Syro-Malabarians celebrate sainthood in Secunderabad

Hyderabad: In connection with the canonisation of Blessed Chavara Elias Kuriakose, a Carmelite priest, and Blessed Euphrasia Eluvathingal, a Carmelite nun, as saints by Pope Francis at St Peter’s Square in Vatican, the Syro-Malabar Catholic community celebrated at St Francis Chapel in Secunderabad on Sunday.

The faithful took part in the religious service and a procession was taken out in the premises. The pope had earlier accepted the miracles taken place by the intercession of both of them and on Sunday, named them as saints.

Rev. Fr Thomas, priest-in-charge of SMCC, Secunderabad celebrated the mass and said though both saints were from Kerala, they shouldn’t be confined to the place.

“Now that they are saints, not only people from India, but people throughout the world can turn to them and seek their intercession,” he said.

“As many are still not aware of these saints, we are planning to come up with booklets and other study material about them which will be distributed”, he said.

Saint Chavara (1805-1871) was the founder of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, which is known as the first congregation for men in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. He was born to Iko Kuriakose Chavara and Mariam Thoppil at Kainakary, near Allappuzha in Kerala.  He began his studies under the parish priest of St Joseph Church and joined a seminary at Pallipuram. He was ordained priest on November 29, 1829.