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Welcome to all to Los Angeles Knanaya Catholic Mission. Knanaya Mission, a network of missions of the Knanaya Catholic Community in North America, commits to protect the faith, liturgical heritage and cultural traditions of the community and to serve its pastoral needs in collaboration with the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago and the Archdiocese of Kottayam, Kerala, India.

The Knanaya Community traces its origin from a group of Jewish-Christian emigrants from Southern Mesopotamia to the South Indian port of Cranganore (Kodungalloor) in AD 345, who formed themselves into an endogamous community. They co-existed peacefully in the Indian nation and fulfilled their missionary purpose of re-invigorating the Church of St Thomas Christians. The original community consisted of about 400 persons belonging to 72 families of seven septs headed by Thomas of Kynai. This community keeps endogamy and gives top priority to its apostolic faith and traditions.




From the Knanaya Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam alone we have about 2500 families consist of over 10,000 members living in North America. The Knanaya Catholic Community has at present Ten Missions in USA as part of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago, such as Philadelphia, Houston, San Jose, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and four in Greater New York. A Knanaya Region is formed on April 30th 2006 and Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Rev. Fr. Abraham Mutholath, the Vicar general, as a Regional Director of all Knanaya Catholic faithful under the jurisdiction of the Chicago Syro Malabar Diocese. Los Angeles Knanaya Syro-Malabar Mission comprises of all Knanaya Catholics living in Southern California. With the canonical permission from his Excellency Mar Jacob Angadiath, the Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago, we started the formal Mission activities on March 17, 2002 for this newly erected St. Pius X Knanaya Catholic Mission, Los Angeles. We acknowledge the great services rendered by Rev.Fr. Abraham Mutholath , Rev. Fr. Mathew Kattiyankel and Rev. Fr. Thomas Animoottil as spiritual directors of this mission. Since August 25th, 2005 Fr. Thomas Mulavanal has been appointed as director of Los Angeles Knanaya Syro-Malabar Mission. After he took charge, the frequency of Holy Mass once in a month was raised to three, twice in Valley and one in Cerritos. He initiated to start Catechism classes for the kids and also started celebrating annual feast of Patron Saint ST. Pius X on August 21. The attempt for buying a new church for the entire community was initiated and various committees were formed. After three years of constant search and prayers, we could buy a church facility in the City of Montebello, 124 N 5th St, Montebello, CA 90640 and consecrated it on 31July, 2010 by His Ex. Mar Jacob Angadiath, His Grace Mar. Mathew Moolakkatt and His Ex. Mar Joseph Pandarassery . On the same day St. Pius X mission was elevated as a full-fledged parish and Fr. Thomas Mulavanal was appointed as its first Pastor.

Mission Director

Rev.Fr.Thomas Mulavanal

St.Pius Feast Celebrations

2007
2006

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2002-2005

2006

Consecration Ceremony