Trivandrum, August 23: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Saturday attended the Episcopal Silver Jubilee celebration of His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and Major Archbishop of Trivandrum.
The celebration was held in Trivandrum, Kerala, in the presence of Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Dr Joseph Mar Divanasios, Metropolitan of the Kollam Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), Most Rev. Dr Varghese Chakkalakal, President of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council, Union Minister Suresh Gopi, Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor, leaders of various Churches, clergy and faithful. His Beatitude Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church, Lebanon, also attended the event.
Addressing the gathering, Sangma congratulated Cardinal Cleemis on completing 25 years of dedicated service and praised his contributions to education, healthcare and service to the poor across India and beyond.
Recalling his association with Cardinal Cleemis for more than a decade, beginning with their meeting at the Vatican during the canonisation of St Mother Teresa, Sangma said the Cardinal’s humility and warmth had created an instant and lasting bond.
The Chief Minister also recalled the close friendship between Cardinal Cleemis and his late father, P.A. Sangma, and said it was an honour for him to travel from Meghalaya to attend the significant occasion.
Paying tribute to Christian missionaries for their contribution to Meghalaya and the Northeast, Sangma said missionaries had played a crucial role in providing education and healthcare before government departments were established in many areas. “Before Governments came in, it was the Christian missionaries who served our people. Before any department opened schools or PHCs, it was the missionaries who gave us education and healthcare, selflessly,” he said.
Sangma added that his late father was a product of Christian mission education and that the values instilled by the Church continued to guide his life and governance.
Referring to the Golden Rule from Matthew 7:12, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,” the Chief Minister said the principle of service to humanity also guided governance in Meghalaya.
He thanked Kerala for its contribution to Meghalaya, noting that several priests and sisters from the State had dedicated their lives to serving the people of Meghalaya. He specifically mentioned Auxiliary Bishop CJ Jose and Sister Rose Paindapally, who has served for more than 40 years in remote areas of the Garo Hills.
Sangma concluded by praying for the good health of Cardinal Cleemis and for his continued service in the years ahead.
