St Alphonsa Church on Nudgee Road, known to older locals as St John's, has seen its Syro-Malabar Catholic congregation grow.

The growth has been due primarily to an influx of Indian migrants.

This community continues to thrive, holding daily Masses in Malayalam, its native language.

However the Brisbane Catholic Archdiocese has announced that the 7.30am Sunday Mass for the English-speaking congregation will be cancelled from September.

This decision reflects broader demographic changes as traditional Catholic communities struggle with ageing populations and declining numbers of priests.

Concurrently, Eastern Catholic and Orthodox communities have seen growth.

Ageing population

Statistics from the National Catholic Census Project show a slight increase in the number of Catholics in the area.

The data shows followers rising from 5,410 in 2016 to 5,757 in 2021.

However the local Catholic population is ageing, with 16.7% over 65 compared to 12.7% in 2016. Additionally, the proportion of Catholics born in non-English speaking countries has increased from 11.6% to 14%.

The approximately 50 English-speaking parishioners have been directed to attend Mass at nearby parish churches.

As a result, the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church will become the sole user of the church on Nudgee Road, continuing to serve its vibrant community.

Shortage of priests

The challenges facing the English-speaking congregation of Northgate are not isolated. The Archdiocese of Dublin recently announced that its seminary has just one student.

Ireland's Catholic Church is also consolidating its six dioceses into three. The consolidation comes amidst a declining number of practising Catholics.

Ireland has only 2,100 priests serving an estimated 3.5 million Catholics. Many priests are nearing retirement and, with few seminarians, the future landscape of the Catholic Church in the country faces major changes.

Sources

Brisbane Times

CathNews New Zealand

In his address to a delegation from the Eastern Catholic Church, including Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil, the Pope emphasised the importance of unity over liturgical differences and historical grievances.

The Pope described the dispute over the liturgy as a dangerous temptation to focus on one detail to the detriment of the common good of the Church.

"It is incompatible with the Christian faith to seriously disregard the most holy sacrament, the sacrament of love and unity, by discussing the liturgical details of this Eucharist which is the culmination of His divine presence among us.

"Preserving unity is therefore not a pious exhortation but a duty, especially for priests who have promised obedience and from whom the faithful people expect an example of love and meekness" the Pope continued.

Francis began by reflecting on the ancient faith of the Syro-Malabar Church.

He praised the "vigour" of their faith and piety which is recognised worldwide.

He acknowledged past insensitivity when Western missionaries imposed European traditions on Kerala's Christians.

Francis also highlighted the need to respect the unique heritage of the Syro-Malabar Church.

He honoured the Syro-Malabar Church's historical fidelity, drawing on the legacy of St Thomas, the Apostle of India. He emphasised the value of the Christian East in providing ancient and fresh spiritual sources vital for the Church today.

Unity is a duty

Referring to the ongoing liturgical controversy, the Pope said he had "recently sent letters and a video message to the faithful, warning them of the dangerous temptation to focus on one detail".

This danger, he said, comes from "a self-referentiality, which leads to listening to no other way of thinking but one's own".

And it is here, the Pope warned, that "the devil creeps in", aiming to undermine Jesus' desire that we, his disciples, "be one" (John 17.2).

"For this reason" Pope Francis stressed, "guarding unity is not a pious exhortation but a duty".

Pope Francis remains firm: no concessions for those seeking to divide the Church.

His message is clear—unity and obedience are paramount to maintaining the integrity of the Catholic faith.

"Let us work with determination to protect communion" he urged, "and pray tirelessly that those who refused to accept the Church's rulings on liturgical issues may realise they are part of a larger family that loves them and waits for them".

Sources

Vatican News

Katholisch

CathNews New Zealand

Cardinal Alencherry and four members of the Church's Permanent Synod held detailed discussions with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the secretary of state and Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches on May 4 to amicably settle the five-decade-long liturgy dispute.

