About Holy Family [Syro-Malabar] · Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Holy Family Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is a small Oriental-Rite Catholic parish in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, serving the Syro-Malabar Catholic community originally from Kerala, India. The parish belongs to the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago (erected in 2001 by Pope John Paul II to minister to Syro-Malabar faithful in the United States and Canada), and is physically located within the territory of the Roman Metropolitan Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. The community celebrates the Holy Qurbana (Eucharist) in the Syro-Malabar rite on alternating Sundays in Malayalam and English, and worships at 3901 S.W. 29th Street. With roughly 50–64 families in attendance, the parish describes itself as 'vibrant and alive' and is committed to preserving its Indian Catholic heritage while passing it to the next generation.
- Established
- 2008
- Patron
- Holy Family (of Jesus, Mary and Joseph)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Antony Pittappilly (Vicar/Pastor)
- Diocese
- St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago (Syro-Malabar Catholic); located geographically within the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Oklahoma City (Roman/Latin)
Why belong here
Holy Family Syro-Malabar is a small, close-knit parish where Malayalee Catholic families from across the Oklahoma City area worship together in the ancient Syro-Malabar rite — alternating Sundays in Malayalam and English — preserving their Indian Catholic heritage while passing it to the next generation. The community gathers for Holy Qurbana, monthly ward prayers in members' homes, the Friday Novena of Nithya Sahaya Mathav in Malayalam, a CCD/Sunday-school program preparing children for First Communion and Confirmation, and seasonal socio-cultural and sports activities. Visitors are warmly welcomed to experience the 'vibrant beauty of Oriental Liturgy with full of music and mysteries' alongside the parish's talented choir, altar servers and devoted teachers.
Mass times at Holy Family [Syro-Malabar]
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Sundays — 9:00 AM Silent Adoration (before the 9:30 AM Holy Qurbana)
- First Friday of the month — 7:30 PM to 8:00 PM Silent Adoration (followed by Holy Qurbana in Malayalam)
About Holy Family Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Holy Family Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is a Syro-Malabar (Oriental-Rite) Catholic parish in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with parishioners originally from Kerala in South India. The parish belongs to the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago, which was erected in 2001 by Pope John Paul II to minister to Syro-Malabar Catholics across the United States and Canada. Although located geographically within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, the parish follows the Syro-Malabar rite, celebrating the Holy Qurbana in Malayalam and English. The community is small (roughly 50–64 families) but describes itself as vibrant and alive, with a talented choir, devoted altar servers, dedicated Sunday-school teachers, and devout liturgy.
- Oriental-Rite Catholic parish (Syro-Malabar)
- Part of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago
- Located within the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
- Parishioners originally from Kerala, India
- Approximately 50–64 families
History
The community grew from a handful of Indian Catholic families in the 1970s, through the era of occasional Malayalam Masses celebrated by visiting priests, to the formation of the Holy Family Syro-Malabar Catholic Mission of Oklahoma in 2002, and finally to its elevation as a full parish on April 13, 2008. The history of the parish is intertwined with that of Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath, who as a young priest in Dallas in 1984 was the first Syro-Malabar priest officially appointed to begin Syro-Malabar ministry in the United States and frequently traveled to Oklahoma to celebrate Mass for the small Indian community.
- 1970s — Very few Syro-Malabar Catholics in Oklahoma; only occasional Masses
- 1983 — Archbishop Charles A. Salatka of Oklahoma City celebrates Mass for Indian Catholics; India Catholic Association is born
- 1984 — Fr. Jacob Angadiath arrives in Dallas as the first Syro-Malabar priest officially appointed for ministry in the USA
- 2001 — St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago erected by Pope John Paul II
- July 15, 2002 — Fr. George Parackal appointed spiritual leader / Mission Director
- August 4, 2002 — First Malayalam Holy Mass at St. Joseph's Old Cathedral (Feast of St. John Maria Vianney)
- December 2005 — Building fund launched
- September 2, 2007 — Nine-member building committee formed
- November 7, 2007 — Fr. Davis Cherayath appointed Mission Director
- April 7, 2008 — Church purchased at 3916 S. Highland Park Drive
- April 13, 2008 — Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath dedicates and inaugurates the church; Mission becomes a parish; Fr. Davis Cherayath becomes first Vicar
- August 9, 2008 — Visit of Archbishop Eusebius J. Beltran of Oklahoma City
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Tradition
The Syro-Malabar Church, also called the Church of St. Thomas Christians, was founded by St. Thomas the Apostle in South India. Its home is the state of Kerala. Large-scale Syro-Malabar migration to Europe and the United States began in the late 1960s and 1970s, and after several Vatican studies, Pope John Paul II established the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago in 2001 to serve the spiritual needs of these faithful. Holy Family in Oklahoma City is one of the diocese's older parishes and uses the Syro-Malabar rite of liturgy.
