Jeevan Jyothi Syro-Malabar Catholic Lay Missionary Movement

A Bold Missionary Response in Troubled Times

Amid a tense and challenging atmosphere in India, where Christians are increasingly subjected to unjust attacks, false cases, and persecution, the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church has prayerfully discerned and launched yet another powerful missionary initiative—one that seeks to shake the spiritual world and rekindle the missionary fire among the lay faithful.

Though numerically a small community, with fewer than five million faithful, the Syro-Malabar Church has a vibrant and visible presence across India and throughout the world. From the earliest apostolic times, this Church has remained deeply missionary in spirit, courageously engaged in the work of the Lord across cultures, regions, and continents.

Birth of a SyM Lay Missionary Movement

In order to regularise, organise, and systematically guide the missionary activities of Syro-Malabar lay faithful, the Synod of the Church officially introduced a Lay Missionary Movement, aptly christened “Jeevan Jyothi” (Light of Life).

The Jeevan Jyothi Syro-Malabar Lay Missionary Movement (JJ SYMLMM) was solemnly inaugurated on 26 January 2026 at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad, Kochi, in an official ceremony presided over by:

• His Beatitude Mar Raphael Thattil, Major Archbishop and Head of the Syro-Malabar Church

• Archbishop Mar Prince Panengadan, Chairman of the Movement

• Rev. Fr. Francis Eluvathingal, Secretary of the Movement

The event was attended by numerous zealous mission-minded lay activists who are deeply committed to spreading the Good News to the nooks and corners of India and the world.

“The Word of God Cannot Be Chained”

After the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and formal inauguration, Archbishop Mar Prince Panengadan, in an emotional and prophetic address, quoted 2 Timothy 2:9:

“The Word of God cannot be chained.”

Referring to the alarming rise in false cases, arrests, and persecution against Christians in many parts of India—often instigated by religious extremists—he reminded the faithful that no force on earth can silence the Gospel. Reports indicate that nearly two incidents of attacks on Christians are recorded every day in India, yet the Church continues to stand firm.

Christians, inspired by faith, will never stop spreading and sharing the Love, Light, and Life that is Jesus Christ, as proclaimed in John 1:4–5:

“In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

A Mission That Cannot Be Silenced

The faithful draw strength from the courageous declaration of Apostles Peter and John in Acts 4:20:

“We cannot keep silent about what we have seen and heard.”

No persecution, no government, no political party, and no organisation can stop a true missionary from proclaiming Christ. The Jeevan Jyothi Movement stands as a bold testimony to this unshakeable conviction.

Through this movement, lay missionaries are officially authorised and appointed to proclaim the Gospel, affirming the teaching of the Church that every baptised person is a missionary (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 900).

Five Missionary Methods – The Vision of Jeevan Jyothi

As beautifully depicted in its logo, the JJ SYMLMM seeks to proclaim the Good News through five distinct missionary methods:

1. Intercessory Prayer

2. Personal Evangelisation (telling individually)

3. Evangelisation through Service

4. Witnessing by Life

5. Proclamation from the Rooftops (bold and public testimony)

Organised Missionary Groups

To effectively realise these objectives, the movement has formed various dedicated groups, including:

• Intercessors

• Preachers

• Street Evangelisers

• Professionals such as teachers, doctors, and nurses

• Social media and digital Evangelisation teams

Each group contributes uniquely to the common mission of spreading the Gospel with creativity, courage, and compassion.

Conclusion

In an age marked by fear, hostility, and spiritual confusion, the Jeevan Jyothi Syro-Malabar Catholic Lay Missionary Movement rises as a luminous sign of hope. It reaffirms that the mission of the Church is alive, unstoppable, and entrusted not only to clergy, but to every baptised believer.

Indeed, the Word of God cannot be chained.

Those who are interested to join this great movement, please contact:

Syro Malabar Mission: 9496038700

Rev Fr Francis Eluvathingal (Secretary): 9869685140

'Roses for India': A Nation Entrusted to the Marian Rosary

Roses for India: A call to pray the Rosary Prayers

At critical moments in history, God moves hearts not through noise or power, but through prayer. Roses for India is one such silent yet powerful spiritual movement—born from faith, sustained by prayer, and entrusted entirely to the loving intercession of the Holy Virgin Mother Mary.

This noble initiative invites Catholics and Marian devotees across the world to unite in a single intention:
to offer at least 150 crore (1.5 billion) Holy Rosary prayers by the year 2030, for India and the world.

Each Rosary offered is a spiritual rose placed in the hands of our Heavenly Mother, who never fails to present our petitions to Her Divine Son.

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The Intention: For Families, the Church, and the Nation

The heart of Roses for India lies in its intentions—deep, compassionate, and urgently relevant to our times.

Through this Rosary mission, we pray:

• For families, especially families in India, that they may be blessed, protected, and strengthened in love

• For children, that they may grow in good values, moral clarity, and living faith

• For the protection of lives in the womb, that every unborn child may be welcomed and safeguarded

• For the Church, that she may be sanctified, purified, and renewed in holiness

• For unity among different Christian churches, that divisions may heal and true communion may deepen

• For the all-round development, protection, and prosperity of India

• That the nation may move in the right direction, guided by truth, justice, peace, and compassion

• For the peaceful rest of the billions who have lived and died in India, that God may grant them eternal rest

• For special blessings upon every individual who prays and participates in this noble initiative

These intentions are vast—but so is the power of united prayer.

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No Registration. No Membership. Only a Resolution of the Heart

One of the most beautiful aspects of Roses for India is its simplicity and spiritual freedom.

To become part of this mission:

• No formal membership is required

• No registration or reporting is needed

It is enough to resolve in your mind that the Marian Rosaries you pray are being offered for this intention.

Every Rosary prayed with this interior offering is lovingly accepted by God for the mission of Roses for India.

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Each Person Decides Their Offering

Participation is entirely personal and flexible.

Each devotee may decide:

• How many Rosaries they wish to dedicate

• Whether it is one Rosary a day, or more

For example, I have inwardly offered (promised):

“From the Rosaries I pray daily, I dedicate at least two for the intention of 'Roses for India'.”

Even one Rosary a day, when prayed faithfully, carries immense spiritual weight.

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The Power of Many Small Offerings

If every Marian devotee who comes across this initiative offers at least one Rosary daily, the target of 150 crore Rosaries can be achieved very easily. In fact, the total will rise far beyond what we can imagine.

What seems small in isolation becomes monumental when united in love and faith.

This is how God works:

• One Hail Mary at a time

• One faithful soul at a time

• One Rosary at a time

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A Loving Invitation

Roses for India is not just a prayer challenge—it is a call to spiritual responsibility, a Marian mission for our times.

Please:

• Share this noble intention with your family, friends, and prayer groups

• Invite one and all to participate

• Encourage others to offer at least one daily Rosary

Let us entrust India, the Church, our families, our children, and our future into the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

May our Blessed Mother gather these Rosaries as roses,
may she intercede for us powerfully,
and may God bless India abundantly through this humble offering of prayer.

🌹🙏
One Nation. One Intention. Millions of Rosaries.

St Lazarus Devasahayam, the 2nd St Sebastian? A Tale of Two Martyrs

When we reflect on the lives of the saints, we often find extraordinary parallels that transcend time and geography. Such is the case with St Sebastian, the famed Roman soldier and martyr, and St Lazarus Devasahayam Pillai, an Indian convert and the first layman from India to be canonized. Both men, though separated by centuries and continents, share remarkable similarities in their journeys of faith, their positions of influence, and the ultimate sacrifices they made for their unwavering belief in Jesus Christ.

Key Positions in Royal Kingdoms

St Sebastian served as a captain of the Praetorian Guard under Roman Emperor Diocletian. His position brought him close to the heart of imperial power, where he secretly encouraged and supported persecuted Christians. Similarly, St Lazarus Devasahayam Pillai, born Neelakanta Pillai, was an official in the court of the Maharaja of Travancore (in present-day Kerala, India). His conversion to Christianity and subsequent public witness brought him both honor and scrutiny in the royal court.

Persecution for Faith

Despite the prestige of their offices, both saints faced severe persecution due to their faith. St Sebastian was discovered to be a Christian, tied to a post, and shot with arrows. Miraculously surviving the ordeal, he continued to proclaim his faith until he was eventually clubbed to death. Devasahayam Pillai, after his conversion, was accused of treason and undermining the traditional caste order. He endured brutal torture, public humiliation, and, after years of suffering, was executed for refusing to renounce his Christian faith.

Martyrdom and Legacy

Both St Sebastian and St Lazarus Devasahayam Pillai are celebrated for their extraordinary courage and steadfastness. St Sebastian’s legacy endures as a powerful intercessor against plagues and is the patron of athletes, soldiers, and many Catholic churches in Kerala. His feast day is celebrated on January 20th with great devotion, especially in Kerala, where numerous parishes are dedicated to him.

St Lazarus Devasahayam Pillai, canonized in 2022, has been declared the patron saint of lay missionaries in India by the Catholic Church, a recognition of his profound witness among ordinary believers. His feast day is observed on January 14th. The St Devasahayam Church, located at Kottar in Tamil Nadu, is a prominent pilgrimage site, attracting thousands of devotees each year. He is also invoked as a patron for those facing persecution and for lay faithful striving to live out their Christian mission.

Conclusion

The stories of St Sebastian and St Lazarus Devasahayam Pillai remind us that faith can flourish in any era and circumstance. Their lives—marked by service, suffering, and ultimate sacrifice—continue to inspire millions. In terming St Lazarus Devasahayam as the “2nd St Sebastian,” we celebrate not only his individual legacy but also the universal call to courage and conviction in the face of trials.

May their examples strengthen us in our journey of faith and encourage us to stand firm, whatever challenges we face.