The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): The Syro-Malabar Church has issued a stern warning to priests who do not comply with the directive to celebrate a uniform Holy Mass in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese starting from July 3. Church head Raphael Thattil and Apostolic Administrator Bosco Puthoor, in a circular, stated that non-compliant priests would be treated as having left the Catholic Church fraternity and barred from offering Holy Mass.
“Priests who do not obey our decision from July 3 will be treated as those who have left the Catholic Church fraternity. Such priests will be barred from offering Holy Mass in the Catholic Church from July 3,” stated Thattil and Puthoor in the circular.
The Archdiocese Protection Council, representing priests and laity opposing the directive, rejected the circular, vowing to continue celebrating Mass facing the congregation. Around 300 priests, in a meeting at Chunangamveli in Ernakulam, declared their intention to maintain the traditional practice even after the July 3 deadline.
The conflict stems from the Syro-Malabar Church Synod’s decision in August 2021 to introduce a standardized Holy Mass format, where priests face the congregation only during the first and last parts of the service, turning towards the altar for the remainder. While most dioceses have adopted this 50:50 formula, a majority of priests in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, supported by their laity, oppose it, citing it as a departure from tradition.