Fascinating conversations

Father Joseph Chelamparambath (40), pastor of the Syro-Malankarian Christians in the Archdiocese of Cologne, explains his friendship with the Ordo Communionis in Christo in Mechernich - 70th anniversary celebration of Mother Marie Therese's vows.

Mechernich – With Father Joseph Chelamparambath (40), the pastor of the Syro-Malankarian Christians in the Archdiocese of Cologne, a good and, despite his young age, "old" friend of the Ordo Communionis in Christo visited the Motherhouse in Mechernich.

Father Joseph held the last May devotion of the year in the house chapel on 31 May and then celebrated Holy Mass with the community and guests on the occasion of the anniversary of the taking of vows by Communio founder Mother Marie Therese.

The former secretary of Bishop Joseph Mar Thomas said: "On 31 May 1952, while seriously ill, she received the anointing of the sick at 1 a.m. and took her vows to the three evangelical counsels before a provincial of the Carmelites. She took the name Marie Thérèse de Jésus and was convinced that her life should be a witness to the existence of heaven in this world."

Marie Thérèse de Jésus

Father Joseph Chelamparambath also called the participants in the service to discipleship and invited them to encounter God. He said that everyone should place their life and work at the service of others in order to discover God in their fellow human beings without selfishness: "The vows of Mother Marie Therese remind us to place all our love in the hands of God."

Sister Lidwina, the liturgist of the Ordo Communionis in Christo, led the evening at a meal and meeting following the Mass. She encouraged Father Chelamparambath to describe his friendly connection with Communio in Christo and Mother Marie Therese.

The books of the Order's founder, the personal acquaintance with the Deputy Superior General Jaison Thazhathil and the Order's Secretary Tilj Puthenveettil in the seminary in Trivandrum/India, but above all the fascinating conversations with the Superior General Karl-Heinz Haus, who died on 17 January 2022, turned out to be the key.

Lambert van den Hoven

He came to Germany in Eichstätt, Bavaria, in 2003 to study theology. Just two years later, he came into contact with Communio in Christo through Monsignor Lambert van den Hoven. "From then on I visited Mechernich several times a year, Superior General Karl-Heinz Haus was a good spiritual father for me, and in the process the relationship with the Ordo grew."

He was also able to get to know Spiritual Director Father Hermann Walch and the elderly Sisters Elisabeth, Karla, Vinzenza and Virginiana, who have died in the meantime. It made him happy every time to feel the love shown to the guests, residents and those in need of care at the Communio.

After the presentation of Father Joseph Chelamparambath, which was met with strong applause, the film "Far beyond all borders" about the biography of Mother Marie Therese by Bert Herfen was shown.

pp/Agentur ProfiPress