“Lend Me Your Ears,” Says Catholicos-Mooppan Mathews III As He Launches ‘Sahodaran,’ A New Charity Project

LJ – Chief Editor – OCP News Service – 3/5/22

Muscat-Oman: Everyone likes to celebrate their birthdays and say thanks to the Lord. A part of the money spent on the celebrations can be kept aside for charitable works which will help the downtrodden in the society.

This thought flashed in the mind of His Holiness Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos-Mooppan and Malankara Metropolitan (Primate of the Malankara Church) when he turned 73rd on February 12, 2022.

The Catholicos on his birthday launched ‘Sahodaran’ (meaning ‘brother’ in Malayalam), a charitable project in the blessed memory of his predecessor late HH Marthoma Paulose II, the former Catholicos who passed away on 12 July 2021.

Says the Catholicos about his pet project in an interview: “If one of our own brothers suffers from injustice or poverty, will we be happy? I, therefore, call upon all religions and leaders to come forward for a wider ecumenism towards fulfilling this aim.

The ‘Sahoodaran’ charitable project aims to convey a message of ‘universal brotherhood’ and one day, we will be able to realize a golden future where we all can live peacefully without any form of rivalry, suffering or injustice,” the Catholicos explained.

His Holiness made it clear that he was not sure of the project coming to its fruition but he has made a beginning inviting one and all to contribute to the project. He quoted from the Scriptures to say, “Lend me your ears,” and urged others to unitedly work towards the goal.

The project aims to endow and support seven primary categories and help the financially distressed with the offer of monetary aid and assistance for affordable housing, wedding grants, educational help, healthcare support, protection for the physically and mentally challenged, care for the elderly and aged, and financial aid for poor farmers and workers, irrespective of caste, creed or nations.

The Primate of the Malankara Church who was enthroned as the 22nd Malankara Metropolitan in October 2021 and the 9th Catholicos called upon all religions of the world to come together and share their riches for the betterment of humanity and justice.

The Catholicos wanted everyone to strive to tackle the problems of the world through sharing and following the gospels and teachings of Jesus. “Share what we have with others, give our ears to realize this and work unitedly,” he added.

A protégé of Joseph Pachomios (1926-1999), His Holiness is known for his philanthropic projects in the southern Indian state of Kerala and formed Mar Pachomios Charitable Society in the 1990s, and today runs over 18 charitable projects all starting with the letter ‘P’, branded from ‘Priya’ pickles to ‘Prathiba’ curry powders.

The Supreme Head of the Indian Orthodox Church completed a maiden apostolic visit to the Sultanate of Oman for the Holy Week services of the Mar Gregorios Orthodox Maha Edavaka (MGOME) Muscat where he also interacted with various ecumenical and spiritual organizations and launched the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the parish.

Source:
OCP News Service