I got a comment from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates based on the last post I had put up. The person again choosing to remain - Anonymous - has mentioned a few important points.
1. In most parishes outside Kerala, the English service is only held once a month. This is despite the fact, that most of the members are born and brought up outside Kerala and do not have Malayalam as their mother tounge anymore. For them English is the preferred language! Dubai is one parish I know where a regular English Service happens every week after much discussion and fights in the Church.
2. Most of the older generation think the English service people as a rebellious lot who don't want to learn Malayalam and prefer not to go for the English service. Most of the elders are not comfortable with the English service as they are used to the Malayalam service. Well this is truly a problem, so it seems. But then again, I have seen it for myself - when there are services in Malayalam without Communion - then all of a sudden the Church is almost empty.
3. The person also states that the Sharjah Parish is the only parish using the Manglish Books (Malayalam written in English Script). This however is not completely true as a lot of the outside Kerala Parishes use these books. I myself have used this book only to realize that only the first few words of what the priest says is there before it becomes dots .....
In short only the responses from the members are given in full which makes it really pointless. Most of the people who don't know Malayalam do not know what the priest is reading. Most of the prayers which the Achen recites in between the service are also missing, from the book .
4. In the comment below the writer asks - though the Bishops do look what falls into their pots - why are we bothered as there are people like that in all walks of life. Well my friends, the Church is not any other walk of life and it is not supposed to be like that. As far as it is known the Bishops have given their life for the Church and for God's Service! So they are special and have to live according to what is expected of their divine mission. I do not say banish any of the Bishops - rather I say make them accountable to what they are doing in the Church.
Well do send in your comments, even if you disagree or agree.... Will publish it as it is....
regards
Mtc Monk!
_______________________________
1. In most parishes outside Kerala, the English service is only held once a month. This is despite the fact, that most of the members are born and brought up outside Kerala and do not have Malayalam as their mother tounge anymore. For them English is the preferred language! Dubai is one parish I know where a regular English Service happens every week after much discussion and fights in the Church.
2. Most of the older generation think the English service people as a rebellious lot who don't want to learn Malayalam and prefer not to go for the English service. Most of the elders are not comfortable with the English service as they are used to the Malayalam service. Well this is truly a problem, so it seems. But then again, I have seen it for myself - when there are services in Malayalam without Communion - then all of a sudden the Church is almost empty.
3. The person also states that the Sharjah Parish is the only parish using the Manglish Books (Malayalam written in English Script). This however is not completely true as a lot of the outside Kerala Parishes use these books. I myself have used this book only to realize that only the first few words of what the priest says is there before it becomes dots .....
In short only the responses from the members are given in full which makes it really pointless. Most of the people who don't know Malayalam do not know what the priest is reading. Most of the prayers which the Achen recites in between the service are also missing, from the book .
4. In the comment below the writer asks - though the Bishops do look what falls into their pots - why are we bothered as there are people like that in all walks of life. Well my friends, the Church is not any other walk of life and it is not supposed to be like that. As far as it is known the Bishops have given their life for the Church and for God's Service! So they are special and have to live according to what is expected of their divine mission. I do not say banish any of the Bishops - rather I say make them accountable to what they are doing in the Church.
Well do send in your comments, even if you disagree or agree.... Will publish it as it is....
regards
Mtc Monk!
_______________________________
Anonymous
Dear MTC Monk,
I simply have to appreciate the efforts u have taken to bring about a change. Few things I would like to draw ur attention:-
1. I'm writing from Sharjah, UAE n in our parish here... to increase our reach to the teenager community, we hold 1 Sunday service in English... but its sad to note not many join including myself!!! My parents do not wish to go for a English mass hence i dont go too
2. I personally did not know how to read Malayalam but our Church is the only 1 church i have seen who has English Malayalam Scripts. These have helped me attend the Malayalam service effectively. So asking children abroad to learn Malayalam is harsh... cos we don't come across that much, in some places.. but things are changing cos of channels like Asianet or jeevan... we too r learning n understanding Malayalam.
One point i totally agree is - that some of our Bishops do look what falls into their pots.. but don't u find these kind of people in all walks of life... so why do we banish them????