KOCHI: The celebration organised by the Catholic Church of Kerala in connection with the beatification of Malayali missionary nun Sr Rani Maria was held here on Saturday. It began at 2.45 pm with a procession carrying relics of the beatified nun from the Archbishop’s House to the basilica. Ernakulam Angamaly Archdiocese pro vicar general Msgr Sebastian Vadakkumpadan carried the relic which was later placed on the altar.
Bishop Mar Sebastian Aayanthrath welcomed the gathering. Bishop Mar Jose Puthenveettil read out the Pope’s decree elevating Sr Rani to the status of ‘Blessed Martyr’. This was followed by a thanksgiving Holy Mass led by Cardinal George Alencherry. Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) president Archbishop M Susai Pakiam delivered the homily. Nagpur Archbishop Abraham Viruthukulangara, Indore Bishop Chacko Thottumarikkal, Auxillary bishops of Ernakulam- Angamaly Mar Jose Puthenveetil and Mar Sebastian Adayanthrath and several bishops from within and outside Kerala were co-celebrants.
Cardinal Alencherry delivered the benedictory address at the public meeting. Archbishop Viruthukulangara, Bishop Thottumarikkal, FCC mother general Sr Anne Joseph, Sr Rani’s sister Sr Selmy, Archdiocese pro vicar general Fr Antony Narikulam, Seva Singh , a representative from Uday Nagar where Sr Rani carried out her missionary work, spoke. The celebration was organised by the Catholic Church in Kerala and Franciscan Clarist Congregation, the order to which Sr Rani belonged.