The Catholic community of Manda Apal Village rejoiced as the newly constructed St Peter’s Church was solemnly blessed and inaugurated in a grace-filled celebration marked by prayer, thanksgiving, and unity on Saturday, 14 February 2026.

The Church was blessed by Rt. Rev. Jose Chirackal, Auxiliary Bishop of Tura, and inaugurated by Rev. Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal, SDB, Provincial, in the presence of priests, religious, benefactors, and a large number of faithful from the parish and neighboring villages. The joyous gathering reflected the deep faith and collective effort of the people who worked tirelessly to see the completion of their new place of worship.

In his homily, Bishop Jose reflected on the Gospel episode where Jesus drove out the animals and overturned the tables of the money changers, proclaiming, “Stop turning the house of prayer into a den of robbers.” He reminded the faithful that a church is a sacred space dedicated to prayer, reverence, and communion with God. Appreciating the efforts of the community in constructing the chapel, he urged them to maintain the sanctity and decorum of prayer in the newly blessed church and to preserve its sacred character for generations to come.

Rev. Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal, SDB, Provincial, in his address, congratulated the Catholics of Manda Apal for their dedication and united efforts in completing the construction of the church. He expressed gratitude to the benefactors for their generous support and assistance. He also acknowledged and appreciated the Parish Priest and the priests of Mendal Parish for their guidance, encouragement, and active involvement in bringing the project to fruition.

Fr. Sebastian emphasized that the Church must be a place where people encounter God’s love and find consolation, especially during times of hardship and difficulty.

Rev. Fr. Tomey Anikuzhikattil, SDB, Parish Priest of Mendal, welcomed the Bishop, the Provincial, and all the faithful who gathered in large numbers to witness the blessing and inauguration of the new church. He expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed in various ways to make the dream of a new church a reality.