Shillong, August 22: 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 event was held in Trivandrum, Kerala, in the presence of Dr. Joseph Mar Divanasios (Metropolitan of Kollam Diocese, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church) Chief minister of Keralam V.D. Satheesan Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the FABC.
Most Rev. Dr. Varghese Chakkalakal, President of Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council, leaders of various Churches, Union Minister Shri Suresh Gopi, Lok Sabha MP Shri Shashi Tharoor, clergy and faithful. His Beatitude Ignatius Youssef III Younan Patriarch of Syriac Catholic Church, Lebanon also attended the event.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma congratulated His Beatitude on his 25 years of dedicated service and lauded his immense contributions to education, healthcare and service to the poor across the country and beyond.
Recalling his long association with Cardinal Cleemis for over a decade since their meeting in the Vatican during the canonization of St. Mother Teresa, the Chief Minister said Cardinal Cleemis’ humility and warmth creates an instant and lasting bond.
The Chief Minister also recalled the close friendship between Cardinal Cleemis and his late father Shri P.A. Sangma, and said it was an honour to travel from Meghalaya to be part of this momentous occasion.
Paying tribute to the role of Christian missionaries in Meghalaya and the Northeast, the Chief Minister said, “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 added that his late father was a product of Christian mission and the values instilled by the Church continue to guide his life and governance.
Citing 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 same principle of service to humanity drives governance in Meghalaya.
He also thanked Kerala for its contribution to Meghalaya, noting that many priests and sisters from Kerala, including Auxiliary Bishop CJ Jose and Sister Rose Paindapally who has served over 40 years in remote Garo Hills, have dedicated their lives to serving the people of the state. The Chief Minister prayed for good health and continued service of His Beatitude for years to come.
