MALAYATTOOR: India has a great tradition of accepting all cultures, civilisations and religions, and Christianity has immensely contributed towards religious harmony, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at Malayattoor.
He was inaugurating the public meeting held in connection with the consecration of St Thomas New Church at Malayattoor. The Church was constructed spending over Rs 7 crore, in a blend of Indian art and Gothic style. The Chief Minister also received the Malayattoor-Kurisumudy development project and distributed mementos.
Ernakulam Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop Mar Sebastian Adayanthrath presided over the meeting. Water Resources Minister P J Joseph handed over the keys of the housing project for the poor. Excise Minister K Babu inaugurated the parish automation. K P Dhanapalan MP released the souvenir. Jose Thettayil MLA released the parish directory and Anwar Sadath MLA released documentary of the pilgrim centre.
Consent pledge forms for eye donation were handed over to LF Hospital director Fr Sebastian Vadakkumbadan. Grama panchayat president Radhakrishnan Chengattu, Fr John Theckanath, Hill Top shrine rector Fr Xavier Thelakkattu, general convener Alex Kurien Kannampuzha, church construction committee convener Saju Varghese Tharayil and trustee Chakkunni Oorakkat spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, Cardinal-designate Mar George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church, consecrated the new church. Several bishops were cocelebrants at the ceremony.