Some parishes see protests to ‘uniform’ Mass
At Little Flower Parish in Perumanoor, India, the choir stopped singing during Christmas Mass when the priest turned to face the altar (according to the synodal Mass format). The priest finally continued celebrating the Mass facing the people in the style of Mass followed in the archdiocese for more than 60 years.
“The priest had been emphatically told by the people that they will not allow the synodal Mass, and that is why the choir protested,” Riju Kanjookaran of the Laity Movement of the Ernakulam Archdiocese told CNA on Dec. 27.
St. Joseph’s Parish in Thannipuzha witnessed a worse scene on the morning of Dec. 27 when the priest was stopped from saying the synodal Mass. A few of those who supported him were evicted by the police after the clash.
Other Masses proceed smoothly despite opposition
“Today obeying the pope, we are going to celebrate the synodal Mass,” Father Antony Madathumpady, parish priest of the sprawling St. George deanery in the suburb of Edappally, told the faithful before the mid-Christmas Mass.
Despite the majority of the 1,800 registered families in the parish opposing the synodal Mass, a two-and-half-hour-long Christmas service proceeded smoothly with more than 4,000 Catholics in attendance inside and outside the church, one of the biggest parishes of the archdiocese.
“No one wants to disobey the pope. That is why we [the priests] decided to have the synodal Mass throughout the archdiocese for Christmas as the pope has asked for,” Father Jose Vailikodath, spokesperson for the Archdiocesan Protection Council, told CNA.
Despite the majority of those in the archdiocese submitting to the pope’s demand, some say divisions remain.
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“Though the priests decided to obey the pope and had synodal Mass for Christmas, the reality is that there is strong objection among the laypeople to follow the synodal Mass imposed on us. The protests reflect this reality,” Shaiju Antony, spokesperson of the Laity Movement, told CNA.
Antony challenged claims that a “unanimous” decision to launch a synodal Mass was reached in August 2021 after the online synod of 55 Syro-Malabar bishops during the pandemic. He noted that 12 bishops had objected to the proposal in a “dissenting” note to Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry.
“Any decision to be taken should focus on the unity of hearts and strengthen the communion of our Church. We believe that this is not a matter to be decided by majority or voting,” Antony said, quoting the bishops’ caution.
After the synod’s decision was announced, Antony pointed out, seven retired Syro-Malabar bishops shared their reflections on Dec. 20, 2021, with Alencherry, who stepped down as major archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church on Dec. 11 of this year.
The bishops wrote: “The situation of our Church is in a very bad shape… The moral fabric of the church has been damaged… The so-called ‘unanimous’ decision of the uniform mode of celebration of holy Qurbana [Mass] was not unanimous.”
“We brought these points to the attention of Archbishop Vasil’ when we met him on Dec. 20. Hope he will brief the pope about all these,” Antony told CNA.
