Pastor / Vicar: Rev. Fr. Thomas Mulavanal
541 Willow Road, Elmhurst, IL 60126
1-310-709-5111
tmulavan@gmail.com
Associate Pastor: Rev. Fr. Bins Chethatlil
541 Willow Road, Elmhurst, IL 60126
1-281-818-6518
frbins@gmail.com
MASS SCHEDULE
Holy mass Monday – Friday at 7:00 P.M.
Saturday Holy Mass at 10:00 A.M.
Sunday Malayalam Mass at 9:45 A.M.
Sunday English Mass on Religious Education Class days at 11:15 A.M. (September to May)
NOVENAS
St. Anthony Novena on Mondays after 7:00 P.M. Holy Mass
Sacred Heart Novena on Fridays after 7:00 P.M. Mass
Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Saturdays after 10:00 A.M. Holy Mass
KOODARA YOGAMS – 6
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SCHOOL
DRE: Zacharish Chelackal 630-605-1172 ancyzach@aol.com
Number of Students: 223
Youth and Adult Teachers 71
PIOUS ASSOCIATIONS ∧ MINISTRIES: Men Ministry, Women Ministry, Youth Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Legion of Mary, Prayer Group, Darsana Samooham.
MAIN FEAST: Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on the weekend close to the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart.
OTHER ACTIVITIES: Annual Retreat, Parish Day, Pilgrimages, Parish Weekly Bulletin.
Knanaya Catholics who migrated to Chicago and nearby areas from the Diocese of Kottayam gathered in January 1981 and requested the Bishop of Kottayam Mar Kuriakose Kunnassery to send a priest from Kottayam diocese to offer pastoral service to the Knanaya community here. Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry wrote on March 18, 1981 to His Eminence John Cardinal Cody, Archbishop of Chicago asking his help to make provisions for establishing a Knanaya Catholic Ministry in Chicago served by a Knanaya Catholic priest. However, the reply by the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago Rev. John R. Keating was that “it is our judgment that the creation of such a special ministry would not be appropriate at the present time.”
However, from 1982 the Knanaya Catholics in Chicago attended Saturday 5:30 P.M. Latin Mass at St. Alphonsus Church and had social gathering on alternate Saturdays at the parish hall after the Mass. They arranged Syro-Malabar Qurbana in the basement chapel of St. Alphonsus Church whenever a Syro-Malabar priest was available. Bishop Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry sent a letter on November 3, 1982 to the then new Archbishop of Chicago Most Rev. Joseph L. Bernardin to reconsider the request for starting a new Knanaya Catholic Ministry in Chicago. At the request of the community leaders, Rev. Richard J. Feller, the pastor of Church of St. Ita wrote on September 7, 1983 to the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago expressing his willingness to provide residence in his parish for the proposed Knanaya priest coming from Kerala.
Rev. John C. Hergenrother, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago held a meeting on September 27, 1983 with two representatives each from four associations: (1) Kerala Catholic Fellowship, (2) Knanaya Association of North America, (3) Knanaya Catholic Congress, and (4) Knanaya Association of Chicago. They reached an agreement to avail the service of Fr. Jacob Chollampel, proposed by Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry to serve all Kerala Catholics in Chicago. Hence, the chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago wrote on 1983 October 7 to Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry welcoming the service of Fr. Jacob Chollampel. Fr. Jacob Chollampel reached Chicago and started special ministry October 28, 1983 to the Kerala Catholics while living in the rectory of St. Ita church.
Non-Knanaya Syro-Malabar Catholics in Chicago wrote in October 1984 to Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Conference and Syro-Malabar Bishop’s Conference asking for a separate ministry for them in Chicago. The Syro-Malabar Bishop’s Conference held on December 3rd 1984 authorized His Excellency Mar Joseph Pallikaparambil to correspond with the Archbishop of Chicago “to get a priest for the Syro-Malabar Rite appointed for the special ministry to the non-Knanaya Syro-Malabarians in Chicago in addition to Rev. Fr. Jacob Chollampel who is already appointed for the ministry to the Knanaya Community.” Based on this request of the Bishop’s Conference, the Archbishop of Chicago Joseph Cardinal Bernadine approved and inaugurated the Syro-Malabar Ministry in Chicago on August 25, 1985. The Chicago Archdiocese gave them permission to use St. Bernadine church in Forest Park for monthly Holy Mass. Fr. Antony Kurialacherry was appointed as the director of the ministry.
