KNANAYA CATHOLIC REGION

SACRED HEART KNANAYA CATHOLIC PARISH, TAMPA

3920 S. Kings Ave., Brandon, FL 33511, USA

Pastor / Vicar: Fr. Jose Adoppillil
3920 S. Kings Ave., Brandon, FL 33511, USA
1-914-673-6956
joseadoppillil@gmail.com

MASS SCHEDULE
Sunday 9:15 A.M. English Mass and Rel. Edu. Class
Sunday 10:30 A.M. Malayalam Mass
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 6:00 P.M.
Tuesday and Saturday at 8:30 A.M.
First Friday 6:00 P.M. English Mass

NOVENAS
St. Jude on Fridays
Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Saturdays
Sacred Heart Novena on Sundays

ADORATION
Every Friday 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

KOODARA YOGAMS - 11

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SCHOOL
DRE: Jolly Mathew Vettuparappurathu, 813-300-4107, jollyraju62@hotmail.com
Number of Students: 200
No. of staff: 33

OTHER ACTIVITIES: Main Feast, Annual Retreat.

HISTORY

The Knanaya Catholic Congress of Central Florida (KCCF) had a small community center in Tampa with a large plot of land. KCCF used to arrange Syro-Malabar Holy Mass whenever a priest was available. At the request of Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholath, the president of KCCF Jomy Cherukara convened a general body meeting on Sunday, December 7, 2008 to discuss on the possibility of establishing a Knanaya Catholic Mission in Tampa. After the Holy Qurbana, Fr. Mutholath presented the topic in detail and clarified the doubts. The participants signed an application to Mar Jacob Angadiath to establish the Knanaya Catholic Mission.

Mar Jacob Angadiath established this mission on January 25, 2009 with Fr. Abraham Mutholath as the mission director. After the Holy Qurbana and inauguration of the Mission, Fr. Mutholath convened a General Body meeting of the mission and selected a building committee to search for a church with Jimmy Kavil as the convenor.

Rev. Fr. Abey Vadakkekara was appointed as the director of this mission on March 9, 2009. The building committee rented a church building complex at 3920 S. Kings Ave, Brandon, FL, 33511 to offer Holy Mass for the mission. Since that building was available for purchase, Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholath presided over the General Body Meeting of the mission convened by the mission director Fr. Abey Vadakkekara on November 1, 2009. After much discussion, the general body decided to buy that building for the mission. The mission bought the church building on March 16, 2010 from the City Church of Tampa under the leadership of Fr. Abey Vadakkekara and remodeled it for the Syro-Malabar Qurbana.

Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. Bins Chethalil as the mission director with effect from July 1, 2010. The consecration of the church and the elevation of the mission as a parish with Rev. Fr. Bins Chethalil as its first pastor, was held on August 1, 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. 

This parish established a Knanaya Cemetery in the name of Sacred Heart Knanaya Gardens in February 2012. It has 150 cemetery plots in Hillsborough Memorial Cemetery in Brandon about five miles from the church. 

Fr. Pathrose Champakkara was appointed as the pastor of this parish from May 11, 2011. Fr. Dominic Madathilkalathil was pastor from October 18, 2014. Fr. Joseph Sauriamakil served the parish as pastor in charge from November 6, 2017 to April 30, 2018. Fr. Mathew Meledath was the pastor from May 1, 2018. Fr. Jose Adoppillil is the present pastor from January 1, 2020.

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 of the forane was held on April 12, 2015 by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath and inaugurated by Vicar General Msgr. Thomas Mulavanal on April 12, 2015 at Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Church Tampa. 

This parish serves around 250 Knanaya Catholics families living in the central and northern region of state of Florida.

TIMELINE

2008 December 7: The general body meeting of the Knanaya Catholic Congress of Central Florida (KCCF) under the leadership of Jomy Cherukara and Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholath decided to apply for a Knanaya Catholic Mission.

2009 January 25: Mar Jacob Angadiath established the mission with Fr. Abraham Mutholath as the mission director. A building committee was formed with Jimmy Kavil and the coordinator.

2009 March 9: Fr. Abey Vadakkekara was appointed as fulltime director of the mission.

2009 November 1: The mission general body convened by Fr. Abey Vadakkekara and presided by Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholath decided to purchase the church building that has been used for Holy Mass.

2010 March 16: The mission bought the church building from the City Church of Tampa located at 3920 S. Kings Ave, Brandon, FL, 33511.

2010 July 1: Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. Bins Chethalil as the mission director.

2010 August 1: The consecration of the church and the elevation of the mission as a parish with Fr. Bins Chethalil as its first pastor by Mar Jacob Angadiath. His Grace Mar Mathew Moolakkatt was the main celebrant of the First Mass offered in this Church. Mar Joseph Pandarasseril was concelebrant and gave homily during the Holy Mass.

2012 February: The parish established a Knanaya Cemetery in the name of Sacred Heart Knanaya Gardens with 150 cemetery plots in Hillsborough Memorial Cemetery in Brandon.

2011 May 11: Fr. Pathrose Champakkara was appointed as the pastor of this parish.

2014 October 18: Fr. Dominic Madathilkalathil became the pastor.

2015 February 18: Elevation of the parish as forane church by Mar Jacob Angadiath.

2015 April 12: Vicar General Fr. Thomas Mulavanal inaugurated the forane status.

2017 November 6: Fr. Joseph Sauriamakil served the parish as pastor in charge.

2018 May 1: Fr. Mathew Meledath became the pastor.

2020 January 1: Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. Jose Adoppillil as the pastor.

DIRECTORS / PASTORS

Fr. Abraham Mutholath (2009 January 25 - 2009 March 9)

Fr. Aby Vadakkekara (2009 March 9 - 2010 July 1)

Fr. Bins Chethalil (2010 July 1 - 2011 May 11)

Fr. Pathrose Champakkara (2011 May 11 - 2014 October 18)

Fr. Dominic Madathilkalathil (2014 October 18 - 2017 November 6)

Fr. Joseph Saurimakal (2017 November 6 - 2018 May 1)

Fr. Mathew Meledath (2018 May 1 - 2020 January 1)

Fr. Jose Adoppallil (2020 January 1 - )