ST. STEPHEN'S KNANAYA CATHOLIC MISSION OF LAS VEGAS / PHOENIX
Mission
Director: Fr. Siju Mudakkodil
12348 Paramount Blvd., Downey, CA 90242.
1-210-630-2295
skmudakodil@gmail.com
MASS SCHEDULE
Every second Friday of the month at St. Viator Church, Las Vegas, NV
MAIN FEAST: Feast of St. Stephen on December 26th.
HISTORY
Knanaya immigration to the Nevada and Arizona States started around
mid-70s. The Knanaya Catholic Association of Nevada was established in
Las Vegas 1992. KCYL and Kids Club were established in 1998. The
members of the community cooperated with the local Catholic Church and
initiated to celebrate the feast of St. Stephen in December 1992. That
was the very first Feast celebration by any Knanaya community in the
United States and probably, it was the first of its kind by any
Syro-Malabar community in the United States.
Vicar General and Knanaya Region Director Fr.
Abraham Mutholath motivated the Knanaya Catholics in Las Vegas to apply
for a Knanaya Mission in Las Vegas. In 2008, the Knanaya community in
Las Vegas requested Mar Jacob Angadiath, the Syro Malabar Bishop of
Chicago, to establish a separate Knanaya Catholic Mission for the people
who live in Nevada and Arizona States. Mar Angadiath instituted the
mission on January 3, 2009 and appointed Rev. Fr. Thomas Mulavanal as
its Mission Director in addition to his assignment in Los Angeles. The
formal inauguration of the mission was done by Archbishop Mar Mathew
Moolakkatt on February 21, 2009. When Fr. Mulavanal moved to Chicago,
Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. Siju Mudakkkodil as the mission
director from October 18, 2014.
Currently this mission serves 14 Knanaya
Catholic families in Las Vegas, Nevada and 12 families in Phoenix,
Arizona. Holy Mass is offered monthly at St. Viator Catholic Church
Chapel, 2461 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89121 and once in four
months in Phoenix.
TIMELINE
1970s: Knanaya immigration to the Nevada and Arizona States
1992: Knanaya Catholic Association of Nevada (KCAN) was established in
Las Vegas.
1992 December: The Community started celebrating the annual feast of St.
Stephen.
2008: The Knanaya community in Las Vegas requested Mar Jacob Angadiath
to establish a Knanaya Catholic Mission in Las Vegas.
2009 January 3: Mar Angadiath established the St. Stephen Knanaya
Catholic Mission in Las Vegas for the Knanaya Catholics who live in
Nevada and Arizona States and appointed Fr. Thomas Mulavanal as the
director.
2009 February 21: Formal inauguration of the mission by Archbishop Mar
Mathew Moolakkatt.
2014 October 18: Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. Siju Mudakkkodil as
the mission director.
MISSION DIRECTORS
Fr. Thomas Mulavanal (2009 January 3 – 2014 October 18)
Fr. Siju Mudakodil (2014 October 18 - )