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Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry
Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Kottayam

Message from Archbishop

Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry

18/09/2006

My Dear Knanaya Brothers and Sisters in Chicago,

It is with great delight I understand that you have inaugurated and started using
the first Knanaya Catholic Church outside the Archeparchy of Kottayam. I thank God
and congratulate Fr. Abraham Mutholath and all of you for this great achievement.
Let this church be the source of your spiritual growth and communal love.

I am also glad to know that Mar Jacob Angadiath, the Bishop of St. Thomas
SyroMalabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago will be elevating the Chicago Knanaya
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Catholic Mission as Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Parish on September 24th. That
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also is an important event in the history of our community because this is the first
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parish of Knanaya Catholics outside the Archeparchy of Kottayam.
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I would like to express my sincere thanks to His Excellency Mar Jacob Angadiath
for his great support for our community. I also realize that Francis Cardinal George,
the Archbishop of Chicago and Bishop Thomas Paprocki, the Auxiliary Bishop of the
Archdiocese of Chicago have helped us to realize this dream come true. Please con-
vey my thanks to them also.
The Knanites built up churches wherever they went. This is our history. We built
churches at Kodugalloor, Kaduthuruthy, Kallissery, Ranny and Kottayam. From these
churches our people migrated to the various places in Kerala in search of virgin fer-
tile lands and commercial opportunities. In the 1940's our people migrated to Malabar
areas and we have now around 40 churches and several Institutions in that area.

Inauguration of the new church at Chicago is certainly a red letter day in the his-
tory of Knanaya Catholics. This will pay the way for more churches and institutions
for the Community. Let us grow as a faith community united in the Catholic Church
while keeping our customs and traditions. My congratulations and thanks to all our
Lay people who spend their money, time and energy for this endeavor.

With all prayerful wishes,
Yours sincerely in the Lord,

Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry
Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Kottayam

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