A dream comes true at consecration of Melbourne’s Syro-Malabar Cathedral

The Syro-Malabar Catholic community in Melbourne marked a historic moment on Saturday 23 November 2024, with the consecration of St Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Cathedral in Epping. The event was a culmination of more than a decade of prayer and united effort by a community that has grown significantly since its early days in the 1960s. The cathedral, dedicated to St Alphonsa, serves as a spiritual home for Australia’s Syro-Malabar faithful and as a testament to their profound commitment to their faith and traditions.

A day of celebration

The consecration ceremony, led by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil, the head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, brought together clergy, bishops, dignitaries and faithful from across Australia and beyond. Apostolic Nuncio to Australia Archbishop Charles Balvo, Archbishop Peter A Comensoli of Melbourne, and many other Australian and international bishops attended, reflecting the global significance of the occasion.

In his opening address, Bishop John Panamthottathil CMI of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle spoke of the perseverance and faith of the Syro-Malabar community. ‘Historically, the journey of Syro-Malabar faithful to the shores of Australia began in the 1960s,’ he noted. ‘This journey has not been without its hardships and trials. But through it all, God has been our constant companion and guide.’ He celebrated the cathedral as a ‘landmark event for our community across Australia, New Zealand and Oceania’.

You are here not only to make money and make your fortunes but also to make this country spiritually more beautiful.

The liturgy included blessings, prayers, Holy Qurbana (Holy Eucharist) and a solemn anointing of the altar and walls of the cathedral, rich in the symbols and traditions of the Syro-Malabar Church.

The Major Archbishop, in his homily, reminded the congregation of their missionary role as migrants. ‘You are here not only to make money and make your fortunes but also to make this country spiritually more beautiful,’ he said. ‘Our tradition shall be a wealth you are bringing from India, which can make this country more spiritual, more spiritually wealthy and more God-oriented.’

He also expressed ‘with emphatic emotions’ his conviction that the Church ‘is not one reality’ but ‘a communion of churches’. While the Latin Church under the leadership of the Holy Father might predominate, he said, ‘all other churches are different gifts of the Holy Spirit.’

Referring to the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes in John’s Gospel, he noted that on that occasion, ‘everybody became satisfied.’ When all had eaten their fill, there were 12 baskets of bread left over—a ‘beautiful expression’ of the variety of the Church, he said. ‘And each church is a basket of precious traditions.

‘I always feel very much obliged to the Latin churches and Latin hierarchy here,’ the Major Archbishop said. ‘When our people migrated in the 1960s to this land, they were strangers. They didn’t have the language. But … they never felt homesick. They always felt at home, because you received them with warmth. You gave your hands that they can move forward,’ he said, expressing his deep gratitude ‘to the Latin hierarchy and Latin parishes for keeping our children, our families in the faith.’

A legacy of faith

The cathedral, built on a 3-acre site, features striking architecture in the Eastern style and can accommodate up to 1,000 worshippers. Adjacent facilities include a parish hall, classrooms for faith education and a chapel. Bishop Emeritus Bosco Puthur, who Pope Francis appointed as founding bishop when he established the eparchy in 2013, reflected on the spiritual significance of the new cathedral.

This church ... is a great blessing to us in this land of possibilities and promises.

‘This church dedicated to God and for our spiritual wellbeing is a great blessing to us in this land of possibilities and promises,’ he said, while noting that the cathedral’s true purpose lies in its missionary calling. What is important in the end, Bishop Puthur said, is ‘not how many people came to this church, but how many people went out from here as missionaries of Christ’.

The consecration also included a special acknowledgment from Pope Francis, who sent a pastoral blessing via video. A cross blessed by the Holy Father for the new cathedral was placed on the tabernacle as a symbol of his spiritual presence.

At the conclusion of the Mass, the Hon Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Climate Action and Energy and Resources, and Member for Mill Park in the Victorian Parliament, presented the Victorian Community Excellence Award for Cultural Community Excellence and Social Impact to the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of St Thomas. Major Archbishop Thattil, Bishop Panamthottathil and Bishop Puthur jointly accepted the award on behalf of the Eparchy.

We have come to a moment. The dream has come true.

The first copy of a special souvenir booklet commemorating the consecration of the new cathedral was also presented to Archbishop Comensoli.

Community and gratitude

The event celebrated not only the cathedral itself but also the people who made it possible. Fr Varghese Vavolil, Cathedral Vicar, expressed heartfelt thanks to the numerous clergy, volunteers, tradespeople and benefactors who supported the project over the years, noting that the building and executive committees had convened more than 200 meetings in recent years, each lasting more than two hours. He particularly highlighted the leadership of figures such as Bishop Puthur and Fr Matthew Kochupurackal, who initiated and guided the project from its inception.

‘We have come to a moment. The dream has come true,’ Fr Vavolil said. ‘We were one in heart and soul … We prayed for so long. It took a while to complete this project. I think that was the grace for us to pray more. You worked day and night [and] supported the project financially ... I pray that you and your families will be abundantly blessed for generations to come through this great work of God.’

The Syro-Malabar community are like a divine electric current throughout the Catholic Church here in Australia

A beacon of hope

The cathedral stands as a spiritual beacon for the Syro-Malabar community and a place for future generations to grow in faith. As Archbishop Christopher Prowse of Canberra said to Shalom World News after the Mass, ‘The Syro-Malabar community are like a divine electric current throughout the Catholic Church here in Australia. They present so much youth, energy and love of Jesus and Mary.’

Bishop Ken Howell of Toowoomba also praised their contributions: ‘The Syro-Malabar community has brought so much to our country,’ he said to Shalom World News. ‘They can teach us so much … I’m sure that their influence will continue to help our people to live true to the faith.’

Looking ahead

As the faithful left the Cathedral at the end of the consecration and Mass, they carried with them not just memories of a historic day but also a renewed sense of mission. The Syro-Malabar Cathedral is more than a building; it is a symbol of a vibrant faith community that continues to thrive in a new land while preserving its cherished traditions.

Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil summed up the spirit of the day: ‘Every individual migrated is a missionary, wherever you are working. You may be working in the bank; you may be working in a factory; you may be running a shop, but I would like to tell you, every profession is a way to profess your faith.’

The consecration of St Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Cathedral is not just the end of a journey but the beginning of a new chapter for the Syro-Malabar Church in Australia—a chapter of inspiring faith, mission and community growth.