Since Fr. Jacob Chollampel was returning to Kottayam, Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry wrote to Joseph Cardinal Bernardin on April 15, 1985 proposing to send Fr. Cyriac Manthuruthil to continue the special ministry of Knanaya Catholics in Chicago. However, Rev. Robert L. Kealy, the chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago wrote on August 31, 1985 to Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry that clarification is to be made on membership issue of the Knanaya Ministry before Fr. Cyriac Manthuruthy could come and take over the ministry. Fr. Jacob Chollampel returned to India and the community kept waiting for the arrival of Fr. Cyriac Manthuruthil.
At the request of the Knanaya Community members, Fr. Anthony Kurialacherry, Spiritual Director of Syro-Malabar Catholic Community of Chicago agreed on December 3, 1985 to continue the Syro-Malabar Mass at St. Benedict’s Church, Chicago on every Saturday evening. Fr. C.T. Vayalil from the Archdiocese of Changanacherry who was serving as a hospital chaplain in Chicago also agreed to help with the ministry. Later, Rev. Robert L. Kealy wrote to Fr. Zacharias Elapunkal, the director of the Syro-Malabar Ministry on January 23, 1987 to coordinate the services of the Syro-Malabar priests who might celebrate the liturgy for the Knanaya Syro-Malabar Ministry.
On December 7, 1987, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin wrote to Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry expressing his willingness to accept the service of Fr. Cyriac Manthuruthil for the Knanaya Syro-Malabar Ministry in Chicago. Fr. Cyriac Manthuruthil came to Chicago on May 24, 1988 and the Archdiocese of Chicago appointed him on May 31, 1988, as the director of Knanaya Catholic Mission while residing as St. Ferdinand’s Church. The inaugural Mass of the new “Knanaya Catholic Mission” took place on July 23, 1988 at St. Henry’s at 6:30 P.M. Chancellor Rev. Robert L. Kealy delivered a message during the mass. Syro-Malabar was offered at St. Henry’s church on every other Saturday at 6:30 P.M. The venue of the Mass was shifted from St. Henry’s to Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Church on April 15, 1989.
Archdiocese of Chicago appointed Fr. Simon Edathiparambil as the director of Knanaya Catholic Mission on August 16, 1995 with his residence at IHM Parish. Fr. Philip Thodukayil took charge as the director of Knanaya Catholic Mission with his residence at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish on June 25, 1999. Fr. Philip Thodukayil started Saturday evening mass at 6:00 P.M. from February 5, 2000 on every first Saturday of the month at St. Isidore’s Church in Bloomingdale. This is in addition to the Sunday evening Mass at the IHM church on every Sunday. Fr. Philip Thodukayil started an additional Sunday morning mass at 10:00 A.M. at KCS Community Center followed by Religious Education Classes at the center from January 14, 2001.
Fr. Philip Thodukayil started an additional Saturday evening mass from February 16, 2002 at 6:00 P.M. on every third Saturday of the month at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Darien. At the request of Mar Jacob Angadiath, Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholath moved to Chicago on February 16, 2003 and started living at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Chicago while working as chaplain at Our Lady of Resurrection Hospital at Addison and Central in Chicago.
After the inauguration of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago on July 1, 2001, Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath reconstituted this mission as part of the Syro-Malabar diocese on October 29, 2003 extending its boundary to include all Knanaya Catholics living in the states of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. He also confirmed the appointment of Rev. Fr. Philip Thodukayil as the director of this mission. When he returned to Kottayam, Bishop Angadiath appointed Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholath as the director of this mission on July 1, 2004. Due to lack of enough people’s participation the Holy Mass at St. Isidore’s Church in Bloomingdale was stopped on August 7, 2004 and the mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Darien was stopped on August 21, 2004.
The mission celebrated a Solemn Feast for the first time in honor of Pope St. Pius X on August 8, 2004 with Mar Mathew Moolakkatt as the main celebrant. The mission started Holy Mass from September 4, 2004 at St. Peter’s Church in North Lake on every Saturday at 5:00 P.M. The mission also started Religious Education School at North Lake on September 11 and at IHM School on September 12, 2004. The mission conducted the first marriage preparation course from December 3 – 5, 2004.
