[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 96 (Wednesday, July 11, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONSECRATION OF FATHER JACOB ANGADIATH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. J. DENNIS HASTERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 10, 2001

  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to congratulate Father 
Jacob Angadiath, who will head up the newly created diocese in Chicago 
to serve Syro-Malabar Catholics in the United States and Canada. The 
consecration of Father Angadiath as bishop of the diocese will take 
place on July 1st.
  Earlier this year, Pope John Paul II created the new diocese to serve 
the Syro-Malabarians of North America. The Syro-Malabar Archiepiscopal 
Church is an Eastern Catholic Church with more than 3 million faithful, 
and they trace their roots to St. Thomas the apostle, who brought the 
Gospel to Southern India. Though the vast majority of Syro-Malarbians 
live in India, about 75,000 live in North America, including about 
7,000 in Chicago.
  The creation of the new St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic diocese of 
Chicago is truly a recognition by Pope John Paul II of this faithful 
community, which refers to itself as ``oriental in worship, Indian in 
culture and Christian in religion.'' It is the first Syro-Malabar 
diocese outside of India.
  I want to again congratulate Father Angadiath, and wish him the best 
of luck as he takes on his new responsibilities as bishop. The St. 
Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic diocese will provide a spiritual home for 
the Syro-Malabar Catholics outside of India, and it will be a wonderful 
addition to Chicago's many other religious communities.




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