By Thomas Scaria
Mangaluru, Dec 4, 2025: Mass was offered in St Mary’s Basilica Cathedral in Ernakulam that was closed for religious service for more than 1,100 days.
The daily Mass resumed from December 1 following instructions from the episcopal vicar of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, Archbishop Joseph Pamplany, and a “no objection” from the Kerala Court.
Riju Kanjookaran, a spokesperson of the ‘Almaya Munnettam,’ a laity organization that fought for restoration of the traditional liturgical practices in the archdiocese, told Matters India December 3 that reopening of the cathedral signalled an “era of peace and compromise” after several years of liturgical conflicts.
“Regular Masses will be congregation- facing, a practice the archdiocese followed ever since the second Vatican Council. One mass on Sundays and feat days will be in the Synodal way,” said Kanjookaran, who expressed the hope that Christmas and New Year will be peaceful and hopeful this time.
The basilica administrator offered the first Mass at 6 pm, facing the congregation.
However, on December 3, Archbishop Pamplany celebrated his birthday in the basilica by offering a private Mass in the Synodal way, attended by the archdiocesan curia and basilica staff.
“We have two more churches that remain closed, including the historical church of Udayamperoor and St. Thomas Church, Nedumbrakkad in Cherthala. We hope they also would be reopened for Mass as well,” Kanjookaran said.
The archdiocese will follow two liturgical styles, as approved by the Syro-Malabar Synod. All churches in the archdiocese will celebrate ‘people-facing Mass’ on all days. On Sundays and feast days, they will celebrate one Mass in the Synod way.
A letter signed by Archbishop Pamplany on October 25 instructed the Basilica’s administrator, Father Thomas Mangattu to offer Mass every day in preparation for the Christmas.
Kanjookaran said 58 cases are pending in the High Court related to liturgical conflicts and majority of them are resolved by now. “Only eight more cases are pending which will be peacefully settled if both parties cooperate,” he added.
The new deacons of the archdiocese will be ordained priests on December 27 at the Basilica in a Synodal way. Howeve4r, they will be allowed to say the ‘people-facing Mass’ in their parishes.
A June 25 agreement permits the archeparchy’s priests to continue celebrating Mass in the people-facing style.
Classical example of clerical obstinancy. Ever since saint Pope John Paul II celebrated the restored Holy Qurbana in 1986, this section of clergy were opposing to it. Rest of the Church could compromise but these obstinant clergy would not compromise. If they cannot be obedient, what is the value of their celebacy which is also a mere gesture of obedience.
Congratulations. This is Gods providence. Praia’s to the Lord