ST. ANTHONY'S KNANAYA CATHOLIC PARISH OF SAN ANTONIO
9345 Oakland Road, San Antonio, TX 78240, USA.
Pastoral Center: 319 Price
Ave., San Antonio, TX 78211.
Pastor / Vicar: Fr. Binoy Naramangalathu
9345 Oakland Road, San Antonio, TX 78240, USA.
210-843-5372 / nkbinoy@gmail.com
For Contacts: Bijo Karakkatt 210-723-8243
MASS SCHEDULE
Monday - Saturday at 7:45 P.M.
Sundays at 10:30 A.M.
NOVENAS
Weekly Novena of St. Anthony on Tuesdays
Weekly Novena of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Saturday
ADORATION
Every First Friday of the month
KOODARA YOGAMS - 1
Every First Saturday of the month at 8:00 P.M.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SCHOOL
DRE: Regina Bijo Karakkatt 210-723-8258
Number of Students: 51
No. of staff: 12
MAIN FEAST: Feast of St. Anthony
OTHER ACTIVITIES: Annual Retreat, Parish Day, ∧ Prayer Group.
HISTORY
The Knanaya Catholic Society of San Antonio, under the leadership of
Stephen Mattathil and Tojo Chorath arranged Holy Mass and invited Vicar
General and Region Director Fr. Abraham Mutholath to make a presentation
on the relevance of establishing a Knanaya Catholic Mission in San
Antonio. Though the participants signed an application to Bishop Mar
Jacob Angadiath for establishing the mission, the association did not
proceed with the application. The vicar general, along with the mission
director of Houston Fr. James Cheruvil, convened a meeting of the 28
Knanaya Catholic families in San Antonio again in 2009 to reconsider the
proposal to start the mission. Only half of the families participated in
the meeting and agreed to start the mission.
Based on the application of the 14 families in San Antonio, Mar Jacob
Angadiath established the mission on May 16, 2009 with Rev. Fr. James
Cheruvil as the mission director. Fr. Abraham Mutholath inaugurated this
mission on the same day.
Monthly Holy Qurbana was arranged with the mission director coming from
Houston. The members of the mission, with the approval of the mission
director and initiative of Bijo Karakkatt, attempted to buy a church for
the mission. They made contract to buy an Assembly Hall Building from
Yahweh Witness that costed around $145,000. Since the small community
could not afford to raise so much fund, Fr. Abraham Mutholath invited
their representatives to Chicago. Bijo Karakkatt, John Vempeny and Shijo
Pazhyampally approached Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic parishioners and
members of the St. Mary’s Unit in Chicago. Fr. Abraham Mutholath and
some parishioners offered them donation and some others gave them loan
that came to a total of $110,000. The 14 families in San Antonio
contributed the rest and bought the building on June 7, 2010 and
converted it as a church.
The consecration of this church and the elevation of the mission as a
parish with Fr. James Cheruvil as its first pastor, was held on July 21,
2010 by His Excellency Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath. His Grace Mar Mathew
Moolakkatt, Archbishop of Kottayam was the main celebrant of the First
Mass offered in this Church immediately after the consecration. His
Excellency Mar Joseph Pandarasseril, the Auxiliary Bishop of Kottayam
was concelebrant and gave homily during the Holy Mass.
Rev. Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath has been pastor with effect from December
28, 2010. Fr. Dominic Madathilkalathil became the fulltime pastor from
May 14, 2011. Fr. Siju Mudakkodiyil took charge of the parish on
December 3, 2011. Fr. Benoy Naramangalath is the present pastor of the
parish from October 18, 2014.
The parish bought a building at 9345 Oakland
Road, San Antonio under the leadership of Fr. Benoy Naramangalath and
relocated the church and pastor's residence here. This new church was
consecrated on Sunday, May 26, 2015 by His Grace Mar Mathew Moolakkatt.
His Excellency Mar Joy Alappatt blessed the newly installed cross on the
same day.
This parish serves around 30 Knanaya Catholics
families living in Southwest Texas, in and around San Antonio including
the cities of Austin, Corpus Christi, McAllen, Laredo and Del Rio.
TIMELINE
2009 May 16: Mar Jacob Angadiath established the mission with Fr. James
Cheruvial as the director. Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholath
inaugurated the mission.
2010 June 7: Purchase of an Assembly Hall Building from Yahweh Witness
and converted it as a church.
2010 July 21: Mar Jacob Angadiath consecrated the church and elevated
the mission a parish with Fr. James Cheruvil as it pastor. Mar Mathew
Moolakkatt was the main celebrant of the first mass and Mar Joseph
Pandarasseril gave the homily.
2010 December 28: Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath became the pastor.
2011 May 14: Fr. Dominic Madathilkalathil became the fulltime pastor.
2011 December 3: Fr. Siju Mudakkodiyil became the pastor.
2014 October 18: Fr. Benoy Naramangalath became the pastor.
2015 May 26: Consecration of the new church at 9345 Oakland Road, San
Antonio by Mar Mathew Moolakkatt and Mar Joy Alappatt blessed the newly
installed cross on the same day.
DIRECTORS / PASTORS
Fr. James Cheruvil (2009 May 16 – 2010 December 28)
Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath (2010 December 28 – 2011 May 14)
Fr. Dominic Madathilkalathil (2011 May 14 - 2011 December 3)
Fr. Siju Mudakkodil (2011 December 3 – 2014 October 18)
Fr. Binoy Naramangalath (2014 October 18 - )