Protect the Beauty of the Created World

Light of Truth

Bp John Nellikunnel, Idukki
Episcopal Ordination
April 5, 2018

When is your Episcopal ordination? What is the motto you like to take as a bishop and why?
My episcopal Ordination is on 05-04-2018. My motto is based on 1Jn 3:18, namely ‘love in deed and truth.’ God manifested His love in the person of Jesus. Love is not a sentiment but an action to be lived, as shown in the words of the Lord: “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13:35). Jesus showed His love by offering Himself totally for humanity. Christian community has to bear witness to the Gospel through genuine love in deeds and truth. Divine love is active; it meets the genuine needs of others in deeds and truth.

What is the priority you would like to give your diocese?
I believe that my first priority should be to strengthen families in faith and guide them to face the challenges of the times. In carrying out the mission of Christ I should try to foster in my person and in others deep commitment to the Gospel values, a joy in living the Gospel and bearing witness to Christ. I wish to be connected to the people, to understand their needs, to listen to them and to strengthen their hopes and aspirations. We need collaborative parish leadership integrating the charisms and gifts of the clergy, religious and the laity. My sincere desire is to have the lay leaders actively involved in all the walks of the society with a real Catholic spirit.

What is the current situation of the diocese? What according to you is the immediate need of the faithful in your diocese?
Idukki is largely a rural diocese comprising mostly of farmers. The agrarian background is highly positive in living our Christian faith. In general it is an area where we find a vibrant Church. However, people face many challenges regarding land ownership rights; young people have to go elsewhere to have quality education and decent jobs.

You have about 150 parishes, what about the clergy and the religious?
The total number of Syro-Malabar Catholics in the diocese is above 2,50,000. The diocese has 183 incardinated priests. They are rendering effective pastoral service in the parishes and institutions. If we get a continuous flow of vocations in the future we can send priests to the missions. Most of our priests are in their youth. We have a quite a large number of religious too. There are 13 Congregations of religious men and 30 congregations of religious women in the diocese. The youthfulness of the clergy and the religious positively contribute to active pastoral ministry in the parishes.

Idukki’ is a land between two narrow gorges. The river Periyar is flowing through Idukki. Your Idukki diocese is situated in an ecological sensitive area and there are debates on the conservation of India’s Western Ghats, what position do you hold regarding the ecological concerns?
There is no doubt that we have to protect the nature whether it is in Idukki or in the towns like Cochin. The Earth is our common home, and it is our collective responsibility to protect it from environmental dangers. There should be proper awareness in the people about their duties to the nature. What we need is an attitude of stewardship and a culture of preserving the ecosystem from over exploitation and other humanly generated threats. Regarding the debates over the protection of Western Ghats, I would abide by the position upheld by KCBC in its circular on 11.12.2013. We cannot protect nature by neglecting the rights of the people inhabiting an area and without their participation. We need to have such debates extended to the protection of other places like paddy fields, rivers and other water resources, backwaters, and so on.

How ecology is related to environmental ecology? How do we have to live with nature and its variety?
There is interdependence between all beings in nature. The entire material universe speaks of God’s love and each creature has its own role in God’s plan. We need to have an integral ecology with proper concern for the poor. We should protect the beauty of the created world. I think we can learn much from the present Pope and his Encyclical Laudato Si. The main dangers in this area are a lack of concern to our neighbor to the future generation, the prevailing attitudes of consumerism, the culture of waste and extravagance, etc.

In the growing fundamentalist Hindutva India, what is the future of India and its Constitution, especially from the point of view of the Christian minority?
The minority communities in India feel insecure in the current political and social situation in India. Fundamentalist ideals are fostered using every means and false propaganda is used. There has been a continuous surge in attacks against Christians and their institutions. The attacks against priests and nuns and the silence of the authorities before such atrocities are alarming. We should be aware of the poison of polarization carried out in various areas in the name of religion. As we form only 2.3% of the total population our political impact is nominal outside a few states. We need an India where we can live in harmony with all irrespective of religion, caste and class.

How do you conceive the identity of the Syro-Malabar Church within the Catholic Church?
There is only one holy Catholic Apostolic Church founded by Christ. But it is a communion of different individual Churches having their own identity and patrimony. Taking our origin from the preaching of St. Thomas the apostle we have our own theological, spiritual, liturgical and disciplinary patrimony. It enhances the beauty of the Catholic Church. We should be genuinely aware of our heritage and responsibility in the Catholic Church and keep our rich traditions and the Christian life alive.

What sort of missionary leadership can the Syro-Malabar Church take in the Indian church?
I believe that the Syro-Malabar Church with its abundance of priestly and religious vocations and daring spirit has a unique role to play in the Indian Church. The recent developments in the Indian Church by establishing the diocese of Shamshabad and extending the areas of some other dioceses would contribute positively to the missionary role of the Church. A large number of the priests and religious in other dioceses and congregations are hailing from the Syro-Malabar Church. Christians in other parts of India can learn many positive things from the Syro-Malabar Church. We should also learn from other cultures and churches too. Our missionary and evangelizing activities should be guided by a spirit of cooperation and communion with others. Our aim should be the sharing of Christ experience imparted by St Thomas the apostle.

Your bio-data in brief?
I was born on 22nd March, 1973, at Kadaplamattom, in the diocese of Palai, Kerala. As my parents migrated to Idukki I was brought up there and had my school education in my parish, Mariapuram. After completing my high school education I joined St Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Kothamangalam in 1988 and there completed my Pre-Degree education. I had my philosophical and theological studies in St Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, during 1991-1998. I was ordained priest on 30th December, 1998 at my native parish. After my ordination I was appointed as assistant vicar in St Sebastian Church, Nedumkandam, Infant Jesus Church, Kombayar, St Mary’s Church, Manjapetty, St George’s Church, Vazhakkulam and St Sebastian Church, Thodupuzha. I was sent to Rome by Bishop George Punnakottil to pursue higher studies in philosophy. I obtained a Licentiate in Philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (2001-2003) and Doctorate in Philosophy from Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas, Rome (2003-2006). After my return, for a brief period I was appointed vicar in St. Thomas Church, Mavady and then served as Eparchial Chancellor and Secretary to the Bishop. Besides, I served also as Director of Catechetical Department and Bible Apostolate. In 2010 I was appointed resident staff at St Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Mangalapuzha. Besides my teaching and formation duties there I served as House Procurator of the Seminary from 2011-2015. From 2015 to 2017 I served as the Dean of Philosophy at St Joseph’s Pontifical Institute. From 2017 May onwards I have been serving as secretary to the Corporate Educational Agency of the diocese. I have three brothers and one sister.

Why and what for do you pray?
I encounter God in prayer. Jesus showed us the need and also the model of prayer. I entrust all my life, my aspirations, shortcomings, to the Lord in prayer. I listen to Him and get strength from Him through prayer. In prayer, the living water of God is given to me to quench my thirst. I find meaning in my life because I pray. It helps my heart to be united to Him.

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