The Commission for Bible promotes the use, study and propagation of Bible in the Latin Rite dioceses of Kerala region. This is done through the promotion of Bible in the families, the participation of children, youth and adult in the annually conducted Logos Bible Quiz, the organization of Bible study and Bible sharing in parishes, institutions and dioceses, the establishment of Bible schools or colleges in the diocesan level and through the promotion of distant education of Bible in vernacular and English.
Liturgy being the central reality of catholic faith and life the commission for Liturgy plays a pivotal role. It oversees the proper and dignified celebration of the liturgy in all the Latin dioceses of Kerala. Translating and making available the official liturgical texts of the Roman rite is one of the prime concerns of this commission. It also equally carries out the responsibility of providing para-liturgical texts when and where it is needed. The commission prepared four melodies for sung Mass according to the new order of the Mass and made them available on ‘Jeevanews’ channel. The liturgical formation of the Latin community of Kerala is also the responsibility of this commission. There is a Liturgical research wing that assists the commission.
This is a commission that traditionally functions systematically in the Church. But in the new scenario of participation and co-ordination it is trying to bring all the dioceses of the region work hand in hand with the common vision: “coordinated and innovatively updated Catechetical Mission to build up generations in Christ”.
So, with a clear understanding that catechesis is a life-long process for every member of the Church, the prime focus of the commission is to empower the various categories of faith formators and the parents to work together for imparting to the generations, especially the younger, the values of the KINGDOM with a missionary thrust, and thus build, promote and defend their personality. This is ensured through proper conducting of Sunday Catechesis, Vacation Catechesis, Activity Based Catechesis (ABC) and Home/BCC based Catechesis in every parish and mission stations, making available necessary text books and work books for students, guides and hand books for teachers/animators, special formation packages for Holy Confirmation, Mentors for Counseling and Student Leaders, etc. employing various possibilities of print, audio-visual and other media.
This is in fact a commission that deals with three different aspects. The promotion of vocations to priesthood is a prime concern of the commission. The commission also takes care of the minor seminaries in the Latin Church of Kerala. It works in collaboration with St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri, Alwaye in this matter. The commission cares for the diocesan clergy of the Latin Church of Kerala. It provides opportunities for common inter-diocesan gatherings of priests, upgrading the knowledge base and skills of the priests, and ongoing formation of diocesan clergy. The Kerala unit of Conference of Diocesan Priests of India (CDPI) is organized and guided by the commission.
The commission for religious manages the matters concerning the vocation, formation, and ongoing formation of men and women religious in the Latin Church of Kerala. The commission creates an opportunity and atmosphere for common coming together of all the religious congregations ministering in the Latin church of Kerala. It organizes various trainings, study classes, workshops, and seminars for the religious. It brings together the authorities of the religious congregations at various levels from major superiors to local house superiors for common sharing of hopes and dreams, problems and issues, challenges and opportunities. The commission also functions as a mediator between the Bishops’ council (KRLCBC) and the religious communities in times of need. The commission works in collaboration with the Kerala section of the Conference of Religious India (CRI). It promotes the functioning of CRI units in every diocese of the Latin Church of Kerala.
This commission coordinates and motivates the evangelization activities of each diocese. It organizes the conventions of preachers from all the 12 dioceses of Kerala. It proposes trainings for various groups of ministers like preachers, music ministry, spiritual counselors, out reaches etc.. It also organizes retreats and Bible conventions in parishes and institutions. It promotes mission trips and exposure programs for those who are interested. The “Heart to Heart” mission linkage program initiated at the Mission congress in 2017 is carried forward by the commission. The activities of the Catholic Charismatic Movement in the Latin Church of Kerala are also coordinated and promoted by the Commission for Proclamation.
Unity of all Christians was the prayer of Christ. The Church continues the mission of unity among various Christian communities unceasingly. This commission gives able leadership for the annual ‘Church Unity Octave’ prayer in January. It also organizes seminars and workshops on unity among churches involving different Christian denominations. It also functions as the local partner of the Commission for Ecumenism in Rome. The commission continues the theological dialogue with other Christian churches especially of the western origin.
In a world of multiple religions the existence of any religion is coexistence. Mutual dialogue among religions leads to deeper mutual understanding. Keeping this in mind the Catholic Church has always been open to dialogue with other religions. In the modern days the Church not only advises but mandates its members and different bodies to carry on the dialogue with other religions and even with non believers. This commission religiously carries out the mandate of the Church in Kerala where different religions live together. It organizes common prayers, common social activities, study groups, dialogue cells etc.. It promotes healthy relationship between the leaders of different religions through common gatherings, mutual visits, and serious dialogues.