During the homily at IHM Church on May 22, 2005, Mar Mathew Moolakkatt, then auxiliary bishop of Kottayam requested the Knanaya Catholics in Chicago to establish our own church. The planning to have our own church started. Mass for Chicago Suburb was moved from St. Peter’s Church in North Lake to the hall of St. Joseph’s Church in Addison on June 18, 2005. Mission began to be active with many pastoral programs like Theology Course of adults, various ministries, religious education festival, publication of Sunday Bulletin, and youth retreats. The Sunday 5:30 P.M. mass was shifted in September 2005 to Our Lady of Victory (OLV) church. A search committee was formed on October 2, 2005 to find a suitable building to buy for our church.
While planning to celebrate the Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee of the mission director Fr. Abraham Mutholath, some mission members planned to collect $100 each to give him a personal gift. Instead, the mission director encouraged them to donate $1000 each in their name to church building fund on that day. Thus, the mission members contributed $44,337 to the church building fund during Jubilee Celebration meeting at OLV School Hall on December 4, 2005. That gave a momentum to raise more funds for the building fund.
Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath established seven regions in St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago on April 28, 2006. One of these regions is for all Knanaya Catholics in the diocese. Mar Jacob Angadiath officially declared the establishment of Knanaya Catholic Region at OLV Church Chicago and appointed Vicar General Rev. Fr. Abraham Mutholath as Region Director on April 30, 2006.
While search was going on for a church for the mission, no church building was available for sale in the area that were suitable for the mission. Some leaders of the Knanaya Catholic Society (KCS) of Chicago had a private discussion with the then Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago Most Rev. Joseph Paprocki at the residence of Joy Vachachira on the possibility of buying a church for KCS from the Archdiocese of Chicago. The bishop clarified that the Archdiocese will not sell church to an association but only to the mission if we approach through Mar Jacob Angadiath.
With the support of Mar Jacob Angadiath, the mission director Fr. Abraham Mutholath and Joy Vachachira met with Bishop Paprocki at his office. The churches that were on sale from the Archdiocese did not have enough parking space. Since we declined the proposals, Bishop Paprocki informed Fr. Mutholath and Joy Vachachira that there is a proposal to sell one of the three churches in Maywood and Melrose Park area, but the decision was not made. So, the bishop asked to keep the discussions in secret until an official decision was made and declared by the Archbishop of Chicago. Bishop offered St. Eulalia Church in Maywood as lease for 30 years with the possibility of selling it afterwards.
Though the church was close to express way, large enough for our community and beautiful, there were three issues: (1) We must spend $25,000 for the repair of the air conditioning unit. (2) We were not allowed to remodel the church according to the Syro-Malabar liturgical tradition. (3) We must follow the 1986 rescript from the Oriental Congregation regarding membership in the mission. For these reasons, Fr. Mutholath declined the offer and asked if the mission could buy St. James Church in Maywood without any condition on membership issue. Mau Jacob Angadiath also visited the St. James Church along with Bishop Paprocki, Fr. Mutholath and Joy Vachachira and confirmed the deal for $975,000. The Archdiocese of Chicago began the process of selling the St. James Church that was still active for the Chicago Knanaya Mission.
The mission celebrated the Solemn feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at Community Center, OLV Church, Taft High School Auditorium, and St. Joseph’s Church Addison from May 25 to 28, 2006. Archbishop Emeritus Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry and Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath were the main celebrants. During the feast celebration on May 25, Mar Jacob Angadiath announced that the patron of the proposed new church would be the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the name of the parish would be “Sacred Heart Syro-Malabar Knanaya Catholic Parish.”
The Archdiocese of Chicago gave strict instruction to Mar Jacob Angadiath, Fr. Abraham Mutholath, and Joy Vachachira that the name of the church to be bought should be strictly confidential until the Archbishop issues decree on closing the church and selling to the Knanaya Community. So, while the fundraising was going on, the community members were not aware of the church to be bought and its location.
Mission Director Fr. Abraham Mutholath revealed the name and location of the church to be bought during a Music Concert by Rev. Fr. Paul Poovathumkal at Taft High School Auditorium 2006 June 24. The music concert was a fundraising program organized by women ministry for the purchase of the new church. At that time the people gladly accepted the decision. However, some mission members raised security issue in the City of Maywood where the proposed church was located. The issue got great momentum and there was severe protest. Some people collected signatures of around 400 families and submitted a petition to Mar Jacob Angadiath against the purchase of that church. Though bishop and mission director were willing to give up, another group came with the strong request to purchase the same church. So, Mar Angadiath asked them to collect the signatures of over 400 other families in support of their request.
Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt, Archbishop Emeritus Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry, and Rev. Fr. Thomas Kottoor had arrived from Kerala for the blessing and inauguration of the church that was scheduled to take place on July 15, 2016. Instead, a concelebrated Mass was offered on the same date at Addison School Hall by Archbishop Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry, Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt, and Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath.
As part of the proposed parish inauguration a banquet in honor of the dignitaries was arranged on July 16, 2006 at Crown Jewel Banquet Hall in Des Plaines. During that banquet, those in favor of purchasing the church under the leadership of Alex Kannachanparambil submitted a petition of more than 400 families in favor of buying the church. Based on that, Mar Jacob Angadiath announced his decision to purchase St. James Church in Maywood for Knanaya Catholic Mission.
Because of the Syro-Malabar Synod, the bishops had gone to Kerala by the time the Archdiocese handed over the church with effect from September 1, 2006. The mission director Fr. Abraham Mutholath offered the first Syro-Malabar Qurbana at St. James Church in Maywood on Friday, September 1st. On Sunday, September 3, 2006, Fr. Abraham Mutholath and parish council members inaugurated the possession of the church after 10:00 A.M. Qurbana by lighting a candle.
The Spanish people considered St. James Church in Maywood as a pilgrim center of Our Lady of Guadalupe. At their request, we allowed them to take with them the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe from the church. So, the Knanaya mission arranged a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico from September 14 to 16, 2006. Fifty-two parishioners took part in it and they asked the intercession of Our Blessed Mother for the new church and bought a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe and got it blessed in the Basilica.
The deed for the purchase of St. James Church property from the Archdiocese of Chicago took place on September 22, 2006. On September 24, 2006, Mar Jacob Angadiath blessed the new interior architectural work of the church and declared the Knanaya Catholic Mission as Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Parish. He appointed the Mission Director Rev. Fr. Abraham Mutholath as pastor of the parish. Bishop also blessed the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Church. His Excellency Bishop Thomas Paprocki inaugurated the meeting that followed, and Henderson Yarbrough, the City Mayor of Maywood welcomed the community to Maywood and offered support to the parish.
Since half of the parishioners had objected to the purchase of the church in Maywood, the Qurbana at Our Lady of Victory Church in Chicago was continued as an extension of the parish on Sunday evenings. On December 25, 2006 Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholath issued a circular announcing the formation of St. Mary’s Unit for those Knanaya Catholics who attend OLV church for their pastoral needs with effect from January 1, 2007. Religious Education classes, pious associations and ministries for various ages were held there also. Thus, St. Mary’s Unit functioned as a quasi-parish under the Sacred Heart Parish. Efforts were made to reduce the division in the community by organizing common programs for Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s participants including common Religious Education Festival, youth retreat, seminars, and feast celebrations.
The Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic parish signed the deed for the rectory from the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 31, 2007. The parishioners preferred to have common place for burial in a cemetery. The parish applied for that to the Archbishop of Chicago with the recommendation of Mar Jacob Angadiath. The parish got a separate section at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillsdale with possibility of more than 1600 graves. The dedication of the Knanaya Catholic Parish Cemetery at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery took place on June 1, 2007 by Bishops Mar Jacob Angadiath, Bishop of Miao Mar George Pallipparambil, and Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Paprocki, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago. A shrine was constructed in the cemetery with the name of our parish and Mar Joseph Pandarasseril blessed it on July 13, 2008.
The parish funded to build a new church in the Catholic Diocese of Miao in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India in the name of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in thanksgiving for the church they could buy in Chicago. A special collection was taken on June 3, 2007 during Holy Qurbana for this purpose and handed over to the Bishop of Miao Mar George Palliparambil who officiate the Qurbana. The parish then arranged mission pilgrimage to the North East India, including the Diocese of Miao, from January 11 to 23, 2008.
On January 19, 2008, Rev. Fr. Abraham Mutholath blessed Sacred Heart Church in the Diocese of Miao sponsored by Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Parish in Chicago. Thirty members from Chicago Knanaya Catholic Parish participated in the function.
The parish celebrated the Silver Jubilee of Knanaya Catholic Mission on August 3, 2008 at Sacred Heart Church. Mar Mathew Moolakkatt, Mar Jacob Angadiath, and Mar George Pallipparambil, Mr. Thomas Chazhikadan M.L.A., Mr. Baby Kanatt, President, Knanaya Catholic Congress of the Archeparchy of Kottayam were the guests. A Jubilee Souvenir of Knanaya Catholic Mission was published during the meeting.
