Retain SMA Wilton as our Syro-Malabar Mass Centre
The Issue
Petition to Retain the Syro-Malabar Community Mass Centre at SMA Wilton
To: The Most Reverend Bishop of Cork and Ross
We, members of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Community in Cork, respectfully ask the Diocese of Cork and Ross to retain SMA Wilton as our community Mass Centre and to reconsider the proposed relocation to Glen Church.
SMA Wilton has been the spiritual and community home of our Syro-Malabar families since 2006. For almost two decades, it has provided a familiar, accessible and welcoming place for Sunday Mass, catechism, prayer and community activities.
We believe that the future of our Mass Centre should be decided through a transparent, properly notified and representative process, with the views of the wider community, especially families and children given proper consideration.
Why SMA Wilton Matters to Our Community
SMA Wilton is conveniently located and accessible for many families, including:
Families with young children
Elderly members
Families without private transport
Members who depend on public transport
Families with different work and family commitments
For many of us, attending Sunday Mass and catechism is not simply a weekly activity. It is an important part of our family life, our children's faith formation and our connection to the Syro-Malabar community.
Moving the Mass Centre could create significant practical difficulties for families who currently depend on the accessibility of SMA Wilton.
Our Children and Catechism
One of our greatest concerns is the impact of relocation on our children.
Children currently attending catechism at SMA Wilton have established friendships, routines and relationships within a familiar and supportive environment. Their catechism education is an important part of their religious formation and their connection with the Syro-Malabar faith.
Many parents are concerned that relocating the Mass Centre could make regular attendance significantly more difficult for their children and, in some cases, may result in children discontinuing catechism altogether.
The spiritual education and future of our children should therefore be at the heart of any decision about the future location of our community.
A Better Alternative: Multiple Local Mass Centres
We believe that relocation does not have to mean closing or replacing an established local Mass Centre.
The successful use of multiple Mass centres in the Dublin area demonstrates that this approach can be adapted to serve a growing and diverse Syro-Malabar community while maintaining unity.
Smaller, local Mass centres can:Reduce overcrowding, Improve accessibility for families, Support families without cars, Accommodate different work and family schedules, Provide better environments for catechism and children's activities, Encourage youth activities, prayer groups and other community programmes, Help families build stronger relationships within local communities, Make pastoral care more personal and effective, Help newly arrived families integrate more easily. Most importantly, multiple Mass centres do not mean separate or divided communities.
Several active local communities can function effectively while remaining connected and united as one Syro-Malabar Catholic community.
The experience in Dublin provides a practical and sustainable model for accommodating a growing community while ensuring that families continue to have accessible pastoral, catechetical and community support.
Rather than removing an established centre that has served families for many years, we believe the Diocese should consider whether multiple local centres could better serve the growing needs of the community.
Concerns About the General Body Meeting of 30 August 2026
We also respectfully ask the Diocese to review the process surrounding the General Body Meeting held on 30 August 2026, at which the proposed relocation was discussed.
We believe that a decision of such importance should be made through a process that is properly notified, transparent and representative of the wider community.
Our concerns include:
1. Communication and Consultation
Concerns Regarding the Decision-Making Process
We respectfully believe that a matter of this importance should, have been considered through the appropriate structures before being presented to the General Body.
In our view, the matter should first have been discussed within the relevant Family Units (Kudumba Koottayma), where members would have had a genuine opportunity to express their views, opinions, and concerns. These views should then have been duly communicated by the respective representatives to the Parish Council (Prathinidhi Yogam) for further discussion and consideration.
In this instance, we are concerned that this process was not followed. As a result, members did not have an adequate opportunity to discuss the matter at the Family Unit level, nor were their views given the opportunity to be properly considered and represented before the proposal was brought before the General Body.
We believe that this approach would have ensured meaningful participation, broader consultation, and a more transparent and representative consideration of such a significant proposal
Our concern is that the proposed relocation was not sufficiently communicated to the wider membership in advance, meaning that some members were unaware that the future location of the community's Mass Centre would be discussed.
