Knanaya Catholics in Canada

Pro Fide Et Traditione

The Directorate of Knanaya Catholics in Canada

Knanaya Catholics immigrants residing in and around Toronto wanted to have a Knanaya Catholic spiritual get together in Canada. Rev. Fr. Mathew Meledath (pastor of Knanaya Catholic parish, Detroit) organized a koodarayogam in Toronto. As a result, a Knanaya prayer group was conducted occasionally in Toronto. Eventually this prayer group members requested the Archbishop of Toronto for appointing a chaplain for the koodarayogam. Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath, the Apostolic Visitor for the Syro Malabar community in Canada also supported this request. Rev. Fr. Thomas Mulavanal, the vicar General of the Syro Malabar Diocese of Chicago contacted Rev. Msgr. Thomas Kalarathil, the Vicar for Clergy in the Archdiocese of Toronto for his intervention to establish a “Knanaya Catholic Mission” rather than a chaplain for the Knanaya community.

From the director’s pen

The Canada Knanaya Catholic community traces its origin back to Jewish-Christian community. Knanaya community migrated from Southern Mesopotamia to the Malabar’s (present Kerala state in India) coast of Cranganore ( Kodungalloor ) in AD 345 under the leadership of a well known merchant Thomas of Cana ( Knai Thomman ). This community consisted of about 400 persons belonging to 72 families of seven clans. A bishop by name Mar Yousef of Uraha, four priests and several deacons were among them. They formed themselves into an endogamous community by keeping their faith, tradition and culture but co-existed peacefully among the St.Thomas Christians in India. As a migrant community, it has got presence in 60+ countries.

Knanaya Catholics in Canada have spiritual gatherings and the community is growing. A directorate was formed for the pastoral needs of all Knanaya Catholics in the Eparchy of Mississauga, on 18 February 2018 by HE. Mar Jose Kalluvelil. Two ecclesiastical units were formed in Toronto and London under the directorate. St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Mission was elevated to a parish on the same day and named as “St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Church, Toronto” which is the first parish for Knanaya Catholics in Canada.

This portal is intended to provide spiritual guidance and information about Canada Knanaya Catholic community.

Yours in Christ

Fr.Pathros Champakkara

The Directorate of Knanaya Catholics in Canada, a registered charity under the Income Tax Act.

Address

1608-380, Dixon Road,Etobicoke, ON, M9R1T3, Canada

Phone : +16477178918

Email : pathrosachan@gmail.com

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