History
The history of beginning and development of the Malankara Catholic Church in the Extra Territorial Regions in India (MCC-ETRI) traces back from half-a-century ago, and that too, in a phased manner. The establishment of Bethany Ashram in Pune (Maharashtra) on 24 October 1955 can be considered to be the starting point of the ecclesial-mission of MCC-ETRI, which is outside the eparchial territory. Gradually, from Pune, the Bethany Priests (OIC) extended their services to the Malankara Catholic faithful in Mumbai and other parts of the country.
Soon, the migrated Malankara Catholics in the other major cities of India began to organize themselves as Malankara Catholic Associations under the leadership of laity. To quote a few, the beginning of organized groups of our mission in some of the major cities can be seen as: Pune in 1955, Mumbai in 1970, Chennai in 1974, Delhi in 1978, Bhopal in 1985, Bangalore in 1986, Kolkata in 1991 etc. From the early 1970s the Malankara Hierarchy directly took initiative and began sending priests from the Eparchies to these communities viz. from ‘Trivandrum’ to Chennai and Bhopal Mssions; from ‘Tiruvalla’ to Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Punjab and Jaipur Missions; from ‘Bathery’ to Bangalore, Surat, and Ahmedabad missions; while Bethany priests took care of Pune, Mumbai, Nasik, Hyderabad and Kolkata Missions at the initial stage.
From 1980, these communities slowly began to be erected canonically as ‘Personal Parishes’ in the local Latin-dioceses where they were registered. The ‘Bhahya Kerala Covention’ started in the year 1989 gave a platform for our people in various missions to come together under one umbrella. The seventh such convention held at Ramwadi, Pune in 1997 put up a strong demand for a Co-ordinator/Episcopal/Eparchial arrangement for MCC-ETRI. Considering this request and as an immediate measure, the Malankara Hierarchy appointed Very Rev. Fr. John Berchmans OIC as the Co-ordinator for MCC-ETRI in December 1997.
The tenure of Co-ordinatorship was another phase of development of the Church in ETRI. Under the strenuous efforts, support and leadership of Fr. John Berchmans OIC (Co-ordinator, ETRI) the communities got further organized and strengthened at different regions/States, in the banner ‘The Malankara Catholic Church in India -- Extra Territorial Regions (MCCI-ETR)’. The Co-ordinatorship style of functioning continued for about a decade (1997-2007), In the meanwhile, the Malankara Hierarchy was pursuing with Rome for a proper ecclesial arrangement for the region.
A long cherished dream of the Malankara Catholics of ETRI was realized in February 2007 when Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas was appointed as Apostolic Visitator with an Episcopal Character by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI. The Episcopal Ordination of His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Jacob Mar Barnabas was on 10th March 2007 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Trivandrum and the inauguration of his office of Aposlotic Visitator in New Delhi was on 22nd March, 2007. Later the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Catholic Church, headed by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, entrusted the pastoral care of the Malankara Catholic faithful of ETRI to Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas.
Now under the able leadership of H.E. Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas, the MCC-ETRI and its various apostolate cater to the needs of the Malankara Catholic flock. The present ETRI includes around 2550 families (approximately 10000 faithful) in 42 parishes/mission-units spread over 15 States of the country.