2. Timing and Representativeness
The meeting was held on 30 August, at the end of the summer holiday period.
Many families may have been away on holidays or unable to attend because of work and family commitments. We therefore respectfully question whether the attendance on that particular date could reasonably be considered representative of the wider Syro-Malabar community.
3. Attendance and Membership
We also have concerns regarding the composition of those attending the meeting.
Our understanding was that attendance was intended to be based on community membership, with only one family member expected to attend. However, the meeting was heavily attended, including family members and children.
We also understand that some individuals present may not have been actively involved in the Syro-Malabar community at that time.
We therefore believe that the basis on which attendance and participation were determined should be clarified.
4. Opportunity for Discussion
We are concerned that members did not have a sufficiently fair and meaningful opportunity to express their views.
According to the recollection of members who attended, the discussion became contentious and resulted in arguments and confrontation. In such circumstances, it may have been difficult for all members to participate equally and for the different views within the community to be properly heard.
5. Whether a Formal Decision Was Made
Our most significant concern relates to how the outcome of the meeting has subsequently been understood.
We understand that the relocation has been treated as having been agreed by the General Body. However, to our understanding, there was no clear formal vote establishing the decision, nor a clearly recorded unanimous agreement of those present.
We therefore respectfully ask the Diocese to review the records of the meeting and clarify the basis on which the relocation has been regarded as a definitive decision of the wider community.
6. Accuracy and Completeness of the Minutes
We also have concerns about whether the minutes of the meeting fully and accurately reflect the concerns, disagreements and differing views expressed.
If the minutes are being relied upon as evidence of a decision concerning the permanent location of the Mass Centre, it is important that they fairly record both the discussion and the manner in which any decision was reached.
We therefore ask that the outcome of the 30 August meeting not be treated as a definitive mandate for permanent relocation without giving the wider membership a proper opportunity to consider and express its views.
Safety and Accessibility
We are also concerned about the suitability and sense of security of the proposed location at Glen.
Recent incidents of anti-social behaviour in the surrounding area have caused anxiety among some families. Our concern is not to make accusations against anyone, but simply to ensure that our children, elderly members and families can attend Mass and catechism in an environment where they feel safe and comfortable.
Accessibility and safety should be important considerations when choosing a permanent community Mass Centre.
What We Are Asking For
We respectfully ask the Diocese of Cork and Ross to:
1. Retain SMA Wilton as the Syro-Malabar community Mass Centre;
2. Review the General Body Meeting of 30 August 2026, including the process by which the meeting was convened, the attendance and the basis upon which the outcome was regarded as a decision;
3. Review the accuracy and completeness of the meeting minutes;
4. Give proper consideration to the needs of children and families currently attending catechism at SMA Wilton;
5. Consider the successful model of multiple local Mass centres, as demonstrated in the Dublin area, as a practical alternative for serving a growing Syro-Malabar community; and
6. Allow the wider Syro-Malabar community in Cork a transparent, properly notified and representative opportunity to express its views before any permanent relocation is decided.
Please Support Our Children and Our Community
We make this petition in a spirit of respect, unity and cooperation.
We do not wish to create division within our community. We recognise and respect the role of the Diocese and our clergy, and we want to work constructively with them to find the best solution for everyone.
Our request is simply that the genuine needs of our families, the accessibility of our Mass Centre, and — most importantly — the spiritual education and future of our children are carefully considered.
SMA Wilton has been our spiritual home since 2006. It is a place where our children have learned their faith, formed friendships and grown together as a community.
We respectfully ask the Bishop and the Diocese of Cork and Ross to listen to the voice of the wider community, reconsider the proposed relocation, and allow SMA Wilton to remain a spiritual home where our families can worship together and our children can continue to grow in their Syro-Malabar faith.
Please sign and support this petition.
