ST. STEPHEN’S KNANAYA CATHOLIC PARISH, NEW YORK  

384 Clinton St., Hempstead, NY 11550

Pastor / Vicar: Fr. Mathew Meledath
384 Clinton St., Hempstead, NY 11550
1-347-666-3850, frmeledath@yahoo.com

MASS SCHEDULE
Sunday Holy Mass at 10:00 A.M. (Malayalam) & 11:30 A.M. (English)
Monday – Thursday 9:00 A.M.
Friday 7:30 P.M.
Saturday 10:00 A.M.

KOODARA YOGAMS – 6

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SCHOOL
Number of Students: 88
No. of staff: 20

SANCTUARY OF THE CHURCH

HISTORY

Bishop Thomas Daily of Brooklyn diocese appointed Rev. Fr. Jose Saurianmakil as its director of this mission on March 27, 1993. The official inauguration of the mission was on April 17, 1993. Rev. Fr. Michael Nedumthuruthil was appointed as the Director in January 1999. With the establishment of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago, this mission came under this diocese.

Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Rev. Fr. Thomas Animmoottil as the director of the mission with effect from January 15, 2005. Rev. Fr. Thomas Pralel was appointed as the mission director and Rev. Fr. James Ponganayil as the associate director with effect from August 17, 2008. Rev. Fr. James Ponganayil became the mission director with effect from January 01, 2009.

Rev. Fr. Jose Tharackal became the mission director from October 23, 2009. The mission bought a church building at 384 Clinton St., Hempstead, NY 11550 on January 27, 2012. Mar Jacob Angadiath consecrated the church on November 24, 2012.  His Grace Mar Mathew Moolakkatt was the main celebrant of the first mass in the church. Mar Moolakkatt inaugurated the parish. Mar Jacob Angdiath elevated the mission as a parish and appointed Fr. Jose Tharackal as the first pastor on the same day.

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 and inauguration of the forane was held on March 28, 2015 by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath during a concelebrated Holy Mass at St. Stephen’s with Auxiliary Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt and priests of the forane. Mar Joy Alappatt replaced Fr. Jose Tharackal with Fr. Suni Padinjarekkara with effect from September 15, 2023. Fr. Mathew Meledath is the present vicar fro February 15, 2024.

This parish comprises Knanaya Catholics settled in Rockville Center and Brooklyn Diocese in New York and serves 163 families.

TIMELINE

1993 March 27: Brooklyn Diocese established the Knanaya Catholic mission with Fr. Jose Saurianmakil as its director.

1993 April 17: The inauguration of the mission.

1999 January: Fr. Michael Nedumthuruthil was appointed as the director.

2005 January 15: Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. Thomas Animoottil as the director.

2008 August 17: Fr. Thomas Pralel was appointed as the mission director and Fr. James Ponganayil as the associate director.

2009 January 1: Fr. James Ponganayil became the mission director.

2009 October 23: Fr. Jose Tharackal became the mission director.

2012 January 27: The mission bought the church building under the leadership of Fr. Jose Tharackal.

2012 November 24: Mar Jacob Angadiath consecrated the church and elevated the mission as a parish with Fr. Jose Tharackal as the pastor. Mar Mathew Moolakkatt was the main celebrant for the first mass and he inaugurated the parish.

2023 Septembeer 15: Fr. Suni Padinjarekkara took charge as the forane vicar.

DIRECTORS / PASTORS

Fr. Jose Sauriamakil (1993 March 27 – 1999 January)

Fr. Michael Nedumthuruthil (1999 January – 2005 January 15)

Fr. Thomas Animoottil (2005 January 15 – 2008 August 17)

Fr. Thomas Pralel (2008 August 17 – 2009 January 1)

Fr. James Ponganayil (2008 August 17 – 2009 October 23)

Fr. Jose Tharackal (2009 October 23 – 2023 September 14)

Fr. Suni Padinjarekkara (2023 September 15 – 2024 February 15)

Fr. Mathew Meledath (2024 February 15 – )

PAST AND PRESENT DIRECTORS AND PASTORS

Fr. Jose Sauriamakil (First Mission Director), Fr. Michael Nedumthuruthil (Former Director), Fr. Thomas Animoottil (Former Director), Fr. Thomas Pralel (Former Director), Fr. James Ponganayil (Former Director), Fr. Jose Tharackal (First Forane Vicar), Fr. Suni Padinjarekkara (Former Vicar), Fr. Mathew Meledath (Present Vicar).