I am happy to know about 'The Christian Light of Life' magazine, which is aimed at promoting Christian fraternity and charity.

On 25th December we celebrated Christmas, the birth of Christ the prince of peace. The message of Christmas is the message of joy and peace. Peace in the result of all accepting and acknowledging each other as brothers and sisters in Christ and in love. This fraternity in charity presupposes forgiveness and reconciliation. When we try to bring together all people into fellowship of love we are working towards the realization of the Kingdom of God.

This message of divine fatherhood of God and universal brotherhood in Christ is the core of the Gospel message. Let us all try to be proclaimers of this message of love and be instruments to bring about a society of peace and harmony based on justice and love.

Yours in Christ,

Bp. Thomas Elavanal
Diocese of Kalyan.

+MAR.THOMAS ELAVANAL
BISHOP OF DIOCESE OF KALYAN
MUMBAI, INDIA.

SYRO-MALABAR CATHOLIC CHURCH DIOCESE OF KALYAN
The history of the diocese of Kalyan is very much intertwined with the history of the Syro-Malabar Church itself in India. Having its roots in the Apostolic Ministry of St. Thomas , the Apostle himself who established 7communities of the Christian Church in Kerala in the first century itself , these Christians migrated to different parts of India. They concentrated mainly in the big cities of India. In Bombay, Pune and Nashik regions, they are found in large numbers. The spiritual care of these Christians were looked after through Chaplains appointed by the Bishops of this region and assisted by lay associations like Kerala Catholic Association (Bombay), St.Thomas Christians of India (Pune), etc.

On September 8, 1978 Pope John Paul II appointed His Eminence Antony Cardinal Padiyara, the then Archbishop of Changanacherry as the apostolic visitor to study the situation. The visit of Pope John Paul II to India in 1986 gave him a first hand experience of the living faith of the Syro-Malabar Christians of India. A Pontifical Commission was appointed and on the basis of its report came the all-important letter of the Pope to the Bishops of India observing that the present situation in the Bombay-Pune region is mature for the establishment of a Syro-Malabar diocese there and urging thee congregation for the Oriental Churches to take necessary steps in this regard. Finally on May 19, 1998 His Holiness Pope John Paul II made the historic announcement of the establishment of a new diocese for the Syro-Malabar Christians of Bombay-Pune-Nashik regions, and designation of Msgr. Paul Chittilapilly as its first bishop. The Bull, However was signed by the Pope on April 30, 1988. Thus the birth of the diocese and the appointment of the first Bishop takes effect from April 30, 1988. The Episcopal Ordination and the official inauguration of the diocese took place on August 24, 1988 at the Don Bosco Grounds, Matunga, Bombay.

After nine years of dedicated and pioneering work in the newly born diocese, Bishop Paul Chittilapilly was transferred to the diocese of Thamaraserry in Kerala in 18th December 1996 and took over the charge on 13th February 1997. His successor and the second Bishop of the Kalyan Diocese is Mar Thomas Elavanal , whose consecration was on 8th of February, 1997 at Kannamwar Nagar , Vikhoril , Mumbai.
Courtesy To: The Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Curia