The commission for Theology and Doctrine brings together all the scholars in different disciplines in the Latin Church of Kerala and makes use of their knowledge and expertise for the welfare of the Church. It encourages the scholars to contribute positively by bringing out books, giving lectures, classes, workshops etc on different topics to different categories of academic community in the Latin Church and outside. The commission is at special service of the bishops in particular matters concerning any discipline of Theology or Philosophy. The commission organizes periodic meetings of the scholars in different disciplines.
This is a commission dealing with the legal frame of the Church. The commission brings out simplified information about various laws and legal disciplines of the Church for the ordinary people of the Church. The commission provides necessary legal support (canonical) within the frame work of the Church to the people of God. It also organizes various trainings to different groups of people holding different offices in the Church. The commission mediates between the lay people and the canonical experts of the church. The commission makes official translation of the legislative texts produced by the Church into English and local language for the use of the ordinary people.
Along with the commission there is also the ‘Canon Law Society of Kerala’, which is a society with members who are specialized in canon law. It provides assistance and advice to the Bishops when needed. The society keeps the scholars upgrading their knowledge base through annual gathering, different topic based seminars and workshops.
Family being the foundation of the church and the society much importance is given to the care and growth of strong families. The commission oversees primarily the preparation of candidates for the sacrament of marriage. It brings out periodically updated text books for the marriage preparation courses in the dioceses, provides training to the resource persons, helps updating the modules of the course, and keeps the marriage preparation course standardized in all the dioceses. The commission accompanies the couples and the families through enrichment programs for them from the first to the last stages of their journey together (young couples 0-5 years; middle aged 05-25 years; and senior couples 25 and above years). It promotes the Pro-life activities, couples’ gatherings, mothers’ forum (Maathruveedy), fathers’ forum (Pithruveedy), widows’ or widowers’ forum, singles’ forum, marriage encounter programs, etc.
The commission takes particular interest in the ministry to the persons with special needs in the family like deaf and dumb, the blind and the differentially abled. Spiritual support is provided for them in their own language, along with necessary material support.
One of the key areas of function of the commission is running the ‘Latin Matrimonial Site’ (Marriage Bureau) linking all the 12 Latin dioceses of Kerala to help find life partners from the Latin community. The commission also promotes the gathering and honoring of Jubilee couples at diocesan or forane or even parish levels. The commission helps the dioceses to hold periodic updating courses or sessions for young couples of different years of married life like three, five, or ten years.
Considering the growing stress and tension in life, particularly of families, the commission has put up a counselors’ forum bringing together experts in various fields of psychology and counseling from all the 12 Latin diocese of Kerala. Those who need assistance can access the personnel from anywhere either online or over phone or in person.
Though the needs of children were addressed in different commissions like family, education, catechism, the growing demand for a separate commission to cater to the children in a comprehensive manner was raised by multiple corners. Convinced of the urgency and need of the demand the KRLCBC in its meeting of January 12, 2018 officially created a commission for children. All the matters pertaining to the welfare of children, other than those taken care of by one or other commission, come under the responsibility of the commission for children. The commission is focused on creating a safe environment for every child at every place. The alarming growth of violence and use of illegal substance by children at the age of six or even below is a challenge for the commission. The commission focuses on the conscientization and awareness building among parents, teachers, and any other groups that deal with children, about the roles and responsibilities of the older people, the legal implications involved in child protection, etc. The commission also strives to provide regional, national or even international opportunities and platforms for children to grow and freely express themselves, especially for the less privileged classes.
This commission coordinates the social activities of the Latin Church of Kerala through the Diocesan Social Service Societies. Though most of the activities are undertaken by the diocesan social service societies the JPD commission of KRLCBC represents the Latin Church in the Kerala Social Service Forum (KSSF). Therefore the secretary of the KRLCBC Commission for JPD is by office the associate secretary of KSSF. The activities of some departments like environment, agriculture, fisheries, tribal development, dalith development, etc., which may be commissions in some dioceses and departments in others, are addressed by the JPD Commission. This commission is concerned with the integral social development of the people through social development activities, promotion of dialogue and networking with various development agencies, liaisoning and negotiation with various government departments and non government agencies, and involving in peace-building and liberative activities.