On behalf of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Community in Cork
242
The Issue
Petition to Retain the Syro-Malabar Community Mass Centre at SMA Wilton
To: The Most Reverend Bishop of Cork and Ross
We, members of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Community in Cork, respectfully ask the Diocese of Cork and Ross to retain SMA Wilton as our community Mass Centre and to reconsider the proposed relocation to Glen Church.
SMA Wilton has been the spiritual and community home of our Syro-Malabar families since 2006. For almost two decades, it has provided a familiar, accessible and welcoming place for Sunday Mass, catechism, prayer and community activities.
We believe that the future of our Mass Centre should be decided through a transparent, properly notified and representative process, with the views of the wider community, especially families and children given proper consideration.
Why SMA Wilton Matters to Our Community
SMA Wilton is conveniently located and accessible for many families, including:
Families with young children
Elderly members
Families without private transport
Members who depend on public transport
Families with different work and family commitments
For many of us, attending Sunday Mass and catechism is not simply a weekly activity. It is an important part of our family life, our children's faith formation and our connection to the Syro-Malabar community.
Moving the Mass Centre could create significant practical difficulties for families who currently depend on the accessibility of SMA Wilton.
Our Children and Catechism
One of our greatest concerns is the impact of relocation on our children.
Children currently attending catechism at SMA Wilton have established friendships, routines and relationships within a familiar and supportive environment. Their catechism education is an important part of their religious formation and their connection with the Syro-Malabar faith.
Many parents are concerned that relocating the Mass Centre could make regular attendance significantly more difficult for their children and, in some cases, may result in children discontinuing catechism altogether.
The spiritual education and future of our children should therefore be at the heart of any decision about the future location of our community.
A Better Alternative: Multiple Local Mass Centres
We believe that relocation does not have to mean closing or replacing an established local Mass Centre.
The successful use of multiple Mass centres in the Dublin area demonstrates that this approach can be adapted to serve a growing and diverse Syro-Malabar community while maintaining unity.
Smaller, local Mass centres can:Reduce overcrowding, Improve accessibility for families, Support families without cars, Accommodate different work and family schedules, Provide better environments for catechism and children's activities, Encourage youth activities, prayer groups and other community programmes, Help families build stronger relationships within local communities, Make pastoral care more personal and effective, Help newly arrived families integrate more easily. Most importantly, multiple Mass centres do not mean separate or divided communities.
Several active local communities can function effectively while remaining connected and united as one Syro-Malabar Catholic community.
The experience in Dublin provides a practical and sustainable model for accommodating a growing community while ensuring that families continue to have accessible pastoral, catechetical and community support.
Rather than removing an established centre that has served families for many years, we believe the Diocese should consider whether multiple local centres could better serve the growing needs of the community.
Concerns About the General Body Meeting of 30 August 2026
We also respectfully ask the Diocese to review the process surrounding the General Body Meeting held on 30 August 2026, at which the proposed relocation was discussed.
We believe that a decision of such importance should be made through a process that is properly notified, transparent and representative of the wider community.
Our concerns include:
1. Communication and Consultation
Concerns Regarding the Decision-Making Process
We respectfully believe that a matter of this importance should, have been considered through the appropriate structures before being presented to the General Body.
In our view, the matter should first have been discussed within the relevant Family Units (Kudumba Koottayma), where members would have had a genuine opportunity to express their views, opinions, and concerns. These views should then have been duly communicated by the respective representatives to the Parish Council (Prathinidhi Yogam) for further discussion and consideration.
In this instance, we are concerned that this process was not followed. As a result, members did not have an adequate opportunity to discuss the matter at the Family Unit level, nor were their views given the opportunity to be properly considered and represented before the proposal was brought before the General Body.
We believe that this approach would have ensured meaningful participation, broader consultation, and a more transparent and representative consideration of such a significant proposal
Our concern is that the proposed relocation was not sufficiently communicated to the wider membership in advance, meaning that some members were unaware that the future location of the community's Mass Centre would be discussed.
