Christ the King [Syro-Malabar]

About Christ the King Knanaya Catholic Parish

Christ the King Knanaya Catholic Parish is a Syro-Malabar Catholic parish of the Knanaya community located at 13565 Webb Chapel Road, Farmers Branch, Texas, in the heart of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It belongs to the Knanaya Region of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago and serves approximately 400 Knanaya Catholic families across DFW and northern Texas. The parish offers the Holy Mass in both Malayalam and English, along with daily adoration, First Friday devotions, and weekly Saturday novenas. The parish is led by Fr. Bins Chethalil, who was appointed pastor on September 15, 2025 by Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt.

History of the Parish

The Knanaya Catholic presence in Dallas dates back to 1994 when Fr. Joseph Meledath was appointed to care for the pastoral needs of the Knanaya community in Houston and Dallas. The Dallas Knanaya Catholic Mission was formally established in 1996 under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas, with Fr. Joseph Meledom as mission director. Fr. Joseph Manappuarath succeeded him in September 1998. On October 29, 2003, Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath of the newly erected St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago officially recognized the Dallas mission along with nine other Knanaya Catholic Missions in the USA. Rev. Fr. James Cheruvil became mission director in January 2007, and Rev. Fr. Jose Saurianmakil took over as mission director on July 5, 2009. Under his leadership the mission purchased the former Webb Chapel Baptist Church building in Farmers Branch on June 7, 2010. Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath consecrated the church on July 26, 2010 and elevated the mission to a parish, appointing Rev. Fr. Joseph Sauriamkail as its first pastor.

Religious Education & Faith Formation

The parish operates a robust Religious Education School (Sunday School) under the direction of DRE Joseph Eiakodikal. The program serves 272 students with 40 staff members, providing catechesis in the Knanaya Catholic and Syro-Malabar traditions for the children of parish families.

• Religious Education School: 272 students, 40 staff
• DRE: Joseph Eiakodikal
• RCIA / OCIA (Becoming Catholic) program offered for adults entering the Church

Parish Organizations (Koodara Yogams)

The parish is supported by ten Koodara Yogams — community-based lay organizations that organize spiritual, cultural, and social activities for the Knanaya faithful. There is also an active Youth Ministry along with Men and Women's Ministries that foster fellowship and service in the parish.

• 10 Koodara Yogams
• Youth Ministry
• Men's Ministry
• Women's Ministry
• Knanaya Catholic Association of DFW (lay organization)

Feasts & Devotions

The parish celebrates the Solemnity of Christ the King as its main feast on the second weekend of October each year. The Kallitta Thirunal (consecration anniversary) is commemorated on July 26 or the nearest Sunday. Devotions include daily Eucharistic Adoration before Mass and additional Adoration every First Friday, as well as the weekly Saturday Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

• Main Feast: Feast of Christ the King (second weekend of October)
• Kallitta Thirunal: July 26 or nearest Sunday
• First Friday Adoration
• Daily Adoration before Holy Mass
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena — every Saturday

Facilities & Parish Grounds

The parish campus at 13565 Webb Chapel Road includes a main sanctuary, a chapel, an auditorium/gymnasium for community gatherings and parish events, and a 20-room educational facility used for the Religious Education School and other meetings. The pastoral residence is located at 13416 Onyx Lane, Farmers Branch, TX 75234.

• Main church building (former Webb Chapel Baptist Church)
• Sanctuary and chapel
• Auditorium / gymnasium
• 20-room educational facility
• Pastoral residence: 13416 Onyx Lane, Farmers Branch, TX 75234

Contact Information

Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish at its postal address, by phone, or via the pastor's email. The official parish website is christthekingknanaya.org.

• Address: 13565 Webb Chapel Road, Farmers Branch, TX 75234
• Phone (parish): 972-241-1171
• Phone (pastor — Fr. Bins Chethalil): 1-281-818-6518
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://christthekingknanaya.org/
• Pastoral residence: 13416 Onyx Lane, Farmers Branch, TX 75234

Diocese & Canonical Affiliation

Christ the King Knanaya Catholic Parish is part of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago (Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle of Chicago), an Eastern Catholic eparchy in communion with Rome. It is one of ten Knanaya Catholic parishes in the Knanaya Region of the diocese. Geographically the parish is located within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas.

• Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle of Chicago
• Knanaya Region (one of ten Knanaya parishes)
• Bishop: Mar Joy Alappatt
• Geographically within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas