They actually listened and the changes are being rolled back starting now. It feels so strange to type this but we really did it and I am still shaking a little bit from the surprise of it all. Please keep an eye on how things go at the mission because …
April 19, 2016
Final supporters
YOUTH FOR UNITY
Petition by Knanaya Catholic Youth of New York
Dear Vicar General and Knanaya Region Director Rev. Fr. Thomas Mulavanal,
We, the Youth of New York Knanaya Catholic community request your kind attention to our concerns. We are extremely saddened by the recent developments in the Knanaya Catholic Mission, Inc. under Fr. Joseph Mathew’s (Adopillil) pastoral care. We kindly request you to do the needful to accomplish the objectives in our petition by advising and/or instructing the pastor not to divide the community under his care and follow Pope Francis’s advice of “The people of God want pastors, not clergy acting like bureaucrats or government officials”.
Many of us were present during the first few Holy Mass services since the pastor’s arrival on December 20, 2015 and we are reluctant to attend services ever since, due to reasons set forth below. Our parents are very disturbed by his provocative speeches and actions and we could see arguments and fight developing in this peaceful community. We are very anxious and concerned about their well-being. We do not foresee any American cultural integration; rather we see a dictatorial style of divide and rule, which we cannot accept. We strongly believe that the congregation that attends the Holy Mass comes there to pray and share the Good News of Christ, not to hear the provocative speeches and autocratic behavior during a Holy Mass. Therefore, the entire Youth of New York joins hands with our Youth of Rockland County who are the victims of such a situation and submit this petition for your consideration.
This petition is to:
1. Refrain from any action to move location of Knanaya Catholic Mission services from the Knanaya Community Center located in Stony Point, NY. As practiced since 2001, continue the Knanaya Catholic Mission services at the Knanaya Community Center where we belong. We were raised in its surroundings and our memories rest there. It is to be noted that this was the Holy Eucharistic Chapel of the Archdiocese of New York prior to our purchase and thus cannot justify priest’s argument that we need a Church building.
2. Refrain from creating division among the youth, community and especially among the families and children through provocative speeches.
3. Request pious religious services, homilies and announcements for the spiritual enrichment rather than threats, curses, ultimatums, and demanding money all the time.
4. Refrain from arrogant speeches and behavior of the pastor and thus provoking the faithful.
5. Respect each other and welcome the majority’s opinion and decisions.
Contact: Fr. Joseph Mathew: Tel: (954)-305-7850, Email: [email protected]
Contact: On behalf of the Youth: Steni Stephan: Tel: (845)-664-2878, Email: [email protected]
We remain very sincerely yours,
(Signed in the online petition)
The Knanaya Catholic Youth of New York
NB: This petition is copied to the Church hierarchies and if situations warrant may be forwarded to the civil authorities.
Updates
January 20, 2016
I have been reading through all the messages coming in and honestly it is just overwhelming to see so many of you feeling the same heavy frustration about what is happening at our services. It feels like we are shouting into a void sometimes but hearing your stories makes me realize we are actually building a real record of this mess that they cannot just ignore anymore.
9 Comments
Fr. Joseph needs to stop acting like he owns this parish. We just want to go to mass in peace without listening to his politics. Please listen to the youth who are actually affected by this.
It should cc to Bish Angadiath, American Bishop's conference, NY arch Bishop, Rome's delegate to America, American Delegate to Rome and to Vathican
I understand that most of the kananaya community members who were living in Mout Vernon,Yonkers and white plains area moved to Rockland crossing the Tapenzee bridge,paying the hefty tols and more commuting hours to job,because of our community, Now we are located in a convenient and safe neighborhood.We would like to stay together as we are now.
With our parents' hard work we have received this community center. We are happy with the present mass, and there is no need for a new church. Is the new church for achan or for us? If we ever get a new church, the only thing that it will accomplish is a split in the people.
We have already seen the effects and strain that occurs in the community after allowing politics in the knanaya church to continue in numerous states. Even in Long Island, only an hour from Rockland county, has the split in family friendship been evident because of the diocese overstepping their religious obligation. If you proceed to act in opposition to this petition, you will be doing to our community what has already been done in every other community.
Please deport him at the earliest
I would like to see the community united as before.