The parish organized a pilgrimage to Holy Land and Rome from September 30 – October 14, 2008. Along with this, the participants attended the Canonization of Sr. Alphonsa in the Vatican on October 12 by Pope Benedict XVI. The sanctuary of the Sacred Heart Church was renovated with the help of Artist Narayanan Kuttappan and was blessed by Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt and Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath on October 26, 2008.
Sacred Heart Parish and St. Mary’s Unit sponsored the sanctuary of the newly constructed Cathedral of the Diocese of Miao. Fr. Abraham Mutholath and Joy Chemmachel took part in the consecration of the Cathedral held on May 2, 2010.
Fund raising programs were held for the purchase of property for St. Mary’s Unit of the parish. Search was going on for an appropriate building for purchase, The General Body held at OLV church on August 16, 2009 decided to buy a synagogue available in Morton Grove for sale. St. Mary’s Unit bought the Synagogue on January 14, 2010 at 7800 W. Lyons St., Morton Grove, IL 60053 for St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Church. Mar Jacob Angadiath consecrated St. Mary’s Church in Morton Grove on July 18, 2010. Mar Mathew Moolakkatt, Archbishop of Kottayam was the main celebrant of the First Mass offered in this Church immediately after the consecration. Mar Joseph Pandarasseril, the Auxiliary Bishop of Kottayam was con-concelebrant and gave homily during the Holy Mass. St. Mary’s Unit was elevated as a parish and Fr. Abraham Mutholath was appointed as its first pastor as an additional appointment. The Visitation convent building at 7801 W. Maple St., in Morton Grove near St. Mary’s Church was blessed on the same day by the three bishops after the consecration of the St. Mary’s Church in Morton Grove.
When St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Parish was established on July 18, 2010, the boundary of Sacred Heart Parish is formally restricted to Knanaya Catholics living to the South of 90 Express Way in the state of Illinois and in the state of Indiana.
Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. Saji Pinarkayil, who has been associate pastor of the Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic parishes in Chicago as the pastor of the parish on January 1, 2012. Both parishes continued common programs for the unity of the community like religious education festival, youth retreat, seminars, feasts, and pilgrimages. Mar Mathew Moolakkatt blessed the shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus installed at the parking lot of the Sacred Heart Church at 6:45 P.M. on September 17, 2012.
The parish bought a house in Elmhurst on October 9, 2012 as rectory for the parish. Mar Mathew Moolakkatt blessed the rectory on November 27, 2012.
Mar Jacob Angadiath transferred Fr. Saji Pinarkayil to Houston and transferred Fr. Abraham Mutholath from St. Mary’s Parish to the Sacred Heart church for a second term with effect from October 18, 2014. Mar Jacob Angadiath elevated the parish on March 22, 2015 as a Forane in the presence of Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt and Bishop Mar Lawrence Mukkuzhy. Fr. Abraham Mutholath was appointed as forane vicar.
On September 6, 2015, Fr. Abraham Mutholath inaugurated the 10th year observance of the parish. The Chicago Forane Bible Fest was held at St. Mary’s Church in the presence of Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt and Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath on September 12, 2015. The tenth anniversary of the parish was celebrated on a large scale from September 9 to 11, 2016. Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt inaugurated the 10th anniversary celebration on September 9th. Mar Jacob Angadiath offered Holy Mass and started the 12-hour adoration on the second day. The final day celebration was started with a Holy Mass on September 11 by the Major Archbishop Mar George Cardinal Alancherry, Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt, Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath, Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt, Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Michael Mulhall (Canada), priests from the Knanaya Region, and other invited priests from Chicago area. The parish sponsored the construction of another Sacred Heart Church in the diocese of Miao as a souvenir of the tenth anniversary of the parish. Mar George Palliparambil blessed it on January 15, 2017. A souvenir was also published in commemoration of the 10th anniversary celebration.
Mar Joy Alappatt transferred Fr. Abraham Mutholath from this parish to Houston on September 14, 2023 and appointed Fr. Thomas Mulavanal as the new pastor from September 15, 2023. Mar Joy Alappatt appointed Fr. Bins Chethalil as the associate pastor from November 1, 2023.
