Prot. No. 0137/2015

02 June, 2015

My Dear Loving Archbishops/ Bishops/ Very Rev. Fathers,

Greetings of prayer and best wishes from Bishop Raphael Thattil, Apostolic Visitor for the Syro Malabar Faithful in India Outside the Proper Territory!

I write this letter to bring to your kind notice a step taken by the office of the Apostolic Visitation for the Syro-Malabar faithful in India. During the Synod of Bishops in January 2015, I had mentioned my intention of starting an office outside Kerala with the purpose of bringing more coordination in the Pastoral Care activities of the Syro-Malabar Migrant Faithful in India. Now I am happy to inform you that we are starting this office at Nagpur.

In consultation with the Major Archbishop and after obtaining the permission from the Bishop of Kalyan, I have appointed Rev. Dr. Francis Eluvathingal, responsible for this office with the title Co-ordinator General, for a period of 5 years w.e.f. 03rd July 2015. In this capacity he will coordinate our migrant ministry in India. He will be responsible for visiting the missions and bringing more coordination, connectivity and continuity in our apostolate for the migrants. I request you to give him whole hearted support in discharging this most important mission for the good of our Church.

Fr. Francis is ordained for the Eparchy of Kalyan in 1995. After his doctoral dissertation in the Oriental Code of Canon Law, he was serving as the Chancellor and then as the Judicial Vicar for more than 11 years in the Eparchy of Kalyan. As he is very much interested and specialized in the ministry among the Syro-Malabar migrants, his service will be of great help for the office of the Apostolic Visitation. He will start functioning, for the time being, from Pallotti Bhavan, (Provincial House), Seminary Hills, Nagpur, Maharashtra 440006. He can be contacted by his email eluvathingal@gmail.com and mobile nr. 09869685140.

.... While I thank you for all your encouragement and cooperation for the works of migrants of our Church in India, I request your continued prayer support and solidarity for this cause.

With prayerful greetings, Yours in Christ Jesus,


Bishop Raphael Thattil
Apostolic Visitor of the Syro-Malabar Faithful outside the Proper Territory in India