St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago

The St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago is the twenty-fifth Syro-Malabar Catholic diocese. The Holy Father Pope John Paul II erected the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago with jurisdiction over the entire United States in 2001. The Holy Father appointed Mar Jacob Angadiath its first Bishop. He is also appointed the permanent Apostolic Visitator to Canada. The establishment of this new diocese is a mark of appreciation and recognition by the Holy See of the Syro-Malabar community's contribution to the Universal Church and to the world.

The establishment of the Syro-Malabar diocese is a historical landmark in the history of the Syro-Malabar Church. Until the establishment of this diocese, the Syro-Malabar Church was confined to India only. The establishment of the diocese helped the immigrant Syro-Malabar Catholics to practice their rite in the U.S.

There are more than 100,000 Indian Catholics following this rite in the U.S. and Canada and the number is increasing on account of the immigration of professionals.

The diocese has established eight parishes in the different parts of the country but in places where the number of Syro-Malabar Catholics is not very large, mission centers are being established. The diocese's cathedral can be found in Chicago, Illinois. The Mar Thoma Shleeha Cathedral (Saint Thomas the Apostle) is a parish with almost 1000 families and is seat to the bishop. Their cathedral church was dedicated on July 5, 2008.

The Knanaya community has their own missions under the pastoral guidance of Knanaya priests .

The Diocesan Curia

Bishop - His Excellency Mar Jacob Angadiath

Vicar General - Rev Dr George Madathiparambil

Chanecellor & Secretary - Reverend Dr. Roy Kaduppil

Procurator & Assistant Youth Director - Reverend Fr. Vinod Madathiparambil

Youth Director - Fr. Abraham Karott

Vicar of the Cathedral - Reverend Fr. Anony Thundathil

Missions under the Jurisdiction of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago

*Syro-Malabar Mission of Boston
*St. Raphael Syro Malabar Catholic Mission of Cleveland
*St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church of Dallas
*St. Joseph Syro-Malabar Catholic Church of Houston
*Syro-Malabar Mission of Detroit
*Syro-Malabar Mission of Los Angeles
*Our Lady of Health Syro-Malabar Catholic Church of Miami
*St.Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Philadelphia
*Syro-Malabar Mission of San Francisco
*St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church East Millstone New Jersey
*St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church West Hempstead New York
*Blessed Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

ee also

*List of the Roman Catholic dioceses of the United States

External links

* [http://www.stthomasdiocese.org/ St. Thomas Diocese]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dchsm.html St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago] at Catholic-Hierarchy
* [http://members.aol.com/smalabar/ Mar Thoma Shleeha Cathedral]
* [http://www.knanayaregion.us/missions_approved.htm Syro-Malabar missions]
* [http://www.syromalabarsf.org/ Syro Malabar Mission of San Francisco]
* [http://www.syromalabarphila.org/ Syro-Malabar Mission of Philadelphia]
* [http://www.syromalabarla.org/ Syro-Malabar Mission of Los Angeles]
* [http://www.syromalabarmissiongarfield.com/ Syro-Malabar Mission of New Jersey]
* [http://www.stmaryssyromalabar.org/ Syro-Malabar Mission of New York]
* [http://malayalamchurchboston.com/default.aspx Syro-Malabar Mission of Boston]
* [http://www.syromalabarccc.org/ St. Raphael Syro Malabar Catholic Mission of Cleveland]
* [http://www.kcmgeorgia.org/index.html Blessed Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]