www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Apostolic Exarchate for Syro-Malankara Catholics

The Holy See Press Office has announced today [press.catholica.va] that Pope Benedict XVI has created an Apostolic Exarchate for Syro-Malankara Catholics in the United States.

The first Apostolic Exarch will be Father Thomas Naickamparampil, 49, until now Secretary-General of the Curia of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. Father Thomas, who will be ordained titular Bishop of Lares, will also be Apostolic Visitor for Syro-Malankara Catholics in Canada and Europe.

The press announcement provides some data on the new Apostolic Exarchate, which will include an estimated membership of 10,000 people. There are 16 churches served by 15 priests in Illinois, Texas, Michigan, Florida, New York, the District of Columbia, and Ontario (Canada). There are also 35 female religious belonging to the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ and the Daughters of Mary.

The Apostolic Exarch will reside at Mar Ivanios Malankara Catholic Centre, 950 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040. The Pro-Cathedral will be St. John Chrysostom Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, 115 Greenwich Street, Hempstead, NY 11550

(Source: Holy See Press Office [press.catholica.va])

An Exarchate for the Syro-Malankarese is excellent and welcome news. Also welcome is the note that this Exarchate will include the parish(es) in Canada.

Fr. Serge

Thanks for posting this wonderful news, and for the many comments of support!!

I would like to especially welcome our new Exarch, Bishop-designate Fr. Thomas (affectionately called Reji achen), and thank those Latin bishops who have been so very kind, especially His Eminences Cardinals Francis George and Daniel DiNardo, also numerous Metropolitan Archbishops of New York and the surrounding region, from the 1960s to today who have been so welcoming of the Malankara faithful, including encouraging the visits of Benedict Mar Gregorios and other Malankara Bishops to the United States. Also a special thanks to the new Bishop of Springfield, IL - His Grace, Bishop Paprocki. I know His Beatitude, the Catholicos Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis is personally very thankful for the support of the Latin Church, as well as the Syro-Malabar Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle.

"Episcopal Ordination of the Bishop-designate will be held at
St. Mary's Cathedral Pattom, Trivandrum on Tuesday 21 September 2010."

(Source: Malankara Catholic News) [malankaracatholicchurch.net]

May God grant many years to the Exarch-designate. This is wonderful - and long overdue - news for our Malankara brethren.

And, welcome back to our too-long absent brother from the Land of the Midnight Sun

Many years,

Neil


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Thanks!