Munnar church takes Hindi route as migrant workers flock to Mass

The Mount Carmel Basilica in Munnar has begun holding a Mass in Hindi for migrant workers here. The first Hindi Mass was held on Sunday at 2 p.m.

An increasing number of Hindi-speaking migrant workers in the plantation sector has led to the decision, according to the church authorities.

“Though the migrant workers were attending the weekly Malayalam and Tamil Mass, they could not fully participate in the prayers due to the language barrier. Hence, they requested for a Hindi Mass. We shared their request with the basilica rector Fr. Michael Valayinjiyil, who gave a positive response,” says Fr. Christhudas, assistant vicar of Ave Maria Church Devikulam.

Increase in participants

“Initially, the Hindi Mass will be offered at the Mount Carmel Basilica on the last Sunday of every month. If more people turn up, the Mass will be held every Sunday,“ he says.

“Over the years, Masses have been held in many languages in the churches in Munnar, including in Tamil, Malayalam, and English. But, a Hindi Mass is a first here. Through a Mass in their own language, we hope the faithful can fulfil their spiritual needs in a new place,” says Fr. Christhudas.

Meanwhile, the church authorities are continuing their efforts to track Catholic migrant workers in Munnar. Mostly, Catholic workers from Jharkhand are working in tea plantations including Lakshmi, Kadalar, Kallar, Rajamala, Vaguvarai, Thenmala, Thalayar and Chenduvara here. Nearly 100 Christian families are working in various tea plantations in Munnar, according to the authorities.

Long-pending demand

Already, a large number of migrant workers are attending the Mass in the Mount Carmel Basilica every Sunday, says Richard Joseph, the church’s sexton. “The Hindi Mass was a long-pending demand of the migrant workers,” says Mr. Joseph.

Fr. Christhudas, who had worked in north India for many years, led the Hindi Mass on Sunday. After the Mass, Bishop of Vijayapuram Mar Sebastian Thekkethecheril blessed the faithful and interacted with the workers.

Mount Carmel Basilica, the first Catholic church in the high ranges, was established by Spanish missionary Fr. Alfonse Maria De Los Angles for plantation workers, mostly from Tamil Nadu, in 1890.