A vast majority of the Latin Catholic population of Kerala belong to the ordinary labor class. Among them more than 90% are in the unorganized sectors. This reveals the importance of the Commission for Labor. This commission organizes the people according to their jobs and occupation. The commission tries to make sure of the welfare of the working class people. It helps the workers to get registered in the welfare societies and boards of the government. It also helps the workers in healthy unionizing. The commission helps the labor class to understand the dignity of labor and the rights and duties of the laborers. It helps the workers to engage in nation building with self esteem and pride. The commission keeps itself in connection with national and international labor organizations.
The Kerala Labor Movement (KLM), a registered labor organization, is promoted by the commission in all the Latin diocese of Kerala. Through KLM various trade unions are registered and those trade unions help the members to obtain their rightful benefits from the government and other agencies. The labor forums registered by KLM thus far are:
1. Construction Workers’ Forum (SNTU)
2. Kerala Tailoring Workers Forum (KTWF)
3. Kerala Cherukida Thottam Tozhilali Forum (KCTTF)
4. Kerala Domestic Workers’ Forum (KDWF)
5. Kerala Agricultural Workers’ Forum (KAWF)
6. Kerala Motor Transport Workers’ Forum (KMTWF)
7. Kerala Fish Workers Forum (KMTF)
8. Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishment workers Forum (KSCEWF)
The commission for health functions in a dual dimension. It focuses primarily on the health of the individuals, and secondly on the health institutions of the Latin Church of Kerala. On the individual side the commission focuses on creation of health awareness, helping to adapt preventive measures, improving personal and social hygiene, etc. On the institutional side the commission coordinates the small and big health institutions owned and operated by different agencies in the Latin Church of Kerala. It develops periodic health policies for the people of the Latin Church of Kerala taking into consideration their specific life situations. It also tries to make available life saving medicines and treatments at an affordable cost. The commission works in collaboration with various other organizations and agencies in the health care sector of the state and nation. The commission cooperates with the government in the community health initiatives and fighting against epidemics.
The Commission for Migrants deal with the welfare of Migrant people. The main thrust of the commission is to give pastoral care and support for the people who are working outside Kerala and people who came to Kerala.
During the pandemic the Commission Collaborated with State Government and tried to provide shelter centres for the people returned to Kerala from Abroad.
The Commission has Conducted various online meetings with Migrants in different Countries we expressed solidarity and support to the people who were stranded and Isolated due to the pandemic.
In 2021 the Commission constituted and expert committee to study the concerns and problems of Migrants and submitted the report to the JB Koshy commission constituted by State Government to study the problems of Christian Minorities in Kerala.
Use of alcohol and illegal drugs are on the increase even among children and teenagers. Considering this dangerous situation in the society the KRLCBC formed a commission to fight against the menace in the Church and the society at large. This commission works in close collaboration with the KCBC commission for temperance. It conducts awareness programs for children, youth and specific age and occupational groups. It organizes retreats and spiritual programs focused specifically for the addicts. It also gives lead to social agitations against the dangerous liquor policies of the governments from time to time. It also promotes rehabilitation centers for liquor and drug addicts. The commission supports those who come out of the addictions through forming their support groups, helping them to find decent jobs, healthy immersion in to the society, etc.
KRLCBC Education Ministry holds that education is the key for social transformation in general and educational empowerment of children and youth is the future of the Latin Church of Kerala in particular. Hence the Education ministry is more student than institution oriented. Community Development through Educational Empowerment is the long term project of the commission since 2018. Education Commission coordinates the various educational activities and new initiatives at diocesan level which create a platform for the managers and education ministry directors to share, address and learn new strategic planning for the educational empowerment of the community. While the institutional aspect is mostly taken care by the corporate managements, the quality improvement of the education process based on individual students and parishes level educational empowerment by the education ministry directors. Thus an integral education program is developed by the commission to be implemented from the BCC level too. The commission is concerned with the quality education of every child of the Latin community of Kerala from the pre-primary to professional and higher education levels. The activities of Kerala Catholic Students’ League (KCSL) in the schools of the Latin Church of Kerala are promoted by the commission. The commission attends to the physical circumstances for education also like ensuring financial security for providing quality education. The commission, in collaboration with St. Albert’s College Autonomous, Ernakulum, St. Theresa’s College Autonomous, Ernakulum and the Youth commission of KRLCBC, has initiated Civil Service Grooming program for the degree students from all the twelve Latin Dioceses of Kerala, with a goal of eventually ensuring the presence of the Latin community in the bureaucracy of India.
