The Syro-Malabar Church has entered into the Community Empowerment Year. The year 2026 has been set apart to reflect more deeply on our Nasrani community, to study its glorious history in depth, to understand its distinctiveness and unique identity, to create awareness among members about existing challenges, and to adopt possible remedial measures.
Our community possesses its own distinct identity. Strong family bonds sustained over centuries, monogamous marriage, moral living, charitable works, Sunday observance, and family prayer are distinctive features of the Christian community. Though we are heirs to a rich heritage, today we face challenges and marginalization in several fields. We must be able to adopt creative solutions rather than waiting for governments alone to resolve all issues. Community empowerment lies in discovering what we ourselves can do.
The Nasrani community in Kerala and the Syro-Malabar Church have reached their present state by overcoming numerous challenges. The crises faced and struggles waged by our community in history may be unparalleled by any other in Kerala. Autocratic actions by rulers, military invasions, civil disobedience movements, the Liberation Struggle, educational movements, migrations, and displacements were all fiery paths we walked. Alongside these struggles, our contributions to the Kerala Renaissance and nation-building in India are invaluable.
We have made significant contributions in education, culture, arts, literature, theatre, cinema, sports, economics, politics, civil service, agriculture, and healthcare. Eminent personalities of national and international importance have emerged from our community. These contributions need systematic study and dissemination.
If strong teaching teams are formed at the eparchial level to create awareness on community issues in parishes, family units, organizations, religious communities, seminaries, and clergy gatherings, the observance of the Community Empowerment Year can be considered half accomplished.
Units of the Catholic Congress, the community organization, must be established in all parishes to strengthen socio-political engagement. The community’s voice, Deepika daily, must be promoted, as it is through Deepika that the Church’s stand on various issues reaches each member. It is a matter of pride that Deepika carries one of the strongest and most balanced editorial pages in Kerala today.
Pro-life activities can help support families with more children. Business associations should be formed at eparchial and parish levels to encourage mutual support. Job fairs, career guidance, aptitude tests, and similar initiatives through Sunday Schools, educational institutions, and youth organizations can open better employment opportunities.
Participation in Gram Sabhas must be encouraged, as many government benefits are distributed through them. Voter registration is crucial, especially for those whose names were removed through the SIR process or who have not yet registered. Community members should be encouraged to contest and succeed in local body elections and in elections of residents’ associations, cooperative banks, and societies.
Effective liaison with government institutions within parish boundaries is essential. Maintaining migrant registers and informing local Syro-Malabar Church structures about parishioners living elsewhere will greatly aid pastoral care of our people spread across the world. Strengthening relations with other Churches, communities, media, political leaders, and officials is also necessary.
Promotion of Nasrani food culture, dress, customs, and traditions, along with organizing protests demanding the release of the Justice J.B. Koshy Commission report, are among the many initiatives possible during this year.
Community empowerment initiatives must aim beyond routine activities, focusing instead on the holistic upliftment of the community and its members across various sectors. By clearly understanding the objectives of this year and implementing them effectively, let us unite in working for the progress of our community.
Fr. James Kokkavayalil
