The laities of the Syro Malabar Church in Melbourne submit the following appeal to Mar John Panamthottathil, the Bishop of the Syro Malabar Church, Melbourne, regarding the current liturgical crisis related to the Holy Mass.

Your Excellency Mar John Panamthottathil,

Warm greetings to you from the Syro Malabar laities from Australia. We are writing this petition to bring a few important points to your attention regarding the current liturgical crisis related to the Holy Mass and the difficulties arising in our communities.

As we are all aware, Pope John XXIII called the Second Vatican Council because he felt the Church needed "updating" (in Italian: aggiornamento). The Council identified that, in order to better connect with people in an increasingly secularized world, some of the Church's practices needed to be improved and presented in a more understandable and relevant way. Major changes followed in the Church’s practices, emphasizing the concept of the laity as the People of God, with bishops and priests as the servants of the People of God. Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, stressed the need to restore "the full and active participation by all the people."

Following the steps of the Second Vatican Council, most churches chose to celebrate the Holy Mass in a way that , Priest and God's people Gathering around our Lord's table (Altar or Communion table) Mass Vs Populum in their own languages, due to several benefits:

1. Witnessing the Mystery of Salvation: The great benefit of gathering around the Lord's table is that the people of God are able to witness the mystery of salvation, which helps them grow in faith. This allows them to meditate on the great gifts that God the Father gave us, the Son saved us by His sufferings, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit throughout the Church.

2. Enhanced Sense of Community: The priest facing the people fosters a sense of community and togetherness, emphasizing that the Mass is a communal celebration. It allows for better visual and verbal communication between the celebrant and the congregation.

3. Liturgical Participation: This orientation encourages active participation from the faithful, as the celebrant is seen as our Lord the Jesus Christ,  rather than a distant figure. The openness of this orientation allows the congregation to feel more involved in the liturgical actions.

4. Pastoral Approach: From a pastoral perspective, this orientation is considered more approachable and relatable. The priest’s visible role as the shepherd of the community makes the faithful feel more connected to him and the liturgy.

5. Cultural Integration: The versus populum orientation helps integrate the cultural practices of the local community with the liturgical practices of the Church, making the Mass more relatable and meaningful for the faithful.

6. Youth Engagement: Engaging the youth in the liturgy is crucial for the future of the Church. The versus populum orientation can make the liturgy more accessible and engaging for young people, helping them feel more connected to their faith.

7. Inclusivity: The versus populum orientation promotes inclusivity, making all members of the congregation feel valued and included in the celebration of the Eucharist.

8. Spiritual Growth: By fostering a more inclusive and participatory environment, the versus populum orientation can contribute to the spiritual growth of the faithful, helping them deepen their relationship with God.

The Second Vatican Council emphasized greater lay participation in the liturgy, and versus populum is seen as an embodiment of that vision. It aligns with the modern understanding of the Church as the People of God participating together in the liturgy.

The laity of the Syro Malabar Church in Melbourne hail from different dioceses in Kerala, which have rigorously followed the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. Eparchies like Ernakulam-Angamaly, Thrissur, Irinjalakuda, Palakkad, Mananthavady, and others have celebrated the Holy Mass versus populum for generations. For the laity from these dioceses, the Mass Facing the east feels alien and reduces their active participation in the liturgy. As a result, many pastoral difficulties have arisen. They feel a significant shift in their spiritual experience, as they were previously able to converse with the Lord in the Eucharist, feeling a greater involvement in the celebration. The addition of altar curtains and other structures like Manickeyan Cross and the songs in Syrian languages further contributes to a sense of exclusion, making them feel they are outside the communion and losing the communal bond they once felt.

Syro Malabar migrants in Melbourne already face many challenges in raising their children in the Catholic faith. Despite their busy schedules, they attend Holy Masses with their children to receive the Eucharistic strength in their lives. In English-speaking churches, where the Mass is celebrated gathering around the Lord's table, children feel included in the Eucharistic celebration. However, in the Syro Malabar Church, the facing the east orientation often leaves them feeling excluded, which is causing some of the youth to drift away from the Church.

We regret to inform you that the current liturgical issues have created significant divisions in the community. These divisions are evident in prayer meetings, family units, and parish councils, hindering our focus on real evangelization efforts in our society. If left unresolved, this division could lead us to become a fractured community, and future generations may criticize us for not passing on the light of faith to them.

To resolve these issues, we humbly request your intervention to find an amicable solution. Although you are a junior bishop, we firmly believe that the Holy Spirit can work through you and bring about miracles if you follow His guidance. Let us remember that God calls us for unity in diversity, and when we impose uniformity, we risk challenging the very essence of God’s creation. As St. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:11-22, we are one in Christ, even in our diversity.

 

In conclusion, we respectfully ask you to take the necessary steps to resolve the conflicts in our community. We request that you legitimize the celebration of the Mass  versus populum as a liturgical variant in the Melbourne Diocese, to help future generations grow in Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,

Antony Thomas 
On behalf of the Laities of the Syro Malabar Church, Melbourne