Media, as the fourth estate in democracy, plays a pivotal role in today’s world. Media is an essential tool for all the other commissions. The media commission coordinates all the media cells in all the Latin dioceses of Kerala. It also ensures the adequate presence of the Latin Community in the media world. It also provides media education to different commissions and associations of the Latin community in Kerala. The media commission functions as a liaison between the press and the Latin church of Kerala.
The mouth-piece of the Kerala Latin Church is “Jeevanadam” a weekly publication. It is managed by an Episcopal commission with the Chairman of the Media Commission as its head and Bishops Selvister Ponnumuthan and Alex Vadakkumthala as members. Jeevanadam brings to the public the challenges and problems faced by the Latin community and gives lead to intellectual dialogue with the public.
It envisages the promotion and encouragement of Catholic youth in their understanding of Christian Faith and Vocation, and their personal commitment to Catholic values. In particular, The Commission focuses on the holistic growth of the Catholic youth and on their ensuing commitment towards the Church and the larger society in Kerala.
Youth Commission strives to animate the young people of Kerala to be transforming leaders firmly founded on Catholic faith. It achieves its vision through an effective mission ‘PLAN’
P – Providing resources in faith related issues
L – Leading and accompanying the youth to be agents of change for a new society
A – Animating and coordinating activities of diocesan Youth Commissions/Organizations/Movements
N – Nurturing and encouraging the development of comprehensive youth ministry at all levels – from grassroots to the Regional.
Objectives
To make young people true Disciples of Christ – declaring and living one’s catholic identity
To participate in the Life of the Church – enriched by the Word of GOD and Sacraments
To transform young people into Christian Leaders building a new society
To empower youth to ‘youth out-reach’ initiatives
To foster a culture of Excellence that leads to Holistic Success – Individual and Collective
The Commission organises and coordinates various Lay Associations and community organizations in the Church. The main organizations of the Laity in the Latin Church of Kerala are Kerala Latin Catholic Association(KLCA), Kerala Latin Catholic Women Association(KLCWA), Christian Service Society(CSS), Dalit Catholic Mahajana Sabha(DCMS) and North Kerala Dalit Catholic Federation( NKDCF) for Community development. Kerala Catholic Youth Movement Latin ( KCYM Latin), Jesus Youth and Christian Life Communities (CLC) for the Youth. Kerala Labor Movement(KLM) and Forums of employees in organized and unorganized sectors for the labourers. Pious Association like Legion of Mary and Society of St. Vincent De Paul are also very active.
Most of these laity organizations have been active in Kerala for a long time. They are now given a proper vision and mission taking into account the needs of present times and local areas where they are working. Some organizations were formed particularly in the local context and needs of the Latin Catholic Community in Kerala. They are trained to respond to Socio Political context in Kerala. There is one representative each in all the Basic Christian Community who takes care of the Laity ministry in the parish. Regular Lay leadership programmes are organized to form capable lay leaders who could perform well in the church as well as in the Society.
The commission for women works in collaboration with the Women’s commission of CCBI, CBCI and KCBC, and animates in the Latin Church of Kerala all the activities proposed by the respective higher bodies. This commission coordinates different women’s organizations functioning in the Latin Church of Kerala. It is concerned with the empowerment of all categories of women in the church. The commission gives various trainings, both spiritual and social, to the women. It is concerned with the educational, social, economic, political and cultural development of the women. It also attends to the vocational training and placement of women in different jobs. The commission motivates and encourages the women to rise in the ladder of bureaucracy, legislature, and judiciary. The major organization for women that works with the commission is Kerala Latin Catholic Women’s Association (KLCWA).
In the Kerala Latin Church, all the 12 dioceses have got BCCs or family units as the basic cells of the parish. BCCs being the miniature form of the Church, all the ministries are facilitated and coordinated in the BCC level. BCC units consists of 20 to 30 families, meet regularly in their families and pray, share and discuss social, educational issues related to their lives. It is an effective platform to coordinate the pastoral activities of the parish. Since they come together regularly in the unit meetings, they become aware about the needs of others and dispose themselves in helping others. The units take turns to prepare the liturgies and participate all the parish activities basing on the units decisions. Their representatives are there in the parish pastoral council which make the council to discuss the issues related to their lives. The ministry bodies are also strong in the parish. All the units will have ministry representatives and they will form a separate body which takes the initiatives to discuss the ministry wise concern like education and social action. Their representatives will be there in the council. The three tire system is there in a parish. Parish pastoral and finance council, secondary level is that of ministry bodies and the third level is the BCC units.
