Bijnor Diocesan Cathedral Consecrated
By Fr. John Chakkanatt CMI, SAR NEWS
BIJNOR, Uttarakhand (SAR NEWS) – Major Archbishop George Alenchery of the Syro-Malabar Church consecrated the Mrtyumjaya Masih Mandir, the cathedral church of Bijnor Diocese.
The church is situated in Kotdwar, one of the two entry points to the Himalayas, on the banks of River Kho in the State of Uttarakhand.
The consecration ceremony, October 31, was attended by Archbishop Albert D’Souza of Agra, Bishop Gratian Mundadan CMI, Bishop Emeritus of Bijnor, Bishop John Vadakel CMI of Bijnor, besides all twelve bishops of the Agra Ecclesiastical region which comprises the States of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan, bishops from Jagadalpur, Satna, Delhi, and Sagar, a host of priests, religious and the lay faithful.
Father Jose Panthaplamthottiliyil CMI, the Prior General of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate representing the entire congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMIs), was one among the chief consecrators.
Prayers, readings and words of anointing took place amid chanting of the Psalms and sacred hymns in Hindi and Sanskrit.
Archbishop Alenchery in his felicitation speech said the cathedral was a perfect worship centre and one of the best in the Syro-Malabar Church liturgically, aesthetically and culturally.
Archbishop Albert D’Souza, speaking impeccable Hindi, reminded the people how the presence of the Divine was felt when Archbishop Alenchery began the consecration ceremony.
Most Rev. Gratian Mundadan CMI, the first bishop of Bijnor, started the construction of the cathedral in 2001. Father John Vadakel CMI (the present bishop) took up the construction of the church and Father Biju Vadakkel CMI completed it.
The cathedral is a unique symbol of religious unity of Catholic (universal) identity in this land of gods (dev bhumi) where Jesus Christ is represented as one who conquered death, Mrtyumjaya Masih.
The Diocese of Bijnor was erected in 1972, comprises the Garhwal districts of Uttarakhand State and Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh. The diocese was entrusted to the members of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate of the Sacred Heart Province Kalamassery, Kerala.
The diocese has 53 diocesan priests presently serving in the diocese and over 200 religious sisters from various congregations working in all spheres of service to the people like schools, hospitals, centres for the destitute.
