Our Lady of Health Syro Malabar Catholic Forane Church 201 N. University Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33071

Vicar: Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Kumbakeel Website: www.Syromalabarflorida.org Email: info@syromalabarflorida.org

September 11, 2016

Holy Mass Schedule

Sundays:

8:15AM– Morning Prayer,

8:30AM- Solemn Holy

Qurbana in Malayalam

Simultaneously at 8:30 AM

CCD classes commence.

10:00AM- Novena of

Arogya Matha at followed

by Holy Mass at 10:15AM

in English for

CCD Children.

Week Day Masses

Mondays, Wednesdays and

Thursdays:

6:15PM- Holy Mass

Wednesdays: St Joseph’s

Novena after the Holy Mass

Fridays:

6:00-7:00 Confessions

6:30PM- Evening Prayer

and Rosary,

7:00PM- Holy Mass

First Fridays:

6:30PM- Evening prayer

and Rosary,

7:00 pm Holy Mass and

Adoration

until 12:00 midnight.

Saturdays:

8:30AM- Rosary and

Morning Prayer

9:00AM- Holy Mass and

Novena of our Lady.

(No Mass on Tuesdays)

Fourth Sunday of Elijah- Cross– Moses Season (First Sunday of Cross)

Our Lady of Health Velankanni Pray for US!

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FOURTH SUNDAY OF ELIJAH, CROSS, MOSES (FIRST SUNDAY OF CROSS) BIBLE READINGS FOR SEPTEMBER 11-18, 2016

DATE/DAY 1ST READING: OLD TESTAMENT 2ND READING: EPISTYLES GOSPEL

09/11/2016-SUNDAY Deuteronomy 8:11-20/Isaiah

33:13-24

Philippians 2:1-11 Matthew 4:12-17

09/12/2016-MONDAY Philippians 4:10-14 Matthew 5:43-48

09/13/2016-TUESDAY 2 Peter 3:1-7/Ephesians 4:1-

7, 11-13

Matthew 23:29-36/Mark 4:1-9

09/14/2016-WEDNESDAY Numbers 21:4-9/Isaiah 42:13-17 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Luke 24:13-27

09/15/2016-THURSDAY 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Matthew 25:31-40

09/16/206-FRIDAY 2 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 4:31-37

09/17/2016-SATURDAY Colossians 1:24-29 Luke 15:1-7

09/18/2016-SUNDAY Deuteronomy 9:1-6/Isaiah 25:1-8 Philippians 3:1-11 Matthew 17:14-21

Vicar: Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Kumbakeel Phone:754 366 6765

E-mail: Frkuku@gmail.com

Rectory/Office Address:

159 NW 95th Lane,

Coral Springs, FL 33071 Phone / Fax: 954 227 6985

Pastoral Assistance:

Sr. Jolly Maria SABS 954 600 7569

Sr. Elsa SABS 954 826 4964 Convent: 954-323 8373

Pastoral Council

James Maroor

John Joseph Angadiath

Parish Kaikkarans-

Jose Chazhoor 561 542 3701

Binoy George 954 529 4117

Antony Thottathil 954 579 3743

Jose Vempala 954 993 4005

Indian Catholic Association of Florida

President– Robince Jose 786-797-2329 Secretary-Benny Parathalakal 954-849-0084

Parish Youth Committee Treasa Joy, Jobin Joseph, Bobin Bijoy,

Angela Mathew, Jonathen Mathew Emmanual,

Robin Regimone, Kavitha Davis & Kevin Kurian

CCD Coordinators Jimmy Emmanuel 954 434 9332

Rosily Panikulangara 954 340 4940

Adult Choir Coordinators

Elsy Vathielil & Joby Thundathil (954) 757 5450

Youth Choir Coordinator

John Joseph Angadiath- (954) 309-7533

MathruSangam Coordinators

Asha Johnson, Dr. Rose Joseph &

Elsy Vathielil

Syro Malabar Catholic Congress President- Saju Vadakkel 954-547-7606 Secretary– Robin Antony 954-552-1267

