About Lourdes Matha [Syro-Malabar] · Apex, North Carolina
Lourdes Matha Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is a Syro-Malabar-rite parish serving the Raleigh–Durham area of North Carolina from its home at 1400 Vision Drive in Apex, NC. The community was gathered by Syro-Malabar Catholic families — most originally from Kerala, India — who brought with them the St. Thomas Christian faith tradition tracing back to the Apostle Thomas. The parish falls under the jurisdiction of the Saint Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago (with Mar Jacob Angadiath as bishop), while physically sitting within the territorial boundary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh. Daily Holy Qurbana is celebrated in Malayalam, with a monthly English Qurbana offered as well, together with catechism (CCD), novenas, retreats, and works of charity.
- Established
- 2006
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes (Lourdes Matha — 'Mother of God of Lourdes')
- Rector
- Reverend Kuriakose Chacko Vadana
- Diocese
- Saint Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago (Mar Jacob Angadiath, bishop); geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
Lourdes Matha is the spiritual home for Syro-Malabar Catholics in and around the Raleigh–Durham triangle, offering daily Holy Qurbana in Malayalam — the language of the Kerala Christian tradition — plus a noon English Qurbana on the second Sunday and most other Sundays. The parish runs a CCD catechism program for children, supports Ward Prayers, novenas to Mother Mary and St. Joseph, and silent Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays and First Fridays. With a consecrated church building, a parish hall, and a rectory, plus an engaged Parish Council, Trustees, and CML (Little Flower Mission League), it is a tight-knit community that works to make every member — old or new to the area — feel welcome and at home.
Mass times at Lourdes Matha [Syro-Malabar]
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Thursday: 5:00 PM – Silent Adoration
- First Fridays: following 7:00 PM Holy Qurbana – Adoration
Mission and Identity
Lourdes Matha Syro-Malabar Catholic Church of Raleigh–Durham, NC describes itself as the humble effort of parishioners — originally migrants from Kerala, India — to celebrate and pass on the faith and legacy handed down by St. Thomas the Apostle. The parish seeks to live, celebrate, and share belief in Christ through worship, service, and the administration of sacraments, and offers daily Holy Qurbana in Malayalam along with catechism classes, retreats, novenas, Ward Prayers, and works of charity.
- Daily Holy Qurbana in Malayalam
- Catechism classes for children and adults
- Retreats and administration of Sacraments and Sacramentals
- Ward Prayers and works of charity
History of the Parish
The Raleigh–Durham Syro-Malabar community traces its origin to 1997, when Fr. Philip Kollithanath began celebrating Qurbana every second Saturday. By 2006 there were enough families to request regular Qurbana from Mar Jacob Angadiath, and in October 2008 Fr. Augustine Kizhakkedam was sent as the first Mission Director, living in a rented apartment and later using a partially rented synagogue. In 2011, parishioners purchased and renovated the current building; on 27 November 2011 Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath consecrated the church and raised the mission to parish status.
Sunday Schedule
On Ordinary Sundays the 9:00 AM Qurbana is in Malayalam, with CCD (catechism) at 10:45 AM; on most Sundays an English Qurbana is offered at 12 noon. On First Sundays there is no English Qurbana, only the 9:00 AM Malayalam Qurbana.
Weekday Schedule
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 9:00 AM Holy Qurbana. Wednesday: 7:00 PM Holy Qurbana with Novena to St. Joseph. Friday: 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM Holy Qurbana, with Adoration after the evening Mass on First Fridays. Saturday: 9:00 AM Holy Qurbana with Novena to Mother Mary. Thursday at 5:00 PM also features Silent Adoration.
Novenas and Devotions
The parish maintains two regular weekly novenas in keeping with Syro-Malabar devotional practice: the Mother Mary Novena after the Saturday morning Qurbana, and the St. Joseph Novena after the Wednesday evening Qurbana. Ward-level Prayer gatherings are also part of parish life.
- Saturday: Novena to Mother Mary
- Wednesday: Novena to St. Joseph
- Ward Prayers (house-level prayer meetings)
Parish Council, Trustees, and Leadership
The parish council page of lourdesmatha.org lists the Trustees, the Pastoral Council, and members, along with the Secretary, the CML Coordinator, and the Director of Religious Education (DRE). The Vicar's name, parish secretary email ([email protected]), and trustees email ([email protected]) are published there.
