Archbishop Bernard Longley was especially welcome at the recent opening day of the Convention focusing on the theme of Family.

The Syro Malabar Community is already running four Parishes in the Archdiocese. The Syro Malankara Rite Community has Mass in Coventry and hopes to have a Parish base soon in Birmingham.

The Convention (22/23 June) was led by Bishop Theodosius, Apostolic Visitator for Europe, and Father Thomas, Co-ordinator in the UK Region of the Church.

Mgr Daniel McHugh, co-ordinator for Ethnic Chaplaincies, highlighted the wonderful support given by the Church in Kerala to the Community here, especially through the Priests who have come to minister to them.

He encouraged the Syro Malankara people to keep the Faith through the Family, and to work alongside the host community to sustain our Catholic presence in the challenges the Church faces today.