By Jose Kavi

New Delhi, August 6, 2023: The protracted liturgical controversy in the archdiocese of Ernakulam seems to get murkier as its faithful on August 6 rejected a circular on the uniform mode of celebrating Mass from the newly appointed delegate of Pope Francis.

Jesuit Archbishop Cyril Vasil, who arrived in Kochi on August 4, issued the circular a day later, addressed to the faithful of the archdiocese, seeking their cooperation to find a solution to the controversy.

Archbishop Vasil was accompanied by Jesuit Father Sunny Kokkaravalayil, professor of Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. His appointment was announced on July 31.

The prelate says he was “personally appointed” by Pope Francis as his delegate to the archdiocese to help it implement the synodal decision on the uniform mode of celebration of Mass, which he says is approved by the Pope.

He urged “the entire community of the faithful in this archeparchy” to organize an hour of adoration in their churches during August 6-15 to pray for this intention. He also wanted people to pray for the same intention during family prayers and recitation of rosary.

“I am fully aware that the successful completion of this task requires the prayers, cooperation and support of all of you, which I earnestly seek,” the circular said.

He says the matter of how to celebrate the Mass has been “a significant concern for our archeparchy and the entire Syro-Malabar Church in recent years. Resolving this issue peacefully and with generosity of hearts will enable us to focus on other important matters to which the Lord calls us.”

He then “earnestly” encourages all to “pray and work diligently towards achieving union of minds and hearts” so that through “our collective efforts, we can find a tasting solution and move forward as a stronger and more united Christian community.”

Archbishop Vasil wanted all parishes in the archdiocese to read the circular during the Sunday Masses on August 6.

However, “Almaya Munnetam,” the archdiocese’s laity front that leads the opposition to the uniform mode, claims all parishes have rejected the delegate’s circular.

“The religious community of Ernakulam is not stupid enough to accept the circular” that was issued without consulting the canonical bodies, priests or other groups in the archdiocese, asserts a press release issued by Riju Kanjookaren, the spokesperson of the laity front.

The laity front has threatened to go to court to obtain information about Jesuit Archbishop Cyril Vasil’s visit to India, if the Church does not release the copy of his appointment within two days.

The press release wonders why the Vatican has not published in its sites about the delegate’s appointment. It suspects the pontifical delegate’s appointment could be fake.

The laity front says Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur, the apostolic administrator of the archdiocese, has tried in the past one year to implement the uniform mode that it says was passed “illegally” by the Syro-Malabar Synod.

“Now another person, claiming to be the Pope’s representation, has come with the same purpose,” it adds. The press release also points out that when Archbishop’s name was suggested as the papal delegate the laity front warned that he had “whitewashed” Cardinal George Alencherry, who faces land sale cases.

“We do not expect justice because he is also a close friend of” Thazhath, the laity front says.

The divisive issue of celebrating Mass has dragged on for more than 20 years and Pope Francis in July 2021 sent a letter to the Oriental Church to find a solution.

A month later, the Synod decided on a uniform mode of the celebrant facing the faithful during the introductory part, during the Liturgy of the Word (three readings of the Bible), and during the concluding part. The celebrant would face the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In other words, the celebrant would face the altar for most of part of the Mass.

The Synod set November 28. 2021, as the date to implement its decision. The date marked the beginning of the new liturgical calendar in the Church. The Synod also decided that the new format would come to force from Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022.

The priests from the archdioceses of Ernakulam-Angamaly and Trichur and the dioceses of Irinjalakuda, Palghat and Thamarassery urged the Synod to reconsider its decision. They wanted the “Synod Fathers” to “publicly admit that they have misled the people of God by portraying the Pope’s letter as a commandment and a decree.”

They point out that the synod decision has only brought anxiety, unrest and conflict in parishes that have been functioning smoothly until now

They also said they have celebrated Mass for the past 50 years facing the people.

The Syro-Malabar Church, which traces its origin to Saint Thomas the Apostle, is the second largest among 23 Eastern Churches in the Catholic fold. It has 34 dioceses with more than 4.56 million members.