ST. STEPHEN'S KNANAYA CATHOLIC MISSION OF LAS VEGAS / PHOENIX
Mission Director: Fr. Siju Mudakkodil
C/o St. Pius X Church, 124 N. 5th Street, Montebello, CA
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. In Las Vegas, the Community formed a Knanaya Catholic Association in 1992. A youth wing and Kids Club were established in 1998. The members of the community very closely 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.
In 2008, Las Vegas Knanaya community requested Bishop 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 erected the mission on January 3, 2009 and appointed Rev. Fr. Thomas Mulavanal as its Mission Director in addition to his assignment in Los Angeles, CA. Formal inauguration Mass of this Mission was celebrated by Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakatt on February 21, 2009. Fr. Siju Mudakkkodil is the present mission director since October 18, 2014.
Currently this mission serves 14 Knanaya Catholic families in Las Vegas, Nevada and 12 families in Phoenix, Arizona. In every month Holy Mass is celebrated at St. Viator Catholic Church Chapel (2461 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89121) and once in four months in Phoenix.