Catholicos advocates ‘church as a home’ concept for the elderly

7/10/2012
Indian Malankara Orthodox Church
Liju Cherian

#Scheme to be implemented in a phased manner in all 30 dioceses
#Catholicos says care for the elderly and the infirm a ‘burning issue’
#Ministry of Human Empowerment designates Oct-Dec months as action plan for the elderly

MUSCAT: His Holiness Moran Mar Baselious Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and Indian Orthodox (Malankara) Metropolitan, has called upon upholding family values and for helping the cause of the old and the infirm.

The Catholicos said for the first time the Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Syrian Church, now celebrating its centenary year (1912-2012), was espousing the cause of the elderly and palliative care with an exclusive project for the aged and the infirm who were left alone and had none to care for in their twilight years.
Terming this as a “burning issue”, the Catholicos pointed out the problem needs to be tackled on an urgent basis. The project now in its initial stages will be launched with a five-member panel headed by a doctor in each of the Orthodox churches in Kerala and dioceses abroad.

Titled “Palliveedu” (church as a home), the elderly will be taken care for a day in a church on Sunday’s. They will be engaged in discussions, prayers, reading magazines and providing them with food and will be picked up from their homes in church vehicles and also provided with palliative care.

A committee in each of the parish will be set up to implement the project and those irrespective of castes can take part in the project. Initially, the project will be launched among big churches that have the resources and the capacity. Slowly this will be extended to each of the 30 Orthodox Church dioceses all over the globe.

His Holiness Paulose II during his recent visit to the Sultanate of Oman spoke about the project at a press conference at the Muscat Mar Gregorios Orthodox Maha Edavaka, MGOME.

Related to the scheme is the launch of the three-month awareness programme and action plan on the care for the elderly and palliative care “Sneha Thanalil Ee Sayahnam.” This will be launched in all parishes of Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Churches in the months of October, November and December 2012 which is being initiated by the Ministry of Human Empowerment of Malankara Orthodox Churches.

The Catholiocs also launched the logo for the awareness programme after the Holy Eucharist at the St Thomas Church, Ruwi was launched by the Catholicos on September 30, at Catholicate Centre, Kolenchery, Kerala.

The Catholicos was in Muscat to participate in the valedictory of the 40th anniversary of Muscat Mar Gregorios Maha Edavaka (1972-2012) and Catholicate centenary. His Holiness also inaugurated a photo exhibition titled “Catholicate through the ages”, during his visit.

Among those who took part in the press conference include HG Pulikkottil Dr Geevarghese Mar Yulios, Metropolitan of Ahmedabad Diocese, Rev Fr Joji George Koickalethu (President/Vicar, MGOME), Rev Fr Binu John Thomas (Associate Vicar), Rev Fr Varghese George, Rev Fr Shaji Mukadiyil Baby (Finance Director, St Gregorios International Cancer Care Centre, Research & Training), E I Rajan (Trustee), Dr Prakash Ninan (Co-Trustee), John Thomas (Santhosh), Secretary, Reji Philip (Media Convenor, MGOME, Managing Committee) and Malankara Sabha managing committee member P K Koshy.

Source:
Liju Cherian