"We presented to them the situation in the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly. They listened to us and made an assessment of the situation. The results of the meeting will come in due course," Cardinal Alencherry said in a statement issued on May 8.

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The permanent Synod of Bishops of the Church based in southern Indian Kerala state formed a panel consisting of Archbishop Mathew Moolakkatt, Archbishop Joseph Pamplany and Bishop Jose Chittooparambil at an online emergency meeting on Nov 24.

The panel has been authorised to dissuade the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly from exiting the global Catholic Church.

"The panel was scheduled to meet the leaders of protesting priests and lay people on Nov. 25," an official statement said.

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The protest revolves around how apostolic administrator Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, unilaterally revoked the dispensation allowing priests to celebrate Mass facing the people.

The protesters want to continue with the traditional Mass in which the priest faces the congregation throughout, despite a rule that took effect in 2021.

Under that rule, devised as a compromise, the Syro-Malabar synod ruled that the priest "will face the congregation until the Eucharistic prayer, and then again from Communion to the end of the Mass. From Eucharistic prayers until Communion, the priest will face the altar."

Lay leaders in the Kochi-based Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese launched the vigil on 16 October. Teams of laypeople from different parishes are keeping a 24-hour vigil.

"We no longer want the apostolic administrator to get inside our archbishop's house," says Riju Kanjookaran, spokesman for the Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency.

Pope Francis appointed Thazhath as the administrator of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese in July. He was given the mandate to settle the liturgical dispute caused by stiff opposition to the synod's decision to have uniformity in the celebration of Mass.

Resistance to Thazhath changed on 30 September when he ordered all priests to celebrate the synod-approved Mass immediately and revoked their dispensation.

Most priests publicly defied the order. They continued to celebrate Mass facing the people. They also refused to read out Thazhath's message, announcing the dispensation had been revoked and his order to the priests.

The liturgical dispute in the Syro-Malabar Church dates back nearly five decades, when the church initiated a revision of its liturgy.

The simmering controversy was revived in August 2021 when the synod implemented its 1999 decision to introduce uniformity in Mass across all the dioceses.

All but one of the Syro-Malabar Church's 35 dioceses began following the synod-approved Mass last November.

Thazhath, in a video message, defended his decision, saying he was merely following instructions from the Vatican.

Source

• UCA News
• Crux Now
• CathNews New Zealand

Alencherry is facing criminal charges for controversial land deals, resulting in a loss of about NZ$20million to the archdiocese.

"There are two complaints - writing the deed of the sale of property without even receiving any payment and selling the property belonging to the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese without communicating with any of the committees of the Church," attorney Rajendran V, said.

The Vatican has consented to the Syro-Malabar Church Synod's request to appoint Bishop Antony Kariyil as the Vicar Archbishop.

Kariyil's post has been created to tide over the crisis in the Syro-Malabar Church.

Father Abraham Kavilpurayidathil, press officer for the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala state, said the allegations against Alencherry are part of a coordinated attack against him.

"There have been attempts to defame Alencherry by a small group who constantly demands that he should resign.

"For this purpose, somebody forged a few documents that show Cardinal transacted money to business firms, that he has membership in famous clubs, that he convened business meetings along with some other bishops of the Latin Church of Kerala in a commercial institution etc."

Alencherry's many detractors include priests revolting against him over the land deals.

Kavilpurayidathil blames them for Alencherry's court battles.

"The news as reported is the work of the dissident group as the case itself. It is true that cardinal lost in the lower court, but that is not the end. He will be making appeal to the High Court of Kerala in due time," he said.

Although the the Synod took strong exception to the priests' revolt, it did not take any action against them.

Fr Jose Vailikkodath, who led the rebellion, said he and his confreres were happy a new administrative archbishop had been appointed.

"It is a moment of victory for the priests and a section of laity who led the protest against the Cardinal. But, it is sad that the Synod has failed to find remedy for the financial loss,'' he said.

Source

• Indian Express
• Catholic News Agency
• Image: Deccan Chronicle