CONSTITUTION
THE CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS
OF
THE INDIAN KNANAYA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
OF
GREATER NEW YORK, INC.
Updated As of October 1, 2008
CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS .
The Indian Knanaya Catholic Community of Greater New York, Inc.
PREAMBLE:
Christianity started in India with St. Thomas, the Apostle. In A.D.345, Thomas of Cana, a leading navigator, merchant and intrepid world traveler of Cana in the Middle East lead a bold band of his people consisting of 72 families to Cranganore in the Kerala coast with a view to strengthening the church established by St. Thomas. This group of Christian pilgrims won the respect of the loyal king and became recipients of several honors and social distinctions. The descendants of this group maintained their separate identity and traditions, although they co-operated in all spiritual activities of the Indian Catholic hierarchy of which they formed an integral part.
The Knanaya Catholics were originally disbursed among different Diocese in Kerala State. The desire to keep their unique identity and heritage, led to a strong move for a separate Diocese for the Knanaya Catholics. Through the intercession and personal appeal of His Lordship Bishop Mathew Makil, in Rome, His Holiness Pope Pius X, on August 29, 1911, by a special Decree (Universi Christiani of 1911, progente suddistica) instituted the Diocese of Kottayam and appointed Bishop Mathew Makil to the new Diocese by transfer from his former Diocese of Changanacherry. Bishop Mathew Makil was succeeded by their Lordships; Bishop Alexander Chulaparambil (July 1914 - January 1951), Bishop Thomas Tharayil (January 1951 - May 1974), Bishop Kuriakose Kunnacherry (June 1974 – December 2005), the present Bishops Mathew Moolakatt & Joseph Pandarasserry.
With the softening of immigration rules and great need for hospital personnel in North America, thousands of Knanaya Catholics migrated to this part of the world and settled in different parts of USA and Canada. His Excellency Bishop Kuriakose Kunnacherry, the Bishop of Kottayam formally inaugurated the Knanaya Catholic Association of Greater New York on August 14, 1976. The members of the association have decided that the Association be duly registered
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