About Mar Thoma Sleeha SyroMalabar Catholic Cathedral [Syro-Malabar] · Bellwood, Illinois
Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral is the episcopal seat (cathedra) of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago, the first Syro-Malabar ecclesiastical territory outside India. Located at 5000 St. Charles Road in Bellwood, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, it serves more than 1,200 registered families of Syro-Malabar heritage — St. Thomas Christians originating in Kerala, South India — alongside Catholics of every background. Holy Qurbana (the Syro-Malabar Eucharistic liturgy) is offered daily in Malayalam and English, and the parish describes itself as 'Christian by faith, Indian by culture & Syrian in tradition.' The cathedral was dedicated on July 5, 2008, and was awarded the Best of Brick Excellence in Masonry Award by the Masonry Advisory Council.
- Established
- 2008
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. Thomas Kadukapillil (Vicar)
- Diocese
- St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago
Why belong here
Mar Thoma Sleeha Cathedral is the only cathedral of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago and the spiritual heart of Kerala-Catholic life in the U.S. Midwest — a place where one can worship in full Syro-Malabar rite (the Holy Qurbana) every day of the week in either Malayalam or English. With more than 1,200 families, it offers an unusually rich mix of ministries — from SMYO, CYM, Jesus Youth, and a Cultural Academy to a Nurses Ministry, Seniors' Forum, Women's Forum, Marriage Preparation, RCIA, CCD/Adaptive CCD, Pro-Life, and St. Vincent de Paul — all anchored in Kerala's distinctive blend of Catholic faith, Indian culture, and East-Syrian Christian tradition, and supported by an active Parish Council and diocesan staff.
Mass times at Mar Thoma Sleeha SyroMalabar Catholic Cathedral [Syro-Malabar]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Saturday, before and after the Holy Qurbana
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month — 7:00 PM English Holy Qurbana followed by Adoration
About Mar Thoma Sleeha Cathedral
Mar Thoma Sleeha Cathedral is the diocesan cathedral of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago and serves more than 1,200 families in the western Chicago suburb of Bellwood. The parish describes its identity as 'Christian by faith, Indian by culture & Syrian in tradition,' reflecting the heritage of the St. Thomas Christians of Kerala. Holy Qurbana (the Syro-Malabar Eucharistic liturgy) is offered every day in both Malayalam and English.
- Diocesan cathedral of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago
- Over 1,200 registered families
- Daily Holy Qurbana in English and Malayalam
- Opened 2008; dedicated by Cardinal Varkey Vithaythil on 5 July 2008
History of the Mission and Cathedral
The parish traces its roots to the Mar Thoma Sleeha Mission that served Chicago's growing Malayalee Catholic community from the 1970s and 1980s onward, when Syro-Malabar migrants in the U.S. had no canonical jurisdiction of their own. After Pope John Paul II erected the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago on 13 March 2001, the community outgrew its original chapel and built the present cathedral, dedicated on 5 July 2008.
- Syro-Malabar migrants organized Holy Qurbana under Latin-rite dioceses from the 1970s/80s
- Pope John Paul II erected the Eparchy of Chicago on 13 March 2001
- Fr. Jacob Angadiath named first Bishop; ordained 1 July 2001 at the Second Syro-Malabar Convention
- New cathedral designed by Jaeger, Nickola & Associates, completed June 2008
- Cathedral dedicated by Cardinal Varkey Vithaythil, 5 July 2008
- Marian grotto dedicated by Major Archbishop George Cardinal Alencherry, October 2011
Cathedral Clergy & Episcopal Leadership
The cathedral is pastored by a Vicar and Assistant Vicar and is under the pastoral care of the Bishop of the Eparchy. Mar Joy Alappatt, who served as the cathedral's Vicar from 2011, was installed as the second Bishop of the Eparchy in this very building on 1 October 2022. Mar Jacob Angadiath is the Bishop Emeritus.
