Britain’s Syro-Malabar community has taken a major step forward with the ordination of its first bishop.
In a ceremony attended by over 12,000 people, Cardinal George
Alencherry, the Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, ordained Mar
Joseph Srampickal.
The ordination took place at at Preston North End’s stadium,
Deepdale.
The eparchy – an area under a bishop, similar to a diocese –
has been given a cathedral in Preston.
The Syro-Malabar rite Catholic community, one of the Eastern Catholic
churches, originates in India.
It traces its origins back to St Thomas
the Apostle. Nearly 40,000 Syro-Malabar rite Catholics live in England,
Scotland and Wales, served by 23 priests.
Bishop Srampickal, whose title is now Bishop of the Eparchy of Great
Britain of the Syro-Malabar Church, was born in India and was previously
vice-rector of Propaganda Fide College in Rome.
The Lancashire Evening Post reported that some attendees came from as
far as Australia. Bishop Michael Campbell of Lancaster was in
attendance.