Fr. Tomy Vadakkevattukulam and Fr. Wilson had helped the parish with Holy Mass and hearing confessions. Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath, Fr. Saji Pinarkayil, Fr. Siju Mudakkodil, Fr. Suni Padinjarekkara, Fr. Jose Chirappurath and Fr. Boban Vattampurath served as associate pastors.
1981 January: Knanaya Catholics in Chicago requested the Bishop of Kottayam Mar Kuriakose Kunnassery to send a priest from Kottayam diocese to offer pastoral serve to them.
1981 March 18: Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry wrote to His Eminence John Cardinal Cody, Archbishop of Chicago expressing his willingness to provide a priest to serve the Knanaya Catholics in Chicago.
1982 February 16: The Archdiocese of Chicago rejected the proposal to start a Knanaya Mission in Chicago.
1982: Get together of the Knanaya Catholics in Chicago on alternate Saturdays after 5:30 P.M. Latin Mass at St. Alphonsus church. They also arranged Syro-Malabar Qurbana at the basement chapel of St. Alphonsus Church whenever a Syro-Malabar priest was available.
1983 September 27: Rev. John C. Hergenrother, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago held a meeting with two representatives each from four Knanaya and non-Knanaya Catholic associations and decided to accept Fr. Jacob Chollampel proposed by Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry to serve all Kerala Catholics in Chicago.
1983 October 28: Fr. Jacob Chollampel reached Chicago and started special ministry to the Kerala Catholics while living in the rectory of St. Ita church.
1984 October: Non-Knanaya Syro-Malabar Catholics in Chicago wrote to Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Conference and Syro-Malabar Bishop’s Conference asking for a separate ministry for Non-Knanaya Catholics in Chicago.
1985 August 25: The Archbishop of Chicago established separate Syro-Malabar ministry for non-Knanaya Syro-Malabarians while maintaining the ministry by Fr. Chollampel for Knanaya Catholics. Thereby the Knanaya Ministry in Chicago came into effect.
1985 September – December: Fr. Jacob Chollampel returned to India and the community could not get a Knanaya priest from Kottayam diocese because of the membership dispute of the Knanaya ministry.
1985 December 3: Fr. Anthony Kurialacherry, the spiritual director of Syro-Malabar Catholic Community of Chicago and a hospital chaplain Fr. C.T. Vayalil from the Archdiocese of Changanacherry helped the Knanaya ministry to continue Syro-Malabar Mass at St. Benedict’s Church on every Saturday evening.
1987 January 23: Rev. Robert L. Kealy assigned Fr. Zacharias Elapunkal, the then director of the Syro-Malabar Ministry to coordinate the services of the Syro-Malabar priests who were celebrating the liturgy for the Knanaya Syro-Malabar Ministry.
1988 May 31: Archbishop of Chicago appointed Fr. Cyriac Manthuruthil as director of Knanaya Catholic Mission while residing as St. Ferdinand’s Church in Chicago.
1988 July 23: Inauguration of a new “Knanaya Catholic Mission” at St. Henry’s at 6:30 P.M. Mass was offered at St. Henry’s Church every other Saturday night at 6:30 P.M.
1991 October 26: Agreement signed for the use of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church by Rev. Fr. Norbert Zawistanowicz, pastor of IHM Church and Rev. Fr. Cyriac Manthuruthil, Knanaya Mission Director.
1995 August 16: Archbishop of Chicago appointed Fr. Simon Edathiparambil as the director of Knanaya Catholic Mission with his residence at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.
1999 June 25: Archdiocese of Chicago appointed Fr. Philip Thodukayil as the director of Knanaya Catholic Mission with his residence at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.
2003 February 16: Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholath moved to Chicago and started living at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Chicago while working as chaplain at Our Lady of Resurrection Hospital at Addison and Central in Chicago.
2003 October 29: Mar Jacob Angadiath officially recognized the Knanaya Catholic Mission of Chicago, 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. Philip Thodukayil as the director of this mission. Mar Jacob Angadiath extended the boundary of the mission to include all Knanaya Catholics living in the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
2004 July 1: Fr. Philip Thodukayil left for India. Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. Abraham Mutholath, the vicar general, also as the director of the mission.
2004 September 4: An additional Syro-Malabar Qurbana was started at St. Peter’s Church in North Lake on every Saturday at 5:00 P.M.
2004 September 11 & 12: Started Religious Education School at North Lake and IHM school.
2005 May 22: Mar Mathew Moolakkatt requested the Knanaya Catholics in Chicago to establish our own church during his homily at IHM Church. The planning to have our own church started.