- Founded by St. Thomas the Apostle in South India
- Home: Kerala, India
- Erected as a diocese in the U.S./Canada: 2001 (Chicago) by Pope John Paul II
Vicar's Message
In his message on the parish website, current Vicar Fr. Antony Pittappilly expresses gratitude for the parish community's unwavering support, dedication and love, calling Holy Family 'one of the oldest parishes of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago.' He describes the parish as a 'common platform for children, youth, adults and seniors to come together and grow intellectually, emotionally, physically and spiritually,' and invites all to embrace the core values of love, compassion, and service to others both within and beyond the parish boundaries.
Faith Formation — CCD / Sunday School
Holy Family's CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) / Sunday-school program currently serves about 50 students from 24 families, preparing them for First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Classes meet on Sundays after the 9:30 AM Holy Qurbana, from 11:20 AM to 12:30 PM, and the program also organizes other religious, cultural and sports activities for young parishioners. The parish provides safe-environment training to its vicar, Sunday-school teachers, volunteers, and students. The first religious education director was Mrs. Ann Philips.
- ~50 students from ~24 families
- Classes Sundays 11:20 AM – 12:30 PM (after Mass)
- Prepares children for First Holy Communion, Confirmation and Reconciliation
- Includes religious, cultural and sports activities
- Safe-environment training for clergy, teachers, volunteers and students
Parish Council, Staff and Ward System
Day-to-day life of the parish is shepherded by a Parish Council working with the Vicar. The current staff and key parish leaders named on the parish website include Rev. Fr. Antony Pittappilly (Pastor/Vicar), Mrs. Alice Roy (Trustee, 405-921-0617), and Mr. Sibymon Michael (Accountant). The parish is organized into three prayer 'wards' — St Joseph Ward (covering NW Oklahoma City and Edmond), Infant Jesus Ward (SE Oklahoma City and Yukon), and St Mary's Ward (SE Oklahoma City and Midwest City) — each of which meets monthly for prayer in parishioners' homes, in keeping with the traditional Syro-Malabar parish-unit system.
- Vicar: Rev. Fr. Antony Pittappilly
- Trustee: Mrs. Alice Roy (405-921-0617)
- Accountant: Mr. Sibymon Michael
- St Joseph Ward — NW Oklahoma City & Edmond
- Infant Jesus Ward — SE Oklahoma City & Yukon
- St Mary's Ward — SE Oklahoma City & Midwest City
Liturgy and Music
The parish highlights its 'talent' choir, devoted altar servers, and devout liturgy as part of what makes the Syro-Malabar rite 'vibrant' and 'full of music and mysteries' at Holy Family. Visitors are explicitly invited to come on a Sunday to experience the Oriental Liturgy and to share the Christ-experience with the community.
- Talented parish choir
- Devoted altar servers
- Holy Qurbana celebrated in the Syro-Malabar rite
Community, Cultural and Outreach Life
Beyond the sanctuary, Holy Family is committed to preserving Indian Catholic heritage and passing it to the next generation, while also serving one another and the wider community. Parish life includes socio-cultural events, sports activities for children and youth, monthly ward gatherings in members' homes, the building fund, and a long-standing relationship of practical support from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, which provides the parish priest with accommodation and employment. The parish website identifies the building of a moderate parish hall as the foremost upcoming project.
- Monthly ward prayer meetings in member homes
- Socio-cultural and sports activities
- Building fund / planned parish hall
- Long-standing support from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Contact and Visit
The parish can be reached at 3901 S.W. 29th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73119, by email at [email protected], and by phone at 405-921-0617 (Trustee Mrs. Alice Roy). Visitors are cordially invited to attend the Sunday Holy Qurbana to experience the Syro-Malabar rite and the community's life together.
- Address: 3901 S.W. 29th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73119
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone (Trustee): 405-921-0617
- Website: http://www.holyfamilyok.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. George Parackal2002–2007
First Director of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Mission of Oklahoma; also chaplain of St. Anthony's Hospital and resident priest at St. Joseph's Old Cathedral, Oklahoma City. Celebrated the first Malayalam Holy Mass on Aug 4, 2002.
- Rev. Fr. Davis Cherayath (Chirayath)2007/2008–present (as first Vicar)
Appointed Mission Director by Mar Jacob Angadiath; led the search for and purchase of the church at 3916 S. Highland Park Dr on April 7, 2008; became the first Vicar when the mission was elevated to a parish on April 13, 2008.