About Divine Mercy · Edinburg, Texas
Divine Mercy is a Syro-Malabar Catholic parish serving the faithful of Edinburg, in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. It was established as a parish on May 15, 2011, by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle of Chicago, growing out of a Valley Indian Catholic prayer community formed in 2005–2007. The community worships primarily in Malayalam (the liturgical language of its members from Kerala, India) and also offers an English Holy Mass on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. Its mission statement, drawn from Luke 6:36 — 'Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful' — reflects its identity as a parish shaped by devotion to the Divine Mercy message.
- Established
- 2011
- Patron
- The Divine Mercy (of Jesus)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Roy Moolechalil (Vicar)
- Diocese
- Syro-Malabar Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle of Chicago (located within the territorial boundaries of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville)
Why belong here
Divine Mercy is a small, close-knit Syro-Malabar Catholic family parish in Edinburg that celebrates the Holy Qurbana primarily in Malayalam, with an English Mass offered on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. Members are organized into four Prayer Fellowships — St. Mary's, St. Alphonsa, St. Thomas and St. Peter — that meet in homes for prayer, Bible sharing and fellowship meals, a hallmark of the Syro-Malabar 'Kudumba kootayma' tradition. Active ministries for women (Mother's Forum, 78 members), children (Mission League, Angel's Army), liturgical service (altar servers, lectors, musicians, ushers, sacristans), and outreach to the needy (St. Vincent de Paul, the Let Us Dream program in Peñitas) give every age and family a way to participate.
Mass times at Divine Mercy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before every Holy Mass (Monday – Sunday)
- By appointment at other times
Adoration times
- Friday: Holy Hour followed by Holy Mass
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Our Story: From Prayer Group to Parish
Divine Mercy Parish traces its origin to informal prayer meetings of Malayalee Catholic immigrants who began arriving in the Rio Grande Valley around 2005–2006. Those meetings grew into the Valley Indian Catholic Prayer Group, then a Mission in 2007, and finally a full parish in 2011 — the 25th parish of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago. Monsignor Luis Brum of Holy Spirit Parish in McAllen provided crucial early support by opening Holy Spirit's facilities for the Syro-Malabar Qurbana and CCD classes before the community had its own church.
Building the Parish (2007–2011)
On April 15, 2007 the small community was declared a Mission under Father Cyriac John. From December 20, 2007 it met at 4108 West Sprague Street in Edinburg. The 2010 launch of Shalom Media Ministry in Edinburg accelerated growth, and in March 2011 the community purchased a former Presbyterian church at 300 West Cano Street, remodeling the interior for Syro-Malabar worship before Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath dedicated and consecrated it on May 15, 2011.
- April 15, 2007 — Mission declared
- December 20, 2007 — Worship moves to 4108 W Sprague St
- March 13, 2011 — Church building purchased at 300 W Cano St
- May 15, 2011 — Parish established; church dedicated by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath
Parish Ministries
Parish life is organized around six major ministry areas, each offering ways for parishioners of every age to participate. The Mother's Forum, established in June 2013, has grown to 78 registered women volunteers and runs a Rosary Chain for children and youth. The Angel's Army is supported by an international Prayer Tower praying for the sanctification of children.
Prayer Fellowships (Kudumba Kootayma)
Prayer Fellowships — known in Malayalam as 'Kudumba kootayma' — are the backbone of the parish. Every family belongs to one of four geographic or devotional 'wards,' each named for a saint. Members meet in homes for prayer, Bible reading, spiritual discussion and a shared meal — a long-standing Syro-Malabar tradition that the parish traces directly to its immigrant origins.
- St. Mary's
- St. Alphonsa
- St. Thomas
- St. Peter
- Rosary Chain for children, young adults and youth
- Advent Prayer Partners
Liturgical Ministry
Liturgical ministries support the celebration of the Holy Qurbana at daily Mass, weekends, holy days, weddings, funerals, and Reconciliation services. Currently 30 altar servers of various ages serve at the altar. Ushers serve as the first point of welcome, distributing bulletins and taking up the collection.
- Altar Servers (30 members)
- Ushers/Greeters
- Lectors
- Musicians/Choir
- Sacristans
Mother's Forum
Established in June 2013 by the Diocese of Chicago, the Divine Mercy Mother's Forum brings women together around the example of Mother Mary to grow in personal, spiritual and educational life. With about 78 members, the forum meets monthly, runs the parish Rosary Chain, and supports church activities from retreats and fundraisers to Christmas programs and Feast-day celebrations.