St. Vincent de Paul Society

President : Mathew K Valloor (954) 907 9659

Board: Jose Rathappallil,

Jimmy Emmanuel & Jose Prakash

Bible Reading Coordinators First Mass -Sr. Jolly Maria-954 323 8373

2nd Mass (CCD)- Prety Devasia-954 424 1798

Web Administrator:

Jithesh Joseph josephjithesh@gmail.com

Bulletin Editor:

Lukose Pynumkan (561) 271 6888

Email: pynumkan@hotmail.com

Pynumkan@gmail.com

Dear parishioners PARISH FEAST In preparation for our annual parish feast we are going through the novena days. Our main feast days are 9, 10&11th (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) of this month. I invite all the parish members and believers for the feast. Let us come together worshiping and thank-ing the lord for the ineffable gifts He is bestowing us through the powerful mediation of our mother. Please be at the church on time to participate in the holy ceremonies and other activities. Also pray the mediation of our mother in a special way during our feast. CCD registration I thank all the parents who co-operated with the CCD registration. Only very few are left to register. Please fill up the form and complete the formality as early as possible. Mother Theresa's feast We thank the Lord for giving us Mother Theresa as a model and inspiration for the world. Let us try to follow her courageous example of loving and living for the poorest of the poor. I wish to thank the members of Vincent de Paul society for sponsoring the NERCHA for the parish community. May the good Lord bless and protect all of you! Fr. Kuriakose Kumbakeel (Vicariachan)

Message from Vicariachan

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*The Big Day - Mathai Vempala When Vincent Lukose, the “Presudenti” told us that the “Valiya Perunnal” this year would be in the old Kerala tradition and it would be grand and would last three days, we couldn’t help but doubt it, as all good St Thomas Christians are supposed to do. Who are we to tell him the obvious and hurt his feelings? We did neither. We offered the customary encouragement and support. However, we had a nice surprise in store and he had the last laugh. As announced, the Perunnal program started on September 8, 2000 Friday at 7 p.m. (well, may be a little later) with Kodiyettam (that is hoisting the festival flag) by Fr. Joe Maroor and he did it in grand style too. There followed the Ladeenj and Benediction. Later the gathered devotees were served cakes (what else, it being the Blessed Mother’s birthday?) and the traditional vatta-yappam. The gathering was not big but it was more than what we expected. The events on Saturday started at 7:45 p.m. with Fr. Abraham Joseph Palli-vathukal as the main celebrant. Novena, Adoration, Vespara, installation of the next year’s “Presudenti” and benediction were part of the program. Mr. Joseph Rathappillil, wearing the golden mudi was properly installed as the Presudenti for the Perunnal in the year 2001. Then there was the procession. Some how, somewhere, we started to feel like a Perunnal after all. The con-gregation was large too.

Sunday was exceptional. The heavy down pour on that day might sway weak hearts, but not our brave souls. It was a wonderful sight to see so many people, as big or even bigger than what we normally see during the Xmas celebration. We could sense a feeling of together-ness and spirituality during the Solemn High Mass. Fr. George Puthusserril who was the main celebrant sang beautifully and the Choir, led by Mrs. Elsie James Vathielil did their part better than ever. The Novena of our children, crowding around the Altar and shouting ‘Hail Mary’ at the top of their voice was sufficient to move even tough hearts, what to say the tender heart of Our Blessed Mother. Mr. Mathew Vachaparambil and Mr. Joseph Chandy, who had come from Chicago to promote the registration for the next Syro Mala-bar Convention, admitted that in their long years in the United States they never had seen such a moving scene. The children also sang “Ave, Maria” led by Sr. Yolanda with her Guitar. A beaming Fr. James could be seen everywhere, directing the proceedings, talk-ing to the guests from other Rites and regions, giving instructions to the ushers, and in short trying to do a lot of things at the same time.

