KNANAYA CATHOLIC REGION

ST. MARY'S KNANAYA CATHOLIC FORANE PARISH, HOUSTON

6400 W. Fuqua Dr., Missouri City, TX 77489, USA

Pastor / Vicar: Fr. Suni Padijarekkara
6400 W. Fuqua Dr., Missouri City, TX 77489, USA
1-281-957-5264, 1-708-953-1912
sunipt@yahoo.com vicar@stmaryshouston.com

MASS SCHEDULE
Monday - Friday 7:00 P.M.
Saturday 9:30 A.M.
Sunday 9:00 A.M. English Mass
            11:15 A.M. Malayalam
             5:00 P.M. Malayalam
             8:00 P.M. Malayalam (Malayalee Weekend only)

NOVENAS
            Tuesday: St. Anthony of Padua
            Thursday: St. Jude
            Saturday: Our Lady of Perpetual Help

ADORATION
Everyday one hour before Holy Qurbana
Every Friday one hour after Holy Qurbana for ADULTS in the main church and
for YOUTH in the chapel  led by youth team.

NIGHT VIGIL
Every Second Friday 7:00 P.M. - Midnight

DEVINE MERCY CHAPLET
Every day 15 minutes before Holy Qurbana.

LEGION OF MARY PRAYER MEETING:
Every Saturday after Holy Qurbana

KOODARA YOGAMS - 14

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SCHOOL
Number of Students: 467
No. of staff: 38

HISTORY

Fr. Joseph Meledath came to Houston on November 27, 1994 to take care of pastoral needs of the Knanaya community in Houston and Dallas. Bishop Joseph Fiorenza of the Galveston-Houston diocese officially appointed Fr. Meledath as the mission director in 1996. Rev. Fr. Joseph Manappurath was appointed as the mission director on September 1, 1998. Mar Jacob Angadiath officially recognized the Knanaya Catholic Mission of Houston on October 29, 2003, along with nine other Knanaya Catholic Missions in the USA, as a mission of the St. Thomas Diocese of Chicago. He also confirmed the appointment of Fr. Joseph Manapurath as the director of this mission. Fr. James Cheruvil took charge as the director of this mission on January 1, 2007. Rev. Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath was appointed as the mission director with effect from December 28, 2010.   

This mission bought a new church from a Baptist community on August 25, 2011and was consecrated on November 5, 2011 by His Excellency Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath. Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt was the main celebrant of the first Holy Mass and Bishop Mar Joseph Pandarasseril was concelebrant. Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath elevated this mission as a parish and appointed Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath as the first vicar (pastor) of this parish during the Holy Mass. Fr. Mathew Meledath was appointed as the second from May 6, 2013. Fr. Saji Pinarkayil served as pastor of this parish from October 18, 2014 to April 30, 2018. Fr. Suni Padijarekkara is the present pastor from May 1, 2018.   

This parish was declared as a Forane Parish of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago on February 18, 2015 by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath. The official establishment of the forane was held on March 15, 2015 by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath and inaugurated by Auxiliary Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt at Mary's Church in Houston.

St. Joseph's Congregation sent three sisters (Sr. Reji, Sr. Joice and Sr. Jossy), to start a new convent in Houston, TX. They arrived in Houston on August 5, 2017. The parish hosted a pre-marriage course of Knanaya Region from November 7-9, 2018.

This Parish serves around 498 families in Houston, Sugarland, Missouri city, Stafford and Southeastern part of Texas.

TIMELINE

1994 November 27: Fr. Joseph Meledath came to Houston to take care of pastoral needs of the Knanaya community in Houston and Dallas.

1998 September 1: Fr. Joseph Manappurath was appointed as the mission director.

2003 October 29: Mar Jacob Angadiath officially recognized this mission as part of the diocese.

2007 January 1: Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. James Cheruvil as the director of the mission.

2010 December 28: Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath was appointed as the mission director.   

2011 August 25: Purchase of a newly constructed church from a Baptist community.

2011 November 5: Mar Jacob Angadiath along with Mar Mathew Moolakkatt and Mar Joseph Pandarasseril consecrated the church. Mar Angadiath elevated this mission as a parish.

2013 May 6:  Fr. Mathew Meledath was appointed as the pastor.

2014 October 18: Fr. Saji Pinarkayil started serving as the pastor of this parish.

2015 February 18: Mar Jacob Angadiath elevated the parish as a Forane church.

2015 March 15: Auxiliary Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt inaugurated the forane. 

2017 August 5: Start of St. Joseph’s Convent in Houston.

2018 May 1: Fr. Suni Padijarekkara was appointed as pastor of the parish.

2018 November 7-9: Knanaya Region pre-marriage course held in Houston.

DIRECTORS / PASTORS

Fr. Joseph Meledath (1994 November 27 – 1998 September 1)

Fr. Joseph Manappurath (1998 September 1 – 2007 January 1)

Fr. James Cheruvil (2007 January 1 - 2010 December 28)

Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath (2010 December 28 – 2013 May 6)

Fr. Mathew Meledath (2013 May 6 – 2014 October 18)

Fr. Saji Pinarkayil (2014 October 18 - 2018 May 1)

Fr. Suni Padijarekkara (2018 May 1 - )