Fr John Biju concelebrates at the International Mass

This photograph on the homepage shows Father John Biju on
the extreme right. He is the London Chaplain for Catholics of
the Syro-Malabar Rite.

Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil with Canon Cronin and Father Biju

Home on a visit to Kerala, India, Fr John Biju, London co-ordinator of the Syro-Malabar Catholics, introduces his Archbishop in Changanacherry to Canon James Cronin, the diocesan co-ordinator of Ethnic Chaplains.

In recent times people from Kerala, many Catholics, have come to the Southwark diocese and Masses are regularly offered for them in the Syro-Malabar Rite. One interesting incident on the trip was that Fr Biju was recognised from a photograph taken at a baptism he had celebrated in Croydon. This photo has pride of place in the child’s grandparents home in Alappuzha.

The Church in Kerala traces its origins to the preaching of St Thomas, one of the twelve apostles. Hence they are known as St Thomas Christians. It has always been in communion with the Apostolic See of Rome. In the fourth century the Church came into contact with the Syro-Chaldean Church and adopted its traditions and liturgy.

Canon Cronin with the Archbishop of Changanacherry