Raphael Thattil, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, to the Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Consecrated Men and Women and Lay Persons of the Syro-Malabar Church.
May the Grace of the Lord be with you all!
Dearly beloved brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
Once again, we celebrate the Dukrana of our Father in Faith, St. Thomas, the Apostle. Thomas, who encouraged his fellow disciples who were overcome by fear, saying, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (Jn. 11:16), came to India to proclaim the Gospel and suffered martyrdom at Chinnamalai, near Madras, in A.D. 72. One of the greatest testimonies to the missionary activities and martyrdom of St. Thomas is the living community of St. Thomas Christians in India who continue to cherish and live according to the tradition handed down to them by the Apostle. For the Syro-Malabar Church, the 3rd of July is a day of profound spiritual and ecclesial identity. It is for this reason that we celebrate the feast of the martyrdom of St. Thomas as the Sabhadinam of the Syro-Malabar Church.
The Gospel account in which the Apostle Thomas insists on seeing the Risen Lord for himself, refusing to rely solely on the testimony of the other Apostles, is deeply moving. The doubt of Thomas was not an expression of disbelief in the negative sense. The one who initially doubted was ultimately transformed into a courageous witness to the faith. The journey of Thomas – from doubt to faith, from inquiry to witnessing, from discipleship to martyrdom – is to be the spiritual journey of every Christian. It is for this reason that St. Gregory the Great remarked that “the unbelief of Thomas has been more beneficial to our faith than the faith of the other disciples” (Homiliae in Evangelia, 26, 7).
The present generation lives amid doubts and uncertainties. This age of artificial intelligence and the information revolution presents numerous challenges. The first encyclical letter of the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, to the Universal Church, entitled Magnifica Humanitas, has drawn the attention of people throughout the world and has been widely received with interest and reflection. The central vision of this encyclical is that technology must serve the human person, who bears the image and glory of God, and that humanity must never be reduced to servitude under its own technological creations. The Holy Father states: “Human dignity does not depend on a person’s abilities, wealth or position in life, nor on the right or wrong choices made; instead, it is a gift that precedes and transcends each person, endowed by God as an expression of his unfailing love” (Magnifica Humanitas, 50). The encyclical further reminds us that every generation has the responsibility to build a world marked by justice and fraternity while safeguarding the dignity and greatness of the human person.
In today’s digital media culture, which often causes polarization and hostility, the Holy Father reminds us that Christians have an urgent duty to seek the truth and arrive at wise and responsible decisions. In an age when rumours spread rapidly and truth is frequently obscured, we must become seekers of truth like St. Thomas. There is no doubt that social media is beneficial in many aspects of life. Yet it has also become a platform where falsehood, hatred, and defamation are deliberately disseminated. When messages that malign others, harm the innocent, and spread falsehood are created or shared indiscriminately, the fifth commandment, “You shall not kill,” is violated, for such actions can wound a person’s dignity, reputation, and well-being. Today, more than ever, we need the prudence and vigilance to examine carefully what we encounter, to verify what we do not know, to refrain from promoting what is untrue, and to courageously oppose falsehood wherever it appears.
Today, our society often neglects the poor and the powerless. Elderly parents frequently become victims of the indifference or cruelty of their own children. When relationships break down within families and at various levels of society, it is often those who stand for justice and fairness who suffer most. The growing incidence of violence among school and college students is a cause for serious concern. The abuse of drugs and the violence associated with it threaten the well-being of society. Situations that undermine and destroy human dignity are found in many places. As the Holy Father urges, each of us must remain vigilant within our own sphere of responsibility so as to dismantle the towers of Babel, the symbol of human pride and self-sufficiency, and to build the City in which God and humanity dwell together, where justice and peace prevail (Magnifica Humanitas, 1).
The family is the first school of faith. Praying together, sharing meals together, and participating together in the responsibilities of family life are among the cherished traditions that have long nurtured and strengthened our families. At a time when each person in the family is occupied with personal schedules and professional commitments, we need to examine ourselves and ask whether we are failing to preserve the shared spirituality of family life. Parents must transmit human and Christian values to their children alongside the proper use of technology. In his encyclical, Pope Leo XIV specifically warns against the danger of digital slavery. Excessive use of mobile phones, diminished communication among family members, growing dependence on screens among children, and the neglect of prayer are among the challenges confronting families today. It is beyond doubt that the family environment exercises a profound and decisive influence on the spiritual and human formation of a person. Therefore, I urge all families to observe regular periods of ‘digital fasting’, to refrain from using mobile phones during meals, and to set aside time each day for family prayer.
Communion is at the very heart of the Church’s nature. Therefore, all the members of the Church are called to live and work in communion and to foster communion. Differences of opinion may naturally arise within the Church. However, factional or sectarian attitudes are contrary to the spirit of the Church. The Church is a big family that embraces us all. Hence, everyone has the responsibility to work in harmony with the institutions of the Church. The words of St. Cyprian remain relevant: “One cannot have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother” (Habere non potest Deum Patrem qui Ecclesiam non habet matrem, De Catholicae Ecclesiae Unitate, 6).
The year 2026 is being observed in our Church as the Year of Community Empowerment. All concerned should ensure the effective implementation, at the various levels of the Church, of the various programmes designed by the Commission for Public Affairs and approved by the Synod for the observance of this special year. As a community of believers, while firmly upholding our legitimate rights, we must also cultivate respect for others, cooperate in matters of public concern, and join hands with others wherever possible. The Church remains committed to dialogue and collaboration with all people for the common good of society and for the building of a just world. We must move forward as a Church that reaches out to all with love and truth, excluding no one and unafraid of differences.
We have the duty to follow the courageous example of our Father in Faith and to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ without fear. We thank God that members of our Church are serving in various parts of the world as ministers of the Gospel. On this occasion, we gratefully recall the significant advances our Church has recently made in the field of evangelization. I consider it a blessing that many lay missionaries, together with priests and religious, are actively engaged in this mission. I am happy to announce the inauguration of the Jeevan Jyothi, a movement at the Major Archiepiscopal level, intended to coordinate and empower the evangelizing efforts of the lay missionaries of our Church. Let us support all missionary endeavours in every way possible and pray earnestly for their success.
It is a matter of great joy that, under the leadership of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Hosur, a pilgrimage centre is being established near the Santhome Cathedral in Mylapore, where the sacred tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle is located. I would like to congratulate Mar Sebastian Pozholiparambil, Bishop of Hosur, and the entire Eparchy for taking the initiative in this noble and historic undertaking. I gratefully remember all those who have generously supported the Eparchy in bringing this project to fruition. I also take this opportunity to appeal to all our parishes to extend their wholehearted cooperation in whatever way possible, so that this cherished dream of establishing a worthy place of worship and pilgrimage near the tomb of our Father in Faith, St. Thomas the Apostle, may be fully realized for the spiritual benefit of future generations.
Dearly beloved in Christ, in this age, we are called to bear witness to the faith in Jesus Christ that has been handed down to us through St. Thomas, the Apostle. Not all are called to shed their blood physically in witness to the Lord in our times. Nevertheless, our times demand from us a daily martyrdom of truth, justice, faith and patience in the Church, in society, in our families, and in every circumstance of life. Let us not be builders of the Tower of Babel; rather, let us become builders of the Kingdom of God, constructing communities where God and humanity dwell together in harmony within the Church, society, and family.
I extend the greetings of the Feast of Dukrana and the Sabhadinam to all. May the intercession and blessings of our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Thomas the Apostle, and all the saints and blessed be with us and all our endeavours!