- Vicar: Fr. Thomas Mangattu ([email protected])
- Trustees contact line: [email protected]
- Parish Council Secretary: Neenu Ann James ([email protected])
- CML Coordinator: Shiny Pattasery
- Director of Religious Education (DRE): Biju Thomas
- Trustees listed: Manoj Mathew, Sony Jose Zacharias, Sunny Sebastian
Faith Formation (CCD)
Christian Doctrine (CCD) classes for children of the parish are held during the Sunday liturgy timeframe at 10:45 AM, fitting alongside the 9:00 AM Malayalam Qurbana and the 12:00 noon English Qurbana. The parish mission also mentions catechism for adults as well as retreats for children, youth, and adults.
- Sunday 10:45 AM CCD for children
- Catechism for adults
- Retreats for children, youth, and adults
CML — Little Flower Mission League
The Little Flower Mission League (CML) is a Syro-Malabar children's association promoting missionary vocation. The Lourdes Matha website lists a parish CML Coordinator as part of its Parish Council leadership, indicating an active CML unit.
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
The parish mission statement explicitly commits to the administration of Sacraments and Sacramentals for the Syro-Malabar community. As a daily-Mass parish with an assigned vicar, Lourdes Matha coordinates baptism, marriage, first communion, confirmation, and other rites for its members. Inquiries are directed through the parish office ([email protected]) and phone ((919) 439-0305).
- Daily administration of sacraments via the Vicar
- Pastoral care coordinated through the parish office email and phone
Diocesan Affiliation and Wider Community
Lourdes Matha is a parish under the Saint Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago, whose bishop is Mar Jacob Angadiath (first bishop, appointed 2001) with Auxiliary Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt. Geographically, the parish sits within the Diocese of Raleigh, NC. The Diocesan Directory places Lourdes Matha in the Southeast region alongside St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Charlotte and Our Lady of Fatima Mission in Fayetteville, NC.
- Jurisdiction: Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago
- Geography: Diocese of Raleigh
- Southeast region parishes: Charlotte (St. Mary's) and Fayetteville (Our Lady of Fatima Mission)
Facilities and Building
The present Lourdes Matha building at 1400 Vision Drive was purchased and renovated by parishioners in 2011 and consecrated on 27 November 2011 by Mar Jacob Angadiath. Under Fr. Joby Joseph Chelakunnel's tenure (2014–2018), the parish hall was constructed and a separate rectory building was acquired, moving the parish into a period of self-sufficiency.
- Original building: purchased and renovated, consecrated 27 November 2011
- Parish hall: constructed 2014–2018 under Fr. Joby
- Rectory building: acquired 2014–2018 under Fr. Joby
Contact and Location
The parish office is at 1400 Vision Drive, Apex, NC 27523. The office phone is (919) 439-0305 and the general email is [email protected]. The dedicated vicar's email ([email protected]), trustees' email ([email protected]), and parish council secretary's email ([email protected]) are also published.
- Address: 1400 Vision Drive, Apex, NC 27523
- Phone: (919) 439-0305
- General email: [email protected]
- Vicar email: [email protected]
- Parish Secretary: [email protected]
- Trustees: [email protected]
Media and Online Presence
The parish is present on Facebook under the 'KeralaCatholicsNC' page referenced by the Knights of Columbus NC directory, and the website's own homepage is associated with an 'LMCC Media' YouTube presence for streamed liturgical celebrations.
- Facebook (Kerala Catholics NC feed)
- YouTube (LMCC Media)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Philip Kollithanath1997 onward
Began celebrating Syro-Malabar Qurbana every second Saturday for the Raleigh–Durham faithful; helped organize the early community.
- Rev. Fr. Augustine KizhakkedamOctober 2008 – November 2012
Appointed first Mission Director in October 2008; first vicar when the mission was raised to parish status on 27 November 2011 by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath.
- Rev. Fr. Paul ChalisseryNovember 2012 – February 2014
Organized children and youth ministry; began expansion of facility for catechism and youth activities. Later became diocesan financial officer.
- Rev. Fr. Joby Joseph ChelakunnelFebruary 2014 – July 2018
Under his tenure the parish hall was built and a new rectory was acquired; parish entered a period of self-sufficiency.
- Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Chacko VadanaJuly 12, 2018 – present
Took charge after Fr. Joby's transfer to Infant Jesus Syro-Malabar Church in Sacramento, CA.