KOTTAYAM: Mar George Alencherry, Bishop of Thuckalay, who has been elected as the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, is humility personified.
Three weeks ago, in response to a courtesy call, he had told this reporter: “I don’t think that I will be the one who is destined to be the Major Archbishop.” When it was pointed out that he had emerged as frontrunner to lead the Syro- Malabar Church, he said: “It couldn’t be that way. Pray for me. May God bless you.” His elevation as the Major Archbishop has come as no surprise to those who know him. He has done yeoman service for the poor all through his ecclesiastical life.
He was in charge of the relatively poor Thuckalay diocese under the Changanassery Archdiocese for nearly one-and-a-half decade s . Ma r Varkey Vithayathil, his predecessor, had held Mar Alencherry’s work in high esteem. Mar George Alencherry was a Good Samaritan for the poor.
He got the support of all sections of people in his initiatives like building houses for the downtrodden and improving their living conditions.
The faithful consisted mostly of Tamil origin living in various parts of Thuckalay diocese, which covered the southern districts of Tamil Nadu.
When parishes in places like Tenkasi and Tirunelveli remain a far cry from those of the affluent areas in Kerala and under the Changanassery Archdiocese itself, he had to do with limited resources.