of opinion over the issue. While there is a group that has argued for the Mass being celebrated facing the people, there is another group that advocates the more traditional celebration of the Mass with the celebrant facing away from the congregation.
A group of 466 priests from the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese has written to the Vatican demanding that the Mass should be celebrated with the celebrant facing the people.
The group of priests said that the practice had been on in the archdiocese for the past 50 years and it should be continued.
Similar petitions are learnt to have been sent to the Vatican from dioceses where “people-facing” Mass is celebrated.
Meanwhile, Almaya Munnettam, a group of reform-minded Catholics in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly demanding more transparency in church administration, has protested against Cardinal Alencherry heading the Synod.
The group staged a protest in front of Mount St. Thomas, the headquarters of the church at Kakkanad on Monday.
A spokesperson for Alamaya Munnettam said that since the Kerala High Court had said that the Cardinal should face trial, he should step down from his position.
The group also reiterated its demand that the Cardinal should make good the loss suffered by the archdiocese on account of the sale of lands that belonged to the archdiocese.
Source: thehindu.com
Does it make any difference to the faithful whether the priest standing facing the altar or facing the faithful? Facing the people will be more appropriate because it will be more connecting with the faithful. It is an irrelevant subject. Wasting the time of the Synod discussing an irrelevant subject is a criminal act. There are many subjects that deserves more urgent attention. Discussion must be centered on how to find Christ again.
Building churches spending crores of rupees must be stopped permanently. Now each parish is competing with other parishes in raising the money spend in building the church. This money must be pooled to help the needy and for effective full participation of the parish and the diocese. Present practice is fund collection for everything. This practice must be discontinued. Christ will not be present in the churches built with crores of rupees when there are people with really deserving needs in the parish and the diocese.
Let us hope those who are responsible for the conduct of the Synod will rethink the priorities.