(Fr. Abraham Mutholath in 1992 addressing the Knanaya Community of Los Angeles encouraging them for the formation of Knanaya Association)
Some of our well-wishers have requested us to give a clarification on some topics that are addressed below. This is based on the current discussion in e-mail groups and blogs favoring and opposing Knanaya Churches. Our team had a telephone interview with our V.G. Fr. Abraham Mutholath and requested some photos as proof. He was kind to cooperate with us by providing his clarification and sharing of photos from his collection.
Q and A
1. Why Fr. Mutholath stood behind KCCNA banner during the procession (rally) of centenary celebration of the Kottayam Archdiocese?
During the centenary rally, Fr. Mutholath was walking around taking photos. KCS office bearers like President Cyriac Koovakattil and Binu Poothura encouraged Fr. Mutholath to stand with them behind the banner of KCCNA and to take some pictures with them. Chicago KCS and Knanaya Churches in Chicago are in good terms now. Because of the good relationship and loving request of KCS office bearers, Fr. Mutohlath obliged to stand with them during the rally for some time.
2. How was Fr. Mutholath associated with KCCNA formation? How was Fr. Mutholath involved in the drafting KCCNA constitution?
Fr. Mutholath was in the planning process of KCCNA. He actively participated in the planning session held in Los Angeles at the residence of Abraham Niravath. Delegates from various associations in North America were present including leaders from Chicago. Below are some photos he had taken during that meeting. It was in this meeting that Mr. Abraham Niravath was elected as the first president of KCCNA.
Later when the draft of KCCNA constitution was discussed in detail in Chicago in 1992, Fr. Mutholath came to Chicago from Los Angeles and gave a lot of contribution along with Mr. Joseph Pathiyil, Jose Chacko Kaniyaly, Kunchako Poovathumkal, John Akasala etc.
Fr. Mutholath also attended meeting of KCCNA in its early stages in New York and went from New York to Houston with the then KCCNA president Mr. John Akasala to deal with a conflict happened in the Houston Knanaya Association.
Fr. Mutholath inaugurated the Knanaya Catholic Association of Tampa. Photographs enclosed.
(Fr. Abraham Mutholath inaugurating Knanaya Catholic Congress of Central Florida)
Fr. Mutholath attended several association programs in Houston and other places encouraging the association activities. He inaugurated the fundraising program for Houston Community Center.
He helped Knanaya Youth camps held in Houston and other places along with Joseph Pathiyil and others.
Fr. Mutholath took initiative to start Knanaya Catholic Association of Los Angeles, when some people were strongly against starting it. Formation of that association in 1992 caused a great split in the Kerala Catholic Association of Los Angles and many of Fr. Mutholath’s non-Knanaya friends became his strong opponents at that time.
(First exective of KCC Los Angeles)
Fr. Mutholath started KCYL in Los Angeles in 1992. That was the first Knanaya Youth Association in North American in the name of KCYL.
While Fr. Mutholath was serving in Kottayam as the diocesan chaplain of KCYL, he came to the U.S. in 1993 and traveled all over the United States leading seminars for the Knanaya Youth and helping the foundation work for KCYLNA.
Fr. Mutholath encourages endogamous marriages and avoided attending marriages of Knanaya youth outside the community to discourage such weddings.
Knanaya Media Team