2005 June 18: Mass for Chicago Suburb was moved from St. Peter’s Church in North Lake to the hall of St. Joseph’s Church in Addison.
2005 September: The Sunday 5:30 P.M. mass was shifted from IHM to Our Lady of Victory (OLV) church.
2005 October 2: Search committee formed to find a suitable church to buy for the mission.
2005 December 4: Celebrated the Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee of our Mission Director Rev. Fr. Abraham Mutholath at OLV Church. Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath was the chief guest. Mission members contributed $44,337 to the church building fund during Jubilee Celebration meeting at OLV School Hall.
2006 April 30: Mar Jacob Angadiath officially declared the establishment of Knanaya Catholic Region at OLV Church Chicago and appointed Vicar General Rev. Fr. Abraham Mutholath as the Region Director.
2006 May 25: While celebrating the solemn feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus from May 25 – 28, 2006, Mar Jacob Angadiath announced that the name of the church to be bought would be “Sacred Heart Syro-Malabar Knanaya Catholic Parish.”
2006 June 24: Fr. Abraham Mutholath revealed the location of the church to be bought during the Music Concert by Rev. Fr. Paul Poovathumkal at Thaft High School Auditorium. The music concert was a fundraising program organized by the women ministry for the purchase of the new church.
2006 July 15: Originally planned date of inaugurating the former St. James Church in Maywood as Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Church. Because of a severe objection on the location of the proposed church, Mar Jacob Angadiath suspended the plan for purchase of the church.
2006 July 16: Originally planned Parish Inauguration Banquet at Crown Jewel Banquet Hall in Des Plaines. During this banquet, more than 400 families submitted a petition in favor of purchasing the church. Based on that, Mar Jacob Angadiath announced his decision to purchase St. James Church in Maywood for Knanaya Catholic Mission.
2006 September 1, Friday: First Syro-Malabar Qurbana at St. James Church in Maywood for Knanaya Catholic Mission at 7:00 P.M.
2006 September 3, Sunday: Inauguration of Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Church in Maywood at 10:00 A.M. by Vicar General and mission director Rev. Fr. Abraham Mutholath and parish council members.
2006 September 22: Official purchase of Church property from the Archdiocese of Chicago.
2006 September 24: Blessing of the interior architectural work of Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Church and declaration of Knanaya Catholic Mission as Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Parish and appointment of Mission Director Rev. Fr. Abraham Mutholath as pastor of the parish by His Excellency Mar Jacob Angadiath.
2006 December 25: Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholath sent a circular announcing the formation of St. Mary’s Unit for those Knanaya Catholics who continued attending OLV church for their pastoral needs with effect from January 1, 2007.
2007 January 1: Start date of St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Parish Unit in Chicago.
2007 May 31: Purchase of Rectory from the Archdiocese of Chicago.
2007 June 1: Dedication of Knanaya Catholic Parish Cemetery at Queen of Heaven Cemetery by Bishops Mar Jacob Angadiath, Bishop of Miao Mar George Pallipparambil, and Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Paprocki, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
2007 July 2: Cardinal Varkey Vithayayil, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church visited our parish and offered Holy Mass along with Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath.
2008 January 19: Fr. Abraham Mutholath blessed Sacred Heart Church in the Diocese of Miao sponsored by Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Parish in Chicago. Thirty members from Chicago Knanaya Catholic Parish participated in the function.
2008 July 13: Blessing of Knanaya Cemetery Shrine by Bishop Mar Joseph Pandarasseril, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archeparchy of Kottayam.
2008 October 26: Blessing of renovated sanctuary at Sacred Heart Church by Bishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt and Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath.
2009 August 16: The General Body at OLV church decided to buy the second Knanaya Catholic Church at Morton Grove.
2010 January 14: St. Mary’s Unit of the parish bought a Jewish Synagogue at 7800 W. Lyons St., Morton Grove, IL 60053 for St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Church.
2010 May 2: Consecration of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Miao. The sanctuary of the Cathedral is sponsored by Sacred Heart Parish and St. Mary’s Unit. A huge statue of Jesus in front of the Cathedral was sponsored by vicar Fr. Abraham Mutholath who took part in the consecration of the Cathedral along with Joy Chemmachel.
