Portal for Kerala Christians launched

By Gopal Ethiraj
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 28 May (Asiantribune.com): A comprehensive community portal for Keralite Christians entitled “www.christianmalayalee.com” was launched on Wednesday, which offers the Christian community in Kerala and elsewhere a number of innovative services, linking them together.
For example, if a Christian techie who has migrated to the US wants to trace his roots, there will be an option in the site. If he wants to look for alliance it is there. If he wants to news of his community back home it is there.

``A unique feature of our site is that everything will be parish-based. You can register as a member only if you are a member of any of the parishes under the various Christian denominations in Kerala. The name of the parish is a mandatory field to be filled up while registering,’’ said Johny Emmanuel, managing editor, Christianmalayalee.com.

The dream of the architects of Christian Ecumenical Forum, which owns and maintains the website, is to make this site a one-stop destination for all requirements of Malayali Christians.

``We plan to post the pastoral letters issued by different dioceses on the site. In addition to the print version, audio tapes also will be available,’’ said Johny. All church activities will be published on it. Parish-based communities, a section beneficial for Christian matrimonials searches, and articles about rites in various churches will be part of the portal.

There will be a news section that focuses on issues that will be of interest to community members. Debates on issues within the community, informative articles sourced from different publications around the globe and a platform for interaction will be part of the portal. To attract new generation believers, there will be contests like Bible quiz and crossword based on Bible on the site.

``In the long run, our aim is to network all the churches in Kerala and those outside the State, but run by Kerala churches,’’ said Johny.

The formal launch of the site was conducted by Catholicos Baselios Mar Cleemis on Wednesday. Malankara Orthodox Syrian church Bishop Gabriel Mar Gregorios, ADGP Alexander Jacob and D. Babu Paul spoke.

Generally literary rate is high in Kerala, and Malayalees irrespective of their community reaching for newspaper is very great. That is why, even though their state is very small, they have largest selling newspapers many. No doubt their going advance, into web link, is nothing strange.