Canonization of Blessed Alphonsa on 12th October 2008 in Rome and
Eucharistic Celebration and Public Meeting at Bharananganam
on 9th November 2008
Blessed Alphonsa, a catholic nun of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation will be raised to sainthood on 12th October 2008 in Rome. It is an unique and spectacular event in the annals of the history of the Catholic Church in India. Blessed Alphonsa was born in a middle class Syrian Catholic family on 19th August 1910 at Kudamaloor, a small village in Kerala. Her parents were devoted Catholics. After her schooling, she joined the convent at Bharananganam. She had a secluded and unknown life in the convent. Her chronic illness made her to suffer a lot. She was a mystic. She was called to eternal life on 28th July 1946. Her mortal remains are kept in the cemetery at Bharananganam. Soon after her death, her spiritual fragrance spread far and wide. Sensing her Holiness, her canonization process was started in 1953. She was declared Venerable on 1984 and blessed on 1986 by H.H. the Pope John Paul II. Now she will be raised to sainthood.
The sacred ceremony for the canonization of Blessed Alphonsa commences on October 12th 2008 at 9.30 a.m. in the St.Peter’s Square in Vatican. The participants will walk in procession to the Papal Podium where during the Holy Qurbana (Sacred Liturgy) Blessed Alphonsa and three other blesseds will be declared Saints of the Catholic Church by H.H. the Pope Benedict XVI. Mar Joseph Powathil, Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, Mar Joseph Pallikaparampil, Mar George Valiamattam, Mar Andrews Thazhath, Mar Mathew Moolakatt, Mar Joseph Perumthottam, Mar Mathew Arackal including Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Vithayathil will be the concelebrants with the Pope. Over one hundred Bishops, many priests, religious and lay people of the Syro-Malabar, Malankara and Latin rites are expected to take part in this sacred ceremony.
On the following day at 8.30 a.m. a Concelebrated Holy Qurbana is being arranged at Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. Almost all the Bishops of the three rites in Rome, along with the priests, religious and layman may take part in this celebration.
At the same time many relevant programmes are being arranged at Bharananganam also. There will be Holy Qurbana from 5.30 to 11.30 a,m. in every hour at Alphonsa Chapel Bharananganam on 12th October. Mission League of the Bharananganam Forane has arranged a procession carrying the statue of the Saint in that area. This procession will reach the venue at 11.30 a.m. Geevarghese Mar Divannyasios the bishop of Bathery will celebrate Solemn Holy Mass at 11.30 a.m. Arrangements have been made to live telecast of the sacred ceremony in Vatican. This programme will be from 12.30 to 4.30 p.m.
Then Rev. Msgr. George Choorakatt will celebrate Solemn Holy Mass at 4.30 p.m. followed by a solemn procession in the church premises.
Various spiritual programmes have been arranged from October 31st to November 9th. There will be Solemn Holy Mass at Alphonsa Chapel on all these days at 8.15 a.m., 11.00 a.m. and 4.15 p.m.
Seminars on the life and spirituality of the Saint are being arranged for laymen on 6th afternoon and for religious, a full day seminar on 7th. Cultural programmes are also arranged on 6th and 7th evening. On the 8th October 101 novices of the Clarist Congregation will take their first religious profession and receive their religious habit. This will be followed by a candle light procession.
The culmination of the spiritual celebration is the Concelebrated Holy Mass and a Public Meeting on 9th October. The Public Meeting commences exactly at 2.30 p.m. This meeting will be presided over by H.E. Leonardo Sandri and Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, former President of the Republic of India will inaugurate the general assembly. Mar Varkey Vithayathil, Major Archbishop will welcome the gathering. Papal Nuntio Pedro Lopez Quintana, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Acharuparampil, Mar Joseph Perumthottam, Mar Joseph Powathil, Mar Joseph Pallikaparampil, Mother Ceelia FCC, Fr. Francis Vadakkel, Fr. Sebastian Mundumoozhikkara , Dr. A T Devasia will speak on the occasion. Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, the Bishop of Palai, will propose a vote of thanks.
The Concelebrated Holy Mass is expected to begin at 4.15 p.m. Mar Varkey Vithayathil will officiate as the main celebrant. Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos will give the homily during the Holy Mass. The celebration is supposed to be closed by 6.30 p.m.