- 78 registered members
- Monthly meetings and informal support
- Rosary Chain
- Charity events, picnics, feast-day and Christmas programs
Children & Youth: Angel's Army and Mission League
Two complementary ministries focus on the spiritual formation of children. Angel's Army is sustained by a Prayer Tower of intercessors worldwide who seek the sanctification of each child through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Cherupushpa Mission League — the largest lay organization in Asia, now spreading to Europe and the United States — gives children a missionary vocation. St. Theresa of Lisieux is its heavenly patron, with St. Francis Xavier and St. Alphonsa as co-patrons.
- Angels' Army — international Prayer Tower
- Cherupushpa Mission League — patron St. Theresa of Lisieux; co-patrons St. Francis Xavier and St. Alphonsa
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Inspired by Gospel values, the St. Vincent de Paul Society leads men of the parish in person-to-person service to the needy and suffering, both in the local community and in Kerala, India.
Faith Formation (Catechism)
The parish's Faith Formation Program serves students from preschool through 12th grade and uses a textbook series approved by the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago. Beyond classroom instruction, students participate in service projects, receive the Sacraments throughout the year, and are integrated into parish life — helping them grow in piety and develop their identity as Syro-Malabar Catholics.
- Preschool through 12th grade
- Textbook series approved by the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago
- Service projects
- Preparation for the Sacraments
Outreach & Charitable Works
Divine Mercy members live out their Catholic faith through several outreach efforts locally and internationally. As part of Faith Formation, children collect used personal items and canned food, save money for charity, and travel to Proyecto Desarrollo Humano in Peñitas to meet and serve people in need. Parishioners also evangelize at their workplaces, and community members in healthcare and education volunteer their time and skills. St. Vincent de Paul extends the parish's charity across the U.S. and to Kerala.
- Proyecto Desarrollo Humano, Peñitas — children's charity visits
- Evangelization at the Workplace
- Healthcare volunteer work
- Education volunteer work
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
Let Us Dream Program
Let Us Dream is an interventional program developed by Dr. Lijo Pathickal and successfully implemented in several countries. Divine Mercy Church serves as a local chapter, training community members to lead the program in selected groups. The parish team has worked with high-school children in Peñitas for two years to build self-esteem and leadership skills, with plans to expand to other areas.
- Developed by Dr. Lijo Pathickal
- High-school self-esteem and leadership work in Peñitas
- Plans to expand to other areas
About the Syro-Malabar Diocese
Divine Mercy is a parish of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle of Chicago, one of the Eastern Catholic (Oriental) Churches in full communion with Rome that trace their origins to the evangelization of St. Thomas the Apostle in India. Although it falls geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, the parish is canonically under Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath and follows the Syro-Malabar rite.
- Diocese: Syro-Malabar Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle of Chicago
- Bishop: Mar Jacob Angadiath
- Major Archbishop: Cardinal Raphael Thattil (current head of the Syro-Malabar Church)
- Territorial location: Roman Diocese of Brownsville, Texas
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Anyone wishing to attend Mass, schedule a sacrament, or inquire about ministry involvement is invited to contact the parish office. The Vicar, Rev. Fr. Roy Moolechalil, can be reached directly. Two lay trustees assist with parish governance: Romy Sebastian and Vinoj Michael.
- Address: 300 W Cano St, Edinburg, TX 78539
- Phone: (956) 380-1363
- Email: [email protected]
- Trustees: Romy Sebastian (214-404-6745); Vinoj Michael (956-517-9518)
- Confession by appointment outside scheduled times
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Cyriac JohnApril 2007 – May 2013
First Mission Director (from April 2007); founding Pastor when the parish was established on May 15, 2011; continued until 2013, commuting from Corpus Christi.
- Rev. Fr. Raphael AmbadanJune 2013 – January 2016
First Resident Pastor; oversaw the addition of the lawn, gym and gathering space.
- Rev. Fr. Wilson Antony KandankaryFebruary 2016 – February 2019
Oversaw construction of the priests' residence at 321 West Mahl Street.
- Rev. Fr. Mathew PunchayilJune 2019 – January 2021
Served as Acting Pastor.
- Rev. Fr. Antony PittappillyFebruary 2021 – March 2025
Continued parish growth and pastoral ministry.
- Rev. Fr. Roy Moolechalil2025 – present
Current Vicar of the parish.