After nearly 4 years of dispute, people-facing Mass resumes at St Mary’s Cathedral Basilica in Kochi

Holy Mass was celebrated at St Mary’s Cathedral Basilica in Kochi on Sunday, August 30, after nearly four years, marking a breakthrough in the long-running dispute over the mode of celebration.

The Mass was held with the priest facing the congregation, a format sought by a section of priests and lay members of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese. The dispute had centred on opposition to the Unified Mass insisted upon by the Syro-Malabar Church Synod.

The breakthrough followed discussions involving Cathedral Basilica administrator Fr Thomas Mangattu, archdiocesan procurator Fr Thomas Vaikathuparambil, Archbishop Joseph Pamplany and members of the archdiocesan curia.

Under the arrangement, a Unified Mass will be celebrated at 5pm on Sundays and days of obligation.

However, when festivals, family union celebrations or catechism anniversaries are scheduled on Sundays, a 6am Mass facing the congregation will be held instead.

Sunday noon Masses connected with weddings will also be celebrated facing the people.

Special arrangements have also been made for bishops celebrating Mass at the basilica. Weddings and memorial Masses in the Unified form can be held at specified times, subject to the church's schedule and approval by the parish priest or administrator.

Court cases to be withdrawn

As part of the understanding, parishioners have agreed to withdraw court cases filed against each other over the dispute at the earliest and cooperate in ensuring the smooth functioning of the parish.

The arrangement comes after earlier attempts through court proceedings and mediation failed to resolve the disagreement. Masses at the basilica had stopped following clashes linked to the Unified form of celebration.

Opposition to consensus remains

The agreement has not ended opposition within the church.

The One Church One Qurbana Movement, a lay group supporting the Unified Mass, said it would not accept the agreement. It questioned whether those involved in reaching the understanding represented all stakeholders seeking a Unified Mass and sought clarification from the archdiocese.

Meanwhile, some clergy and lay members had also recently threatened to boycott bishops, including the Major Archbishop, and warned that they could withdraw from the understanding over unresolved demands concerning the mode of Mass and the selection of bishops from the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese.