The Catholic Congress Global (Catholica Congress or Syro-Malabar Catholic Congress or CCG) is the official Community organisation of Syro-Malabar Church. Catholic Congress stands for the overall progress of the Syro-Malabar Catholic community and for the protection of civil and fundamental rights in respect to the religious, social, cultural, educational and economic aspects.
CCG, previously known as 'Keraleeya Catholica Mahajanasabha', was formed in 1918.
The patron of CCG is Mar George Cardinal Alencherry, Major Archbishop (Head) of the Syro-Malabar Church while its Bishop Legate is Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil and Global Committee Director is Fr Philip Kaviyil.
History
A meeting of members belonging to Syrian Christian community was organised in Alappuzha in 1907. The members continue to meet annually and in its eleventh meeting at Athirampuzha in 1917, they decided to form a community welfare organization.
Subsequently, on April 30, 1918, Keraleeya Catholica Mahajanasabha was formed. Mar Aloysius Pazheparambil was the first president. It adopted the name All Kerala Catholic Congress, in 1931. Later in 2017, the organisation adopted the name Catholic Congress Global.
CCG opposed the nationalisation of private schools put forward by C. P. Ramaswami Iyer. CCG cooperated with the Travancore State Congress in the protest. CCG was in the forefront of Vimochana Samaram, which led to the dissolution of the First Namboodiripad ministry in 1957.
Annual meetings The annual meetings of the organisation are listed below.
Community meetings
Year Place President1907AlappuzhaSri Cyriac Nidheeri1908PulinkunnooI.C. Chacko1909ChampakulamJ John Nidheeri1910EdathuaC. Anthappai1911PalaV.D. Ouseph1912NjarackalC.V. Antony1913ThrissurI.C. Chacko1914IrinjalakudaCyriac Nidheeri1915OllurJoseph Thaliath1916KuravilangadFr John Palocaren1917AthirampuzhaC. Anthappai
‘Keraleeya Catholica Mahashabha’ meetings
Year Place President1918ChanganasseryDr Thomas Kurialacherry1919ErnakulamMar Aloysius Pazheparambil1920AluvaC. Anthappai1921Bri KochiFr Cruze1923AlappuzhaDr Alexander Chulaparambil1924ThathampallyMsgr Antony Puthussery1925ThrissurDr Francis Vazhapilly1926PanapalliFr John Palocaren1927PalaChev. Thariathu Kunjithomman1929AthirampuzhaDr James Kalacherry
All Kerala Catholic Congress meetings
Year Place President1930CherthalaDewan Bahadur Arogyaswami Muthaliar1931MuvattupuzhaMar Ivanios1932ChampakkulamSri George Joseph1933ErnakulamT.J. Mathew1934AlappuzhaFrancis Xavier D'souza1935EdathuaC.V. Antony1936ChittattukaraDr Francis Tiburtius Roche1942KainakaryDr P.J. Thomas1943PalaI.C. Chacko1945KanjirappallyDr Leo Proserpio S.J.1946AthirampuzhaChev. Thariathu Kunjithomman1947ErnakulamC.A. Ouseph1948ThathampallyChev. Joseph Thaliath1949Pala (Special session)(For passing resolution)1949RamapuramChev. Joseph Thaliath1950OllurE.P. Varghese
The centenary meeting of CCG was held at Thrissur during 11–14 May 2018 and it was inaugurated by Cardinal George Alenchery. The slogan of the centenary conference was 'Secularism for the progress of the country’.
First Global Meet of Catholic Congress was held at the Meydan Hotel, Dubai during 30 September - 1 October 2019, which was part of 101st meeting of the organisation. 300 delegates from 26 countries participated in the Meet.
References