It has been reported by reliable sources that the transfer of Fr. Joy Alappattu as the new vicar of St. Thomas Cathedral, Chicago, has been cancelled.
Fr. Alappatt was supposed to take his new post on the 21st of this month. The position became available due to the promotion of the current vicar, Fr. Anthony Thundathil, as the Vicar General of Chicago Diocese. Fr. Paul Kottakkal, the current vicar of St Alphonsa Church, Los Angeles was scheduled to relieve Fr. Alappaattu in New Jersey.
Fr. Alappatt was supposed to take his new post on the 21st of this month. The position became available due to the promotion of the current vicar, Fr. Anthony Thundathil, as the Vicar General of Chicago Diocese. Fr. Paul Kottakkal, the current vicar of St Alphonsa Church, Los Angeles was scheduled to relieve Fr. Alappaattu in New Jersey.
Sources close to the bishop's house told us, this new development has thrown a monkey wrench into the whole plan. As to the reason for the unexpected cancellation of this transfer, no one was forthcoming. But it points to certain shenanigans by certain group of people in New Jersey, who has the ears of the bishop. It is said that this group impressed upon the bishop that the building of the new church in NJ will not proceed without Fr. Alappaattu at the helm.
We have not been able to ascertain who the next vicar of Chicago going to be. Neither do we know for sure, as Fr. Alappattu continues his present position in New Jersey, if Fr. Kottakkal is going to stay put in Los Angeles. Anyhow this game changer is another proof that good old clout and back room horse trading is alive and well in our Chicago Diocese. And when it comes to fickleness and indecision, our bishop has no peer.
4 comments:
I am in this country since 1985, I am not educated and not a member of Naattukoottam.
I know Naattukoottam members and their families for a long time even before they known as St'Thomas Catholic Assocication.
I want to ask you guy's that, what this Naattukoottam people did wrong to this garfield parish/community?I think they all are helping this community to grow in all respect.
This few words for you kind attention....Unite in Love...
Fr. Joy Alappat, a living legend.
"It has been reported by reliable sources that the transfer of Fr. Joy Alappattu as the new vicar of St. Thomas Cathedral, Chicago, has been cancelled."
First of all, the author of this article has been misguided and misinformed about the current status of Fr. Joy Alappat in America. He had been serving the American community for the past 20 years. Because of his soft corner and pleasant nature, he had been well accepted in the American community and the Indian community as well. He is a true leader and a good shepherd for the faithful, for a long time. It is very unfortunate that somebody drags his name in the on going Syro Malabar politics and fight for positons and recognition, which shows the lack of wisdom and respect among each other.
Despite the allegations from a few retarded position seekeers, and some pimps of evil spiririts, who longs only for the destruction of a smooth going community, Fr. Joy has been a very successful priest, community leader and a mentor for many Indians and Americans. He is an appointee of the Newark Arch Bishop as the pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Garfield. Because of the mercy of His Highness , the Arch Bishop of Newark and the kindness of Pastor Rev.Joy Alappat, the Syro Malabar Malayalee comminity was able to enjoy the religious freedom of worship in their own language and rite , every Sunday in the Garfield church. Being born, raised as a Syro Malabarian and ordained as a Syro Malabar priest, Fr. Joy is always loyal to the Syro Malabar Diocese of Chicago. That does not mean that , he is a priest under the jurisdiction of Chicago Diocese. Fr. Joy Alappat is a priest who is incardinated to the Arch Diocese of Newark and the current pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Garfield. If the Syro Malabar Bishop of Chicago issues an order to transfer him to Chicago or any other part of the world, where the Syro Malabar community exists, he can simply refuse to comply with that order. Insted, being an obedient subordinate, patriotic Syro Malabar member, he decided to excardinate from the American Diocese, and decided to take the order from the Bishop of Chicago. But the American community does not want to give up Fr.Joy as their pastor. They found an awsome priest and wonderful leader in Fr. Joy and started the fight to retain him in the Newark Arch Diocese , as the pastor of Gargield church. To make the long story short, the American community is behind the new development of cancelling the transfer of Fr. Joy Alappat.
Fr. Joy is also a kniving manipulator and a shrewed politician. He hides his true intentions under his sweet smile. He never wanted to go to chicago. He wanted to remain under the protection of his Gunda friends at Garfield. Hence the new move..
My point here is that all priests go thru rigorous training during their seminary years not only to be a spiritual leader but also to be an administrator, project manager, social worker, financial manager etc... Fr. Kottakkal has been in this country for a long time and has the experience of establishing a new parish in LA. If the Americans want Fr. Joy to remain, our Bishop should take extra steps to convice the American community at Garfield that they will be in good hands with Fr. Kottakkal and he is also equally or more capable of carrying this new project of transition to fruition elegentaly. If our Bishop's decision is to cancel his original plan of transferring Fr. Joy to chicago based on 'what he heared' from Fr. Joy and some committee members, that means he has been manipulated by Fr. Joy just as Fr. Joy manipulated our Bishops mind when Fr. joy's friend got into a court case and got the okay to pay for his legal fees from the funds of the Garfield Mission. Dear Bishop Jacob, please stick with your decision...
The main reasons for Fr. Joy do not want to go to Chicago now:
1. The perunnaal presudenti this year is the 'kallukudi' association of his friends the 'Naattukoottam'. So he wants to make sure it goes somoothly without a hinch. The new vicar Fr. Kottakkal may not be too thrilled about this social club being the presudenti.
2. This is election year at Garfield Mission where the family units are divided in such a way that the majority of the Mission Council would be members of this Naattukoottaam club. The new Vicar may redefine the family units in a more efficient way for the growth of the mission which will not be in favor of the Naattukoottam gundas. So, Fr.Joy wants to make sure that there is no change in the current status quo.
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