The Thalapoly was fantastic. The procession was grand. The family members/friends of Vincent Lu-kose carried the statue of Velankanni Matha on their shoulders accompanied by ponnalakudas (the big colorful decorative umbrellas) on both sides. The chendamelam (the drums of Kerala) by Koshy Shan-karathil and Robyn Kalladanthyil added to the festivi-ties. Despite all these, no one could help but notice the spiritual atmosphere that day. The Kuda, Ku-rishu and Chendamelam might have taken many of us back to the Perunnals in Kerala during our child-hood, in the good old days. The dinner was deli-cious. A bit of nostalgia was in the atmosphere. While the moms and dads were praying the Holy Rosary, one could not help notice the children in the front of the column occasionally dancing to the beat of the Chenda. A few children were fascinated by the customs and traditions and were asking question. May be that we are getting their attention and appreciation for some of the things we do in India. It was a search for our roots and theirs. Imagine for once about the possibilities if we stay together as one community as we did that day. The Presudenti was right. The feast of Our Blessed Mother of Vailankanni was really a wonderful experience. Congratulations Vincent, Betsy and little Crystal!. We hope next year’s Perunnal will be as good or even better.

*On this joyful occasion when we celebrate the Annual Feast of Our Lady, I have great pleasure in re-publishing the article above by

Mathai Vempala, about the first ever Perunnal of Velankanni Matha in Florida. This appeared originally in the September 2000 issue of

our erstwhile Monthly Newsletter “The Indian Catholic” published by the Indian Catholic Association of Florida. Of course, at that time

we had no Church of our own, no parish, no Vicar, no Syro Malabar diocese, and no Bishop; but we had “the Indian Catholic Association”

under the spiritual guidance of Chaplain Rev. Fr. (now Monsignor) James Parappally, who introduced all the necessary ingredients of a

parish, like Sunday masses, an adult choir and a kids choir, Altar servers, novena of Our Lay of Health, Youth League, Youth Band, the

Monthly Newsletter “Indian Catholic’, a website “IndiaCatholic.com” etc. etc. and above all, a handful of pioneer families with the ar-

dent spirit of the early Christians. Evidently, their hard work, sacrifices and never-say– die attitude bore fruit in the form Our Lady of

Health Forane Parish of today. This issue of the Bulletin is dedicated to those pioneers who have made it all possible!

Hoisting the Thirunaal flag. Presudenti Vincent Lukose, Fr. James and Fr. Joseph Maroor are at the center

Children praying the Novena

Presudenti Vincent Lukose and family during the Thirunaal Qurbana

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A few more pictures of the First Traditional Kerala Style Thirunaal of Our Lady of Health Celebrated in September 2000 at St. Maximillian Kolbe Church, Pembroke Pines.

The feast of Saint Mother Teresa was celebrated in Our Lady of Health Church, Coral Springs on September 4, 2016 Sunday, the day of her Canonization. A few pictures are given below.

(Photo Courtesy: Lukose Pynumkan)

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Persecution of Christians from the 1st Century to the present time –13 Current situation (1989 to present) Egypt Foreign missionaries are allowed in the country if they restrict their activities to social improvements and refrain from proselytizing. The Coptic Pope Shenouda III was internally exiled in 1981 by President Anwar Sadat, who then chose five Coptic bishops and asked them to choose a new pope. They refused, and in 1985 President Hosni Mubarak restored Pope Shenouda III, who had been accused of fomenting inter-confessional strife. Particularly in Upper Egypt, the rise in extremist Islamist groups such as the Gama'at Islamiya during the 1980s was ac-companied by increased attacks on Copts and on Coptic Orthodox churches; these have since declined with the decline of those organiza-tions, but still continue. The police have been accused of siding with the attackers in some of these cases. In April 2006, one person was killed and twelve injured in simultaneous knife attacks on three Coptic Orthodox churches in Alexandria. In July 2012, Dahshur's entire Christian community, which some estimate to be as many as a hundred families, fled to nearby towns due to sectarian violence. The violence began in a dispute over a badly ironed shirt, which in turn escalated into a fight in which a Christian burned a Muslim to death, which in turn sparked a rampage by angry Muslims, while the police failed to act. At least 16 homes and properties of Chris-tians were pillaged, some were torched, and a church was damaged during the violence. From 2011 to 2013, more than 150 kidnappings, for ransom, of Christians had been reported in the Minya governorate. In 2016, Egyptian poet Fatima Naoot was convicted of "contempt of religion" and sentenced to three years in jail for a 2014 Facebook post criticising animal killing during Eid. Four Coptic Christian juveniles were convicted of "contempt of religion" the next month, with three of them sentenced to five years in prison.

