Hyderabad: Mar Raphael Thattil, who was installed as the first bishop of the Shamshabad eparchy on Sunday, said that the diocese will be guided by communion and brotherhood.
“Everyone will be included and nobody will be excluded in any way. We will work together for the people,” said Mar Raphael.
The Shamshabad eparchy of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church was inaugurated with Mar Raphael at its helm at a ceremony presided over by Mar Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.
Rev. Tumma Bala, archbishop of Hyderabad, Moron Mor Baselios Cleemis, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Council of India (CBCI) and major archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Church, also participated in the event.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mar Raphael thanked different government bodies in Telangana and AP for their support to the Syro-Malabar community in realizing the dream of a new eparchy.
“The only sentiment that I have now is that of gratitude towards each and every individual who worked hard for this day. All the bishops in both Telugu states welcomed me like their younger brother. I assure them that I will do the best to cooperate with the Telugu Catholic Bishop’s Council (TCBC),” he said.
Mar George Alencherry said that evangelisation does not mean increasing the number, but growing in communion and brotherhood with other denominations and faiths.
Archbishop Tumma Bala said that churches with different rites continue to support one another.
Justice Kurian Joseph, Supreme Court judge, Dr Tessy Thomas, project director for Agni-IV missile in the Defence Research and Development Organisation, and Ms Minnie Mathew, former chief secretary of AP, were also present at the event.
