KOTTAYAM: Kerala owes its achievements in the fields of education to St Chavara, who spread the slogan of general education along with spiritual education, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said at Mannanam on Sunday. He was inaugurating a public meeting held at the Mannanam Monastery to celebrate the canonisation of Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara on Sunday evening.
The canonisation of Fr Chavara brought pride to not just the Church and Christians, but to our society as a whole, he said. He added that society has already recognized his social reformation attempts. “Those who have led the social and spiritual renaissance in Kerala, like Fr Chavara and Sr Euphresia are our precious gems, and I bow to their memory,” he said. Our society still deprives of various elements and reformers like Father Chavara are what we need to rectify our flaws, he added.
Kanjirapally Bishop Mathew Arackal chaired the function. The inauguration of the Chavara Housing Scheme was done by Finance Minister K M Mani at the function. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala unveiled the portraits of the saints to be placed in the monastery.
Transport Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob, Government Chief Whip P C George, MPs including Anto Antony, Joice George, Joy Abraham, MLAs Suresh Kurup, C F Thomas, Monce Joesph, MG University Vice-Chancellor Babu Sebastian and Kerala Congress Chairman P C Thomas were also present at the function.