2. Timing and Representativeness
The meeting was held on 30 August, at the end of the summer holiday period.
Many families may have been away on holidays or unable to attend because of work and family commitments. We therefore respectfully question whether the attendance on that particular date could reasonably be considered representative of the wider Syro-Malabar community.
3. Attendance and Membership
We also have concerns regarding the composition of those attending the meeting.
Our understanding was that attendance was intended to be based on community membership, with only one family member expected to attend. However, the meeting was heavily attended, including family members and children.
We also understand that some individuals present may not have been actively involved in the Syro-Malabar community at that time.
We therefore believe that the basis on which attendance and participation were determined should be clarified.
4. Opportunity for Discussion
We are concerned that members did not have a sufficiently fair and meaningful opportunity to express their views.
According to the recollection of members who attended, the discussion became contentious and resulted in arguments and confrontation. In such circumstances, it may have been difficult for all members to participate equally and for the different views within the community to be properly heard.
5. Whether a Formal Decision Was Made
Our most significant concern relates to how the outcome of the meeting has subsequently been understood.
We understand that the relocation has been treated as having been agreed by the General Body. However, to our understanding, there was no clear formal vote establishing the decision, nor a clearly recorded unanimous agreement of those present.
We therefore respectfully ask the Diocese to review the records of the meeting and clarify the basis on which the relocation has been regarded as a definitive decision of the wider community.
6. Accuracy and Completeness of the Minutes
We also have concerns about whether the minutes of the meeting fully and accurately reflect the concerns, disagreements and differing views expressed.
If the minutes are being relied upon as evidence of a decision concerning the permanent location of the Mass Centre, it is important that they fairly record both the discussion and the manner in which any decision was reached.
We therefore ask that the outcome of the 30 August meeting not be treated as a definitive mandate for permanent relocation without giving the wider membership a proper opportunity to consider and express its views.
Safety and Accessibility
We are also concerned about the suitability and sense of security of the proposed location at Glen.
Recent incidents of anti-social behaviour in the surrounding area have caused anxiety among some families. Our concern is not to make accusations against anyone, but simply to ensure that our children, elderly members and families can attend Mass and catechism in an environment where they feel safe and comfortable.
Accessibility and safety should be important considerations when choosing a permanent community Mass Centre.
What We Are Asking For
We respectfully ask the Diocese of Cork and Ross to:
1. Retain SMA Wilton as the Syro-Malabar community Mass Centre;
2. Review the General Body Meeting of 30 August 2026, including the process by which the meeting was convened, the attendance and the basis upon which the outcome was regarded as a decision;
3. Review the accuracy and completeness of the meeting minutes;
4. Give proper consideration to the needs of children and families currently attending catechism at SMA Wilton;
5. Consider the successful model of multiple local Mass centres, as demonstrated in the Dublin area, as a practical alternative for serving a growing Syro-Malabar community; and
6. Allow the wider Syro-Malabar community in Cork a transparent, properly notified and representative opportunity to express its views before any permanent relocation is decided.
Please Support Our Children and Our Community
We make this petition in a spirit of respect, unity and cooperation.
We do not wish to create division within our community. We recognise and respect the role of the Diocese and our clergy, and we want to work constructively with them to find the best solution for everyone.
Our request is simply that the genuine needs of our families, the accessibility of our Mass Centre, and — most importantly — the spiritual education and future of our children are carefully considered.
SMA Wilton has been our spiritual home since 2006. It is a place where our children have learned their faith, formed friendships and grown together as a community.
We respectfully ask the Bishop and the Diocese of Cork and Ross to listen to the voice of the wider community, reconsider the proposed relocation, and allow SMA Wilton to remain a spiritual home where our families can worship together and our children can continue to grow in their Syro-Malabar faith.
Please sign and support this petition.
On behalf of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Community in Cork
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Petition created on 4 September 2026