Syro-Malabar Church: Before the Election of a New Major Archbishop

Vision and Mission Clarification:

In the Order of Priorities

1) What is the Vision of our Church?

2) What are the Mission Targets to achieve the vision?

3) Who will be the Best Person to accomplish the Vision and the Mission?

Vision Clarification and Mission Targets:

a) Target oriented and time bound.

b) One day is to be set apart for the clarification of the Vision and Mission of the Church before the election. For the Vision Clarification, it is good to invite some experts and examine what the Church expects from the leadership.

c) The highlights of the areas to deal with: Pastoral Field; Our Families, Our Youth, Evangelization, Mission, Spiritual Growth, Migrant’s issues, Administrative improvements, Socio-Political Field, Integral social development, etc.

d) For the materialization of the vision and mission, we need to articulate the Long term (like Vision 2020 or 2025 or 2030) and short term goals.

If the time is not yet matured to have such vision and mission clarification, it is good to clarify at least the short term and long term priorities and challenges of our Church.

Who is the best person to accomplish the Vision and Mission?

1. Work of the Holy Spirit accomplished through the Human Hands:

a. There should be Openness to the work of the Holy Spirit.

b. With the letter of the announcement of the dates of the election synod, the Administrator is to ask the entire Church to pray for the election of the new Major Archbishop and for the Church.

c. The priests, religious, seminarians, various institutions, etc. are to conduct adoration and special prayers in this regard.

d. All the parishes are to recite a prepared prayer after the Holy Qurbana and the families during their family prayer (The prayer can be prepared by the Curia and send to the dioceses and the implementation can be made the duty of the dioceses).

e. The electors are to be able to listen to the Holy Spirit soon after the vision and mission clarification session. It is suggested to have a retreat of a day or two to pray and to listen to the Holy Spirit.

2. Some Elementary Principles of the Election:

a. Guiding Principle: ‘Continuity and Change’, ‘Preservation of the Faith and Rite’, or something else can be promoted as the Guiding principle of the elections. If possible, the captions should reflect that we are Catholics from apostolic times, having had the Law of Thomas, need to safeguard the deposit of faith. At the same time, with required openness should be ready for an organic change sensing the signs of times.

b. Transparent process: As the election is done for the first time, the procedural law except those confidential matters is to be made known to the public for the transparency.

c. Communications: The media has to be given correct information if needed by the Spokespersons elected by the Synod for the election. This will help to avoid all sorts of rumors. The channels and the new papers are to be made alert and invited to give correct information regarding the same.

d. Social Element of the Election: It should be made an event of not only the SMCians but also of the whole society like the religious and political world. It is good to have a solemn entry to the election synod and a solemn announcement of the election.

e. Credibility: Strictly observe the laws of the Church regarding each and every small thing, so that everyone feels that the process was perfect and just.

These lines are written after prayer and reflection in the light of the Administrative Canons of the Church.