The Syro-Malabar Catholic community in the diocese gathered for its annual celebration in honor of the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sunday, Sept. 1 at Columbus Sacred Heart Church.

The Church’s liturgical calendar observes the birth of the Blessed Mother on Sept. 8, but because of a scheduling conflict the gathering was moved a week earlier.

The Syro-Malabar community has existed in the diocese for 20 years but has grown over the past five years. The number of families totaled 40 before the COVID-19 pandemic, dropped to 36 in the aftermath and now stands at 50.  

Most of the families in attendance were from India or descended from the country.

The Syro-Malabar Church is an Eastern Catholic Church with an estimated 4.5 million members worldwide who are in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church and the Roman Pontiff. Its origin is traced to St. Thomas the Apostle, who came to India according to historical tradition and was martyred there.

Celebrating the Mass was Father Niby Kannai, the director of the Syro-Malabar mission. He is the pastor at St. Edward Catholic Church in Cynthiana, Kentucky, and travels to Columbus on Sundays to offer the Mass at Sacred Heart Church.

After the Mass, a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was venerated. Presentations followed for members of the community, including a musical skit performed by children as part of its cultural program.

Father Niby Kannai places a Ponnadai "Precious Golden Cloth" on the shoulders of Bishop Earl Fernandes. The Ponnadai is adorned around the shoulders of a dignitary who is being honored.

Bishop Earl Fernandes joined the festivities after Mass and participated in a ceremony of the Lighting of the Lamp, which is considered a symbol of purity and enlightenment. Father Kannai placed a Ponnadai, a shawl honoring a dignitary that is a tradition in the southern part of India, on the shoulders of the bishop.

In an address to the assembled Syro-Malabar Catholics, Bishop Fernandes encouraged them to offer their gifts and talents to the local church to build up God’s kingdom, possibly as a catechist, a priest or sister, helping the poor or simply by praying and adoring the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

Veneration of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary follows the Syro-Malabar Mass that honored the birth of the Blessed Mother.

“Your presence here in the Diocese of Columbus is a sign that we are one,” the bishop said. “There is a unity in the Church, even in the diversity in our forms of worship. The cause and the effect of our unity is the Eucharist. Yet it is a true worship of God. And we are joined in communion, together in the worship of God, and just as we are joined together in the worship of God, we are joined together in mission. … 

“My brothers and sisters, you may be far from India, far from your homes, but you are close in the heart of Jesus, close in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the altar. … He is with you always, so you need not fear ‘Can I carry out this mission?’ Because, if Christ is with us, we cannot fail in our mission.

Members of the Syro-Malabar community watch musical skits performed by children after  Mass at Sacred Heart Church.

“St. John Paul II was a great missionary and his opening words to the whole world were, ‘Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors of Christ. Open wide the doors of your hearts to Christ.’

“And so that is my message to each and every one of you this evening. We are happy to have you in the Diocese of Columbus. We certainly open wide the doors of our local church to you. Now we ask that you open wide your hearts to Christ and to all those who are in need that they may know the love of God that comes to us in His Only Begotten Son.”