Westchester-Bronx

KNANAYA CATHOLIC MISSION OF WESTCHESTER AND BRONX

Knanaya Syro-Malabar Mission of Westchester and Bronx comprising of Knanaya Catholics in Westchester County and Bronx County.

Rev. Fr. Jose Saurianmakil started Holy Mass in Syro-Malabar rite in Our Lady of Victory Church, Mount Vernon, New York on every second Sunday from September, 1993. Later in 1996 when the Bishop of Kottayam, Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry visited Archbishop of New York, John Cardinal O’Connor. He agreed to officially establish a Knanaya Catholic Mission in the Archdiocese. In April 1997, Rev. Fr. Thomas Kottoor was given assignment as the director of this mission.

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. 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 115 families.