(33) SPECIAL MEMORIAL CEREMONY At YELLAREDDY

Dear Revered Fathers, Sisters and Brothers, Well-wishers, and Friends,

Greetings from Provincial House, Bellampalli!
We would like to inform you about a SPECIAL MEMORIAL CEREMONY on the 30th day of the Martyrdom of our Beloved Fr. Thomas Pandippally CMI at Yellareddy, on the 13th of September 2008. The Memorial Ceremony includes Special prayers, Holy Mass, Peace Rally etc…

His Grace Marampudi Joji, the Archbishop of Hyderabad, and Vicar General of the Archdiocese, will be present for this ceremony.

On this occasion, you are cordially invited to partake and witness these memorable moments and accord a fitting honour and tribute to our Fr. Thomas Pandippally, who underwent a bestial death and shed his last drop of his blood for the Lord in the darkest night of the 16th of August 2008.
Even after the long investigation and police enquiry, we have not received a convincing and sensible cause of the brutal murder. So many questions remain in our minds. Why he was murdered so? Why so many anomalies in the explanations given by the police? A lot more questions . . . ????

Kindly partake in this memorial ceremony to show our great honour and respect to our Beloved Fr. Thomas Pandippally CMI.

Time : 10.30 am
Date : 13th Septemebr 2008
Day : Second Saturday
Place : Yellareddy

Kindly accept this as an official and personal invitation.
Please pray specially for this function so that everything may run smoothly.
May our Blessed Mother bless all her children and protect us from all harm!

At the same time, HAPPY FEAST DAY TO ALL on the nativity of Our Lady!!
Looking forward to seeing you all at Yellareddy,
On behalf of Fr. Provincial CMI
Fr. Thomas T Chittettu CMI
Secretary to Fr. Provincial
September 8, 2008

thomastc18@gmail.com

(31) Memorial to Fr. Thomas Pandippally at Chavara Hills, Kakkanad

A Memorial Mass and Gathering were held at the Prior General’s House, Chavara Hills, in memory of the late Fr. Thomas Pandippally CMI and those who were killed in the communal violence in Orissa, on Saturday, 30th September, 2008, at 10.30 am. The Main Celebrant of the Holy Liturgy was Mar Antony Chirayath, Bishop of Sagar. Among the concelebrants were Fr. Prior General, the members of the General Council, CMI Provincials of South Indian provinces, Superiors General of V.C., C.S.T and MCBS Congregations and more than 150 priests from various congregations and dioceses. Besides, a huge number of religious sisters and lay people, including the family and parishioners of Fr. Pandippally participated in the Mass and the gathering. Fr. Job Vallippalam, a relative of Fr. Pandippally, preached the homily.

The Mass was followed by a Memorial Gathering for Peace presided over by His Eminence Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, who gave the key-note message. Thomas Mar Kurillos (Archbishop of Thiruvalla), Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Karikkassery (Auxiliary Bishop of Verapoly), Mar Gregory Karotemprel (Bishop of Rajkot), Mar Vijay Aanand Nedumpuram (Bishop of Chanda), Mar Mathew Vaniyakizhakeyil (Bishop of Satna), Mar Thomas Thuruthimattom (Bishop of Gorakhpur), Mar Antony Chirayath (Bishop of Sagar), Mar A.D. Mattam (Retired Bishop of Satna), Rev. Fr. George Kizhakemury (MCBS Superior General), Rev. Fr. Joseph Chathanatt (CST Superior General), Rev. Fr. Varghese Pudussery (V.C. Superior General), Sr. Celia FCC (Mother General) and Adv. Charlie Paul spoke on the occasion. Rev. Fr. Joseph Panthaplamthottiyil, Prior General, welcomed the gathering and Rev. Fr. Jose Kuriedath, General Coucnillor for Education proposed Vote of Thanks.

A Resolution conveying our condolence to the family and friends of Fr. Pandippallly, condemning the crime committed against him and the Christians of Orissa, and calling on the authorities of the Central and State Governments to take measures to stop violence and re-establish peace and punish the guilty was passed by the gathering. About 600 persons from all walks of life – priests, nuns and lay persons - attended the gathering.

Contributed by Fr. Jose Kuriedath CMI, CMI General Councillor for Education and Communications

(29) Celebration of Holy Mass in memory of Fr Thomas Pandippally CMI at his home parish, Cheenkallel.

This photo was released on the day of memorial Mass, celebrated, a week after his martyrdom, in his home parish at Cheenkallel, Monippally, Kottayam, Kerala, India.

Thanks to the parish community for remembering and celebrating the life of the martyr.

May Fr Thomas raise all the prayers of his own family, friends, neighbours and parish community to the Father in heaven.

Writings in Malayalam 'Paying Homage to Fr Thomas Pandippally CMI, Cheenkallel Parish.'

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Tim 4:7.

(24) Memorial Mass for Fr Thomas Pandippally CMI

Fr. Thomas (Kunjumon) was born in Cheenkallel as the sixth of the seven children of his parents in the district of Kottayam on 12-7-1971. He joined the CMI Congregation in 1987 and made his first profession on 19-3-1992. After taking a bachelor degree in science from Christ College, Bangalore, he studied Philosophy at Darsana Philosophate, Wardha and Theology at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Poona. After his ordination in 2002 he taught at Jeevandan School at Yellareddy for three years until he was assigned as the Rector of Aspirants at Nazareth Bhavanam in Bellampalli. He returned to Yellareddy in April 2007 to become the Director of Jeevadan Centre, Parish Priest and Correspondent of Jeevadan School where he shed his blood at the hands of enemies.

To pray for Fr. Thomas as well as to seek his intercession we have a concelebrated Memorial Mass today at 10.30 am at the Prior General’s House, Chavara Hills, Kakkanad. It is to be followed by a memorial gathering presided over by his Beatitude Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, Major Archbishop, our missionary bishops and other dignitaries. All the members of CMI Congregation as well as all others including priests, sisters and faithful are invited to attend the Memorial Mass as well as the gathering.

All who are not able to be present there physically can express our solidarity by saying a prayer and logging it in by clicking ‘vote’ in this blog.