By Thomas Scaria

Belthangady, Feb 12, 2024: Option for the poor and the marginalized is the only mission of the Syro-Malabar Church in India, asserted Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil while inaugurating the silver jubilee celebration of Belthangady diocese in Karnataka.

Belthangady is the first Syro-Malabar diocese in the southern Indian state, created in 1999, that caters to the migrated Catholics from Kerala. It is spread over in Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Chikmagaluru, and Shimoga districts.

Bishop Lawrence Mukkuzhy, the first bishop of Belthangady, also celebrated his silver jubilee of the episcopal ordination.

“I appreciate the migrant community of Karnataka for keeping alive their faith and giving witness to the people around”, said Archbishop Thattil who also thanked the people of Karnataka for accepting them.

He commended the migrants for keeping their faith alive and giving witness to the people around.

“The Kerala migrants are no more Malayalis, they have become part and parcel of Karnataka. They speak Kannada and are integrated very much into the local culture,” he added.

More than 7,000 people, including 10 bishops from Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara dioceses in Karnataka and Kerala attended the February 11 celebrations. Several social and political leaders were also present.

The yearlong celebrations culminated at the St. Lawrence Cathedral premises, Beltangady, with Mass and a public meeting.

During the year, the diocese built 25 houses for the poor and initiated an educational scholarship for deserving students.

The diocese, started with minimum resources, has now grown to 53 parishes including eight forane churches, catering to more than 30,000 Catholics. Majority of the 5,000 plus families in the diocese are mainly agrarian and live in villages.

The first migration to Karnataka took place in the 1950s following the famine in Kerala. Their spiritual needs were initially met by the Latin dioceses until they came under the care of Tellicherry archdiocese in 1979.

Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala, a Jain pilgrim center near Belthangady, congratulated the Kerala migrants for teaching various farming techniques to the locals and peacefully coexisting with the local communities.

He said he studied in the Jesuit managed St. Joseph’s School in Bangalore and was influenced by the Christian principles of love and service.

Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore congratulated the Belthangady Catholic for their unity in diversity.

Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry thanked the Mangalore diocese for initially providing the spiritual services to the migrant community.

He hailed Bishop Mukkuzhy as a son of the soil who is a widely accepted spiritual leader.

Karnataka speake U T Khader and a senior Minister, K J George, also attended the public meeting.

Bishop Mukkuzhy thanked fellow bishops, priests and the laity community for their support and prayers in the past 25 years.

He too reiterated that the diocese will continue its option for the poor and the marginalized.