Priests and bishops reach an agreement; Syro-Malabar Church liturgical crisis ends; guideline issued

KOCHI: The controversy surrounding the mode of celebrating Holy Mass in the Ernakulam Angamaly Archdiocese has come to an end with the Syro-Malabar Church accepting the priests' proposal to offer a unified mass in churches where people-facing mass is offered. The church leadership has issued a guideline as per the agreement reached in the discussion between the priests and bishops.

Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and Metropolitan Vicar Archbishop Joseph Pamplany announced that the guidelines were issued as per the decision of the Synod to create an atmosphere of peace in the Archdiocese. The guidelines will come into effect from July 3, Dukhrana Feast. It has also been decided to replace the current Archdiocese Administrative Council.

The main proposal is to offer a unified mass on Sundays and other special days. The solution to the problem was to compromise on the premise that only people-facing masses would be offered. Accordingly, in churches that offer only one mass, one more mass should be offered or the mass should be offered on alternate Sundays. Permission was also granted to continue the current people-facing mass in churches that offer a unified mass.

Four-year dispute

The Synod of the Church approved the unified Eucharist in 2021, combining the people-facing, facing the altar Eucharistic practices that existed in various dioceses. The dispute and conflict lasted for years because the priests and faithful of the Ernakulam Archdiocese, the headquarters of the church, took a stand that this was unacceptable.

“The guidelines that have accepted the demands of the priests will be accepted even if there are disagreements. This is a step that will ease the acute worship crisis.”

Fr. Kuriakose Mundadan,

Secretary of the Priests’ Committee

We will accept in principle and support with conditions while maintaining disagreements. The guidelines are the beginning of a permanent solution to the crisis of the liturgical controversy.

Shyju Antony

President, Laity Movement