KNANAYA CATHOLIC MISSION OF ROCKLAND, NEW YORK

 

       Knanaya Syro-Malabar Mission of Rockland comprising of Knanaya Catholics in Rockland County, Upstate New York, and Connecticut.

 

    Rev. Fr. Jose Saurianmakil started Holy Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite with the Christmas Eve Mass on December 24, 1994.  Later in 1996 when Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry, the Bishop of Kottayam visited Archbishop of New York, John Cardinal O’Connor agreed officially to establish a Knanaya Catholic Mission in the Archdiocese. Rev. Fr. Abraham Kalarickal was appointed 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 the Archdiocese of New York.  Fr. Thomas Kottoor and Fr. Abraham Kalarickal worked together until Fr. Thomas Kottoor was moved to Detroit for studies.  Rev. Fr. James Ponganayil was appointed 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.

 

    This mission serves around 105 families.

 

Fr. Joseph Sauriamakil First Director	Fr. Thomas Kottoor Former Director	Fr. Abraham Kalarickal Present Director	Fr. Thomas Pralel Former Director		Fr. James Ponganayil Present Director