2010 July 18: Consecration of St. Mary’s Church in Morton Grove by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath, Mar Mathew Moolakkatt and Mar Joseph Pandarasseril. The unit was elevated as a parish and Fr. Abraham Mutholath was appointed as its pastor. The Visitation Convent building at 7801 W. Maple St., in Morton Grove near St. Mary’s Church was blessed by the bishops on the same day after the consecration of the St. Mary’s Church in Morton Grove.
2012 January 1: Fr. Saji Pinarkayil, who has been associate pastor of Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic parishes in Chicago, took charge as the pastor of the parish.
2012 October 9: Purchase of a house in Elmhurst as rectory for the parish.
2012 November 27: Blessing of the rectory at Elmhurst by His Grace Mar Mathew Moolakkatt.
2014 October 18: Mar Jacob Angadiath transferred Fr. Saji Pinarkayil to Houston and transferred Fr. Abraham Mutholath from St. Mary’s Parish to the Sacred Heart church for a second term.
2015 March 22: Mar Jacob Angadiath elevated the parish as a Forane in the presence of Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt and Bishop Mar Lawrence Mukkuzhy. Fr. Abraham Mutholath was appointed as forane vicar.
2015 September 6: Fr. Abraham Mutholath inaugurated the 10th year observance of the parish.
2015 September 12: Chicago Forane Bible Fest held at St. Mary’s Church in the presence of Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt and Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath.
2016 September 9: Inauguration of the 10th anniversary celebration of the parish by Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt.
2016 September 10: The second day of the 10th anniversary celebration of the parish. Mar Jacob Angadiath started the twelve-hour adoration.
2016 September 11: Final Day of the 10th anniversary celebration of the parish. Major Archbishop Mar George Cardinal Alancherry inaugurated the program. Other dignitaries were Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt, Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath, Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt, and Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Michael Mulhall (Canada). Priests from the Knanaya Region and other invited priests were concelebrants for the Holy Mass.
2017 January 15: Blessing of Sacred Heart Church in the Diocese of Miao sponsored by Chicago Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Parish as souvenir of the tenth anniversary of the parish.
2023 September 15: Fr. Thomas Mulavanal took charge as the pastor of the parish.
2023 November 1: Fr. Bins Chethalil took charge as the associate pastor of the parish.
2023 November 29: Purchase of the church property in Bensenville.
Fr. Jacob Chollampel (1983 October 28 – 1985 September)
Fr. Cyriac Manthuruthil (1988 May 31 – 1995 August 16)
Fr. Simon Edathiparambil (1995 August 16 – 1999 June 25)
Fr. Philip Thodukayil (1999 June 25 – 2004 July 1)
Fr. Abraham Mutholath (2004 July 1 – 2012 January 1)
Fr. Saji Pinarkayil (2012 January 1 – 2014 October 18)
Fr. Abraham Mutholath (2014 October 18 – September 14, 2023)
Fr. Thomas Mulavanal (2023 September 15, 2023 – )
Fr. Bins Chethalil, Associate Pastor (2023 November 1 – )
FORMER ASSOCIATE PASTORS
Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath (2010 August 3 – 2010 December 28)
Fr. Saji Pinarkayil (2011 April 1 – 2012 January 1)
Fr. Siju Mudakkodil (2012 August 1 – 2014 October 18)
Fr. Suni Padinjarekkara (2014 October 1 – 2015 December 15)
Fr. Jose Chirappurath (2015 December 12 – 2016 July 1)
Fr. Boban Vattampurath (2016 August 21 – 2018 March 1)
PAST & PRESENT DIRECTORS AND PASTORS
Fr. Jacob Chollampel (First Mission Director), Fr. Cyriac Manthuruthil (Mission Director), Fr. Simon Edathiparambil (Mission Director), Fr. Philip Thodukayil (Mission Director), Fr. Abraham Mutholath (First Pastor), Fr. Saji Pinarkayil (Former Pastor), Fr. Abraham Mutholath (Former Pastor), Fr. Thomas Mulavanal (Present Pastor), Fr. Bins Chethalil Associate Pastor).
VICAR GENERAL & REGION DIRECTOR
Rev. Fr. Thomas Mulavanal
541 Willow Rd
Elmhurst, IL 60126
1-310-709-5111, tmulavan@gmail.com
REGION PRIESTS SECRETARY
Fr. Bins Chethalil
541 Willow Rd
Elmhurst, IL 60126
1-281-818-6518, frbins@gmail.com
WEB EDITOR
Fr. Abraham Mutholath
1-773-412-6254
mutholath2000@gmail.com