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They actually listened and the changes are being rolled back starting now. It feels so strange to type this but we really did it and I am still shaking a little bit from the surprise of it all. Please keep an eye on how things go at the mission because …
April 19, 2016
Final supporters
YOUTH FOR UNITY
Petition by Knanaya Catholic Youth of New York
Dear Vicar General and Knanaya Region Director Rev. Fr. Thomas Mulavanal,
We, the Youth of New York Knanaya Catholic community request your kind attention to our concerns. We are extremely saddened by the recent developments in the Knanaya Catholic Mission, Inc. under Fr. Joseph Mathew’s (Adopillil) pastoral care. We kindly request you to do the needful to accomplish the objectives in our petition by advising and/or instructing the pastor not to divide the community under his care and follow Pope Francis’s advice of “The people of God want pastors, not clergy acting like bureaucrats or government officials”.
Many of us were present during the first few Holy Mass services since the pastor’s arrival on December 20, 2015 and we are reluctant to attend services ever since, due to reasons set forth below. Our parents are very disturbed by his provocative speeches and actions and we could see arguments and fight developing in this peaceful community. We are very anxious and concerned about their well-being. We do not foresee any American cultural integration; rather we see a dictatorial style of divide and rule, which we cannot accept. We strongly believe that the congregation that attends the Holy Mass comes there to pray and share the Good News of Christ, not to hear the provocative speeches and autocratic behavior during a Holy Mass. Therefore, the entire Youth of New York joins hands with our Youth of Rockland County who are the victims of such a situation and submit this petition for your consideration.
This petition is to:
1. Refrain from any action to move location of Knanaya Catholic Mission services from the Knanaya Community Center located in Stony Point, NY. As practiced since 2001, continue the Knanaya Catholic Mission services at the Knanaya Community Center where we belong. We were raised in its surroundings and our memories rest there. It is to be noted that this was the Holy Eucharistic Chapel of the Archdiocese of New York prior to our purchase and thus cannot justify priest’s argument that we need a Church building.
2. Refrain from creating division among the youth, community and especially among the families and children through provocative speeches.
3. Request pious religious services, homilies and announcements for the spiritual enrichment rather than threats, curses, ultimatums, and demanding money all the time.
4. Refrain from arrogant speeches and behavior of the pastor and thus provoking the faithful.
5. Respect each other and welcome the majority’s opinion and decisions.
Contact: Fr. Joseph Mathew: Tel: (954)-305-7850, Email: [email protected]
Contact: On behalf of the Youth: Steni Stephan: Tel: (845)-664-2878, Email: [email protected]
We remain very sincerely yours,
(Signed in the online petition)
The Knanaya Catholic Youth of New York
NB: This petition is copied to the Church hierarchies and if situations warrant may be forwarded to the civil authorities.
Updates
January 20, 2016
I have been reading through all the messages coming in and honestly it is just overwhelming to see so many of you feeling the same heavy frustration about what is happening at our services. It feels like we are shouting into a void sometimes but hearing your stories makes me realize we are actually building a real record of this mess that they cannot just ignore anymore.
9 Comments
Everything was fine before he came. Now everyone is arguing and families are taking sides. This is not what our community is about.
Fr. Joseph needs to stop acting like he owns this parish. We just want to go to mass in peace without listening to his politics. Please listen to the youth who are actually affected by this.
It should cc to Bish Angadiath, American Bishop's conference, NY arch Bishop, Rome's delegate to America, American Delegate to Rome and to Vathican
I understand that most of the kananaya community members who were living in Mout Vernon,Yonkers and white plains area moved to Rockland crossing the Tapenzee bridge,paying the hefty tols and more commuting hours to job,because of our community, Now we are located in a convenient and safe neighborhood.We would like to stay together as we are now.
With our parents' hard work we have received this community center. We are happy with the present mass, and there is no need for a new church. Is the new church for achan or for us? If we ever get a new church, the only thing that it will accomplish is a split in the people.
We have already seen the effects and strain that occurs in the community after allowing politics in the knanaya church to continue in numerous states. Even in Long Island, only an hour from Rockland county, has the split in family friendship been evident because of the diocese overstepping their religious obligation. If you proceed to act in opposition to this petition, you will be doing to our community what has already been done in every other community.
Please deport him at the earliest
I would like to see the community united as before.
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Everything was fine before he came. Now everyone is arguing and families are taking sides. This is not what our community is about.