St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Mission, Toronto, Canada
DIRECTOR: Fr.Pathrose Champakkara, Phone: 647 717 8918
The most of the Knanaya immigrants residing in and around Toronto wanted to have a knanaya spiritual get together in Canada. Rev. Fr. Mathew Meledath (pastor of knanaya Catholic parish, Detroit) took initiative to organize a koodarayogam in Toronto. As a result a Knanaya prayer group was conducted occasionally in Toronto under his leadership. He couldn’t continue to support the group due to his transfer to Houston. At this point, the prayer group executive requested the Archbishop of Toronto for appointing a chaplain for the koodarayogam. Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath, the Apostolic Visitor for the Syro Malabar community in Canada also wrote his recommendation. Rev. Fr. Thomas Mulavanal, the vicar General of the Syro Malabar Diocese of Chicago contacted Rev. Msgr. Thomas Kalarathil, the Vicar for Clergy in the Archdiocese of Toronto for his intervention to establish a “Knanaya Catholic Mission” rather than a chaplain for the Knanaya community.
On April 3, 2014 Thomas Cardinal Collins, the Archbishop of Toronto issued a decree of establishing St. Mary’s Syro Malabar Knanaya Catholic Mission for the faithful of Knanaya Community in the Archdiocese of Toronto and appointed Rev. Fr. George Parayil CFIC as its first Mission Director. His Excellency Mar Jacob Angadiath Bishop of the Syro Malabar Diocese of Chicago, His Grace Mar Mathew Moolakkatt Archbishop of Kottayam, Msgr. Thomas Mulavanal Msgr. Thomas Kalarathil, Fr. George Parayil and St. Mary’s Koodarayogam Executive members were close instruments for the establishment of this mission.
St. Mary’s Knanaya Mission started its First Holy Qurbana on May 11, 2014. Rev Fr. George Parayil was the main celebrant. Rev. Msgr. Thomas Kalarathil, Fr. Jose Karikombil, Fr. Shibil Pariathpadavil and Fr. George Puramadam were concelebrants. The official inauguration of the Knanaya Catholic Mission was done by Rev. Msgr. Thomas Mulavanal on September 21, 2014 during the First Feast Day celebration of the Mission’s Patron Saint Mother Mary (Muthiamma) at St Joseph Secondary School, Mississauga.
His Ex. Mar Jacob Angadiath, Msgr. Thomas Mulavanal and Msgr. Thomas Kalarathil were present during the First anniversary celebration of the mission’s establishment on June 21, 2015. The Syro-Malabar priests from neighboring parishes and missions were also present at that function.
The Apostolic Exarchate for the Syro-Malabar faithful in Canada was formally erected by His Holiness Pope Francis on August 06, 2015. Very Reverend Jose Kalluvelil was appointed as the first Apostolic Exarch. The inauguration of the Exarchate and the Episcopal Ordination of Very Rev. Jose Kalluvelil took place on September 19, 2015.
Bishop Jose Kalluvelil relieved Fr. George Parayil from his office as chaplain of St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Mission of Toronto on July 2016 and appointed Rev. Fr. Pathrose Champakkar as the chaplain of this mission from July 1, 2016.
The Knanaya ministry in Toronto is functioning very well under the leadership of the Mission director Fr. Pathrose Champakara. This mission comprises 200 Knanaya families.
Email: pathrosachan@gmail.com
