ST. MARY’S KNANAYA CATHOLIC PARISH OF ROCKLAND, NEW YORK

Pastor / Vicar: Fr. Bipy Tharayil
46 Conklin Ave, Haverstraw, NY 10927
1-773-943-2290
tharayilbibyachan@gmail.com

HOLY MASS SCHEDULE
Sundays at 9:45 A.M. CCD / Holy Mass in English
11:00 A.M. Holy Mass in Malayalam
Tuesdays at 7:00 P.M. Holy Mass and St. Antony’s Novena
Fridays at 7:00 P.M. Holy Rosary and Holy Mass
Saturdays at 10:00 A.M. Holy Mass and Novena of O.L. of Perpetual Help
First Fridays 7:00 P.M. Holy Mass and Night Vigil up to 10:30 P.M.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SCHOOL
Sundays at 9:45 A.M.
Number of Students: 40
Staff: 20

MAIN FEAST: Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary on weekend close to September 8th.

OTHER ACTIVITIES: Feasts of St. Joseph and St. Thomas, Parish Picnic, Religious Education School anniversary, Annual Retreat.

HISTORY

Rev. Fr. Jose Saurianmakil started Holy Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite in Rockland with the Christmas Eve Mass on December 24, 1994. Later in 1996 Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry, the Bishop of Kottayam visited Archbishop of New York, John Cardinal O’Connor requesting him to establish a Knanaya Catholic Mission in Rockland under the Archdiocese of New York. Thus, the mission became official under the Archdiocese of New York.

The Archbishop of New York appointed Rev. Fr. Abraham Kalarickal on December 20, 1998 as the Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Victory Church, Mount Vernon, New York in view of serving the Knanaya Catholic Community in Rockland area. Fr. Thomas Kottoor and Fr. Abraham Kalarickal worked together until Fr. Thomas Kottoor moved to Detroit for studies.

With the establishment of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago in 2001, this mission came under the new diocese. Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Rev. Fr. James Ponganayil as the mission director from November 1, 2007 replacing Rev. Fr. Abraham Kalarickal. 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. Renny Kattel became the mission director from June 10, 2012. Fr. Jose Adoppillil was appointed as mission director since December 20, 2015.

This mission bought a church from the Archdiocese of New York at 46 Conklin Ave., Haverstraw, New York, 10927 in September 2017. The church was blessed and rededicated on September 23, 2017 by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath who elevated the mission as a parish on September 23, 2017. Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt offered the first Qurbana of the church after the blessing and inaugurated the parish by lighting the lamp. Fr. Jose Adoppillil was appointed as the first pastor of this parish. Almost all priests from the Knanaya Catholic Region and nearby parishes as well as people from many parts of the U.S. attended the function.

This parish hosted pre-marriage course of the Knanaya Region from December 1-3, 2017. Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. Bipy Tharayil as the associate pastor of the parish from September 20, 2019. Fr. Bipy Tharayil became the present pastor from January 1, 2020.

Under the leadership of Fr. Bipy Tharayil the parish bought a parish cemtery close to the church from Rockland County on December 6, 2020.

This mission serves around 120 Knanaya Catholic families comprising of Rockland County and Upstate New York.

TIMELINE

1994 December 24: Fr. Jose Saurianmakil started Holy Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite with the Christmas Eve Mass.

1996: At the recommendation of Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry, during his visit to Archbishop of New York, John Cardinal O’Connor, the archdiocese officially established the Knanaya Catholic Mission in the Archdiocese.

1998 December 20: Fr. Abraham Kalarickal was appointed as the Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Victory Church, Mount Vernon in view of serving the Knanaya Catholic Community. Fr. Thomas Kottoor worked with Fr. Abraham Kalarickal until he moved to Detroit for studies.

2007 November 1: Fr. James Ponganayil was appointed as the mission 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.

2012 June 10: Fr. Renny Kattel became the mission director.

2015 December 20: Fr. Jose Adoppillil was appointed as mission director.

2017 September: The mission bought a church from the Archdiocese of New York at 46 Conklin Ave., Haverstraw, New York, 10927 under the leadership of Fr. Jose Adoppillil.

2017 September 23: Mar Jacob Angadiath blessed and elevated the mission as a parish with Fr. Jose Adoppallil as the pastor. Mar Mathew Moolakkatt was the main celebrant of the first Qurbana after the blessing and inaugurated the parish.

2017 December 1-3: Knanaya Region pre-marriage course hosted by the mission.

2019 September 20: Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. Bipy Tharayil as the associate pastor.

2020 January 1: Fr. Bipy Tharayil was appointed as the pastor.

2020 December 6: The parish bought a cemetery close to the church from Rockland county.

DIRECTORS / PASTORS

Fr. Jose Sauriamakil (1994 December 24 – 1998 December 20)

Fr. Thomas Kottoor (1998)

Fr. Abraham Kalarickal (1998 December 20 – 2007 November 1)

Fr. Thomas Pralel (2007 November 1- 2008 August 17)

Fr. James Ponganayil (2007 November 1 – 2012 June 10)

Fr. Renny Kattel (2012 June 10 – 2015 December 20)

Fr. Jose Adoppillil (2015 December 20 – 2020 January 1)

Fr. Bipy Tharayil (2019 September 20 – )

PAST AND PRESENT DIRECTORS AND PASTORS

Fr. Jose Sauriamakil (First Mission Director), Fr. Thomas Kottoor (Former Director), Fr. Abraham Kalarickal (Former Director), Fr. Thomas Pralel (Former Director), Fr. James Ponganayil (Former Director), Fr. Renny Kattel, (Former Director), Fr. Jose Adoppillil (First Pastor), Fr. Bipy Tharayil (Present Pastor)