The Mass liturgy divide in the Syro-Malabar Church has deepened and uncertainty continues to grip the Church with a large rebel group of lay people and priests in Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese expressing readiness either to be hived off the larger church or to be recognised as a liturgical variant within it.
Outside the larger Syro-Malabar fold, the rebel group reportedly wants to form a church in communion with Rome, but outside the Syro-Malabar hierarchy, to continue with full congregation facing Mass as is the practice now in the archdiocese. This is in sharp contrast to a synod diktat to follow the unified Mass in which the celebrant faced the altar during the consecration of the Eucharists but turned to people at the introductory and final blessings.
The group’s stand was made unequivocally clear on April 19 (Friday) after a meeting of the assembly of priests (presbyterium). The full people-facing Mass is the only choice before the archdiocese, said the group spokesman at the end of the presbyterium. “Nothing else is possible,” said the statement issued by senior priest Jose Vailikodath, spokesperson of Athirupatha Samrakshana Samithy (Diocesan Protection Forum).