Indonesia Although Christians are minority in Indonesia, Christianity is one of the six official religions of Indonesia and religious freedom is permitted. But there are some religious tensions and persecutions in the country, and most of the tensions and persecutions are civil and not by state. In January 1999 tens of thousands died when Muslims gunmen terrorized Christians who had voted for independence in East Timor. In Indonesia, religious conflicts have typically occurred in Western New Guinea, Maluku (particularly Ambon), and Sulawesi. The presence of Muslims in these traditionally Christian regions is in part a result of the transmigrasi program of population re-distribution. Conflicts have often occurred because of the aims of radical Islamist organizations such as Jemaah Islamiah or Laskar Jihad to impose Sharia such groups attack-ing Christians and destroying over 600 churches. In 2005 three Christian girls were beheaded as retaliation for previous Muslim deaths in Christian-Muslim rioting. The men were imprisoned for the murders, including Jemaah Islamiyah's district ringleader Hasanuddin. On going to jail, Hasanuddin said, "It's not a problem (if I am being sentenced to prison), because this is a part of our struggle." Later on November 2011, another fight between Christians against Muslims happen in Ambon. Radical Islamists allegedly set fire to several Christian houses, forcing the occupants to leave the buildings. In December 2011, a second church in Bogor, West Java was ordered to halt its activities by the local mayor. Another Catholic church had been built there in 2005. Previously a Christian church, GKI Taman Yasmin, had been sealed. Local authorities refused to lift a ban on the activities of the church, despite an order from the Supreme Court of Indonesia. Local authorities have persecuted the Christian church for three years. While the state has ordered religious toleration, it has not enforced these orders. In Aceh Province, the only province in Indonesia with autonomous Islamic Shari'a Law, 20 churches in Singkil Regency face threat of demoli-tion due to gubernatorial decree requires the approval of 150 worshippers, while the ministrial decree also requires the approval of 60 local residents of different faiths. On 30 April 2012, all the 20 churches (17 Protestant churches, 2 Catholic churches and one place of worship be-longing to followers of a local nondenominational faith) have been closed down by order, from the Acting Regent which also ordered members of the congregations to tear down the churches by themselves. Most of the churches slated for demolition were built in the 1930s and 1940s. The regency has 2 churches open, both built after 2000.

Iran The Assyrian Genocide and Armenian Genocide of World War I conducted by invading Turks drastically reduced the Christian population of Iran, as they did with Turkey, Iraq and to a lesser degree north east Syria. Though Iran recognizes Assyrian and Armenian Christians as eth-nic and religious minorities (along with Jews and Zoroastrians) and they have representatives in the Parliament, after the 1979 Revolution, Muslim converts to Christianity (typically to Protestant Christianity) have been arrested and sometimes executed.[170] Youcef Nadarkhani is an Iranian Christian pastor who was arrested on charges of apostasy in October 2009 and was subsequently sentenced to death. In June 2011 the Iranian Supreme Court overruled his death sentence on condition that he recant, which he refused to do. In a reversal on 8 of September 2012 he was acquitted of the charges of apostasy and extortion, and sentenced to time served for the charge of "propaganda against the re-gime," and immediately released. (Source: Wikipedia) (To be continued)