Syro-Malabar Eparchy to host major Australasian event

By CathNews New Zealand

November 6th, 2026

(Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy Melbourne)

The Syro-Malabar Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle, Melbourne, which covers Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, will hold its first Eparchial Assembly this month.

The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church based in Kerala, India. It is an autonomous (sui iuris) particular Church in full communion with the Pope and the worldwide Catholic Church. It has a growing number of followers in New Zealand, especially in Auckland and Wellington.

In January, a lineamenta (preparatory document) prepared in anticipation of the Eparchial Assembly, titled “Rooted in the Eucharist, Strengthening the Domestic Church, Renewed for Mission”, was distributed to every parish, mission and community of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy. It proposed five themes for reflection: liturgy, family, catechesis, youth and the empowerment of the community within the Australian and New Zealand context.

Over the following months, parish priests, pastoral councils, family units, catechism teachers, youth ministries and individual members of the faithful from more than 75 parishes, missions and Mass centres studied the lineamenta and submitted their reflections, concerns and proposals. The consultation revealed a community that treasures its East Syriac heritage and seeks meaningful ways to live, teach and pass it on to children growing up in these societies.

Their consolidated responses form the foundation of the instrumentum laboris (working document). While the Lineamenta introduced the themes and initiated the consultation process, the working document gathers what has been heard and provides a common basis for the Assembly’s prayer, study and discussion.

Each chapter presents the theological grounding of its theme in Scripture and the teachings of the Church, summarises the principal findings of the consultation and offers two questions for discussion in the Assembly’s small groups. The pastoral proposals contained therein are offered for discernment and are not approved decisions.

The Eparchial Assembly takes place in Melbourne from November 19-21.

FULL STORY

Eparchial Assembly 2026 (Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy Melbourne)

Fr John Panamthottathil appointed Bishop of St Thomas the Apostle Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Melbourne (NZCBC)