The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church 

Inauguration of the 

Apostolic Mission of

The Apostolic Visitator for Europe

Saturday 6 December 2025

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic sui iuris particular Church in full communion with the universal Catholic Church. It is one of the major archiepiscopal churches of the Catholic Church and is headed by Major Archbishop His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis.

H.E. Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, the Major Archbishop – Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, came to visit Bishop Kuriakose Mar Osthathios at his home and office in Our Lady of the Assumption, Coventry, last week. The Cardinal had conducted the Episcopal Ordination of Mar Osthathios in Trivandrum, Kerala, on 22 November 2025. Now he was coming to England to conduct the Liturgical Service whereby Mar Osthathios became the Apostolic Visitator for Europe. 

Great numbers came to Leicester where a Conference Centre large enough to hold the Syro-Malankara Faithful, Clergy, Religious, and Civic Dignitaries was found. About 1,000 people enjoyed a spectacular and joyous Liturgical Service followed by wonderful refreshments.

The Cardinal, who presided, was accompanied by Bishop Patrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham, and Bishop Richard Walker representing Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham, as well as a number of Syro-Malankara Bishops, and Mar Joseph Srampical of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy. Ecumenical guests were present to celebrate the Inauguration of the first Syro-Malankara Visitator based in the UK for Europe.

Special mention was made by Cardinal Cleemis of the role of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, especially Archbishop Longley, in the establishment of the Syro-Malankara Church in the UK. He thanked Archbishop Longley for this and for sending his representative Mgr Daniel McHugh to the Consecration of Mar Osthathios in Trivandrum.

The beautiful Liturgy concluded with a hymn sung by the choir and specially written for the occasion: Sloosak Aamman. The happy occasion continued with refreshments enjoyed by the families and all those involved in the ceremony.

Mar Osthathios was welcomed later by Archbishop Longley, and at the Cathedral Chapter of St Chad’s at the Patronal Festival Mass of the Immaculate Conception on Monday 8 December 2025.

By Mgr Daniel McHugh, the Co-ordinator for Ethnic Chaplaincies in the Archdiocese of Birmingham 

Photo Gallery by Con McHugh