On 17 August the 75 th death anniversary of late Msgr. Aloysius Maria Benziger ocd (1864-1942) was celebrated at Trivandrum by the Province of Malabar in the presence of Cardinal Clemise, head of the Syro malancara church and the president of the Indian bishops conference, Archbishop Susai Packiam of Trivandrum and many other bishops of the region along with hundreds of priests and religious of whom many carmelites and thousands of faithful from these dioceses.
Bishop Benziger was a discalced Carmelite from Flanders province who was ordained bishop in 1900 and from 1905-1931 was the bishop of Quilone, Kerala. He enjoys great game of sanctity in this region. On this occasion the diocesan process for his beatification was begun with the formal declaration of the archbishop of Trivandrum. The body of bishop Benziger lies in our monastery church at Trivandrum. Fr. Johannes, our definitor for South Asia represented fr. General at this occasion and presented bishop Benziger as a holy leader, true son of St. Teresa and a man for the times. Fr. Sebastian Koodappattu the provincial and the whole province organised the day to be memorable.