- Mar Joy Alappatt — Bishop of the Eparchy (installed 1 October 2022)
- Mar Jacob Angadiath — Bishop Emeritus
- Fr. Thomas Kadukapillil — Vicar (parish priest)
- Fr. Joel Pius — Assistant Vicar
Holy Qurbana (Mass) Schedule
The Holy Qurbana — the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eucharistic liturgy — is offered every day of the week in Malayalam and English. Confessions are heard before and after each Qurbana Monday through Saturday, and Adoration is observed on the first Friday of every month.
- Sunday: 8:00 AM (Mal), 9:45 AM English (Mar Ephrem Chapel), 11:15 AM (Mal), 11:15 AM English (Mar Ephrem Chapel), 5:30 PM (Mal)
- Monday–Friday: 8:30 AM Malayalam plus evening English/Malayalam Qurbanas
- Wednesday: additional 7:00 PM Malayalam Qurbana
- Friday: 7:00 PM Malayalam and 7:00 PM English with Adoration on the First Friday
- Saturday: 8:30 AM Malayalam
Sacraments
The cathedral celebrates the seven sacraments of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. Preparation programs accompany Baptism (Pre-Jordan), Marriage (Pre-Cana), and Christian initiation of adults (OCIA/RCIA).
- Holy Qurbana (Eucharist) — daily
- Confession — Mon–Sat before and after Qurbana, or by appointment
- Marriage Preparation Course (Pre-Cana) — Fr. Paul Chalissery
- Pre-Jordan (Baptism preparation)
- RCIA / Order of Christian Initiation for Adults
- Anointing of the Sick / Ministers of Care (hospital and homebound visits)
- Funeral Services / Bereavement support
Youth & Family Ministries
Children, youth, young adults, and young families are served by a layered set of apostolic movements that span from age 5 through young adulthood, including SMYO, CYM, Jesus Youth, CML/LFML, Holy Childhood, the Young Adults Ministry, and the Young Couples & Families Ministry.
- Syro-Malabar Youth Organization (SMYO, ages 14–35)
- Catholic Youth Movement (CYM, ages 15–35)
- Jesus Youth (JY)
- Cherupushpa Mission League / Little Flower Mission League (CML/LFML, ages 9–15)
- Holy Childhood Association / Thirubalasakhyam (ages 5–8)
- Diocesan Youth Apostolate (DYA)
- Young Adults Ministry (18–35)
- Young Couples & Families Ministry
Adult & Family Faith Formation
Faith formation is offered in both English and Malayalam, with dedicated parish programs, diocesan-level study through the Mar Thoma Theological Institute, and sacramental preparation for adults.
- Cathedral Adult Faith Formation (English & Malayalam)
- Faith Formation / CCD (English & Malayalam)
- Adaptive CCD
- Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA / RCIA)
- Mar Thoma Theological Institute (diocesan)
- Marriage Preparation / Pre-Cana
Community Life, Outreach & Cultural Ministries
Beyond liturgy, the cathedral sustains a broad community life through cultural, professional, and outreach organizations — from the School of Languages and Syro-Malabar Cultural Academy to St. Vincent de Paul, Pro-Life, and a Nurses Ministry.
- Women's Forum
- Judith Forum (Widow's Ministry)
- Seniors' Forum (60+)
- Nurses Ministry
- Syro-Malabar Catholic Congress (SMCC)
- Syro-Malabar Cultural Academy (music, dance, art, sports)
- School of Languages (Malayalam)
- Welcoming Ministry for New & Returning Parishioners
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Pro-Life / Respect Life Ministry
- Cathedral Gift Store
- Parish Council
Liturgical & Devotional Ministries
The cathedral relies on a wide range of liturgical volunteers and devotional groups. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a recognized devotion, with the parish also running 'Intercession — Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament.'
- Liturgical Coordinators / Altar Servers (English & Malayalam)
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Lectors
- Music Ministry (English & Malayalam)
- Ushers
- Wedding Coordination Team
- Audio-Visual and Sound Team
- Intercession (Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament)
- Divine Mercy Ministry
- Cathedral Holy Family Prayer Group
- St. Rita's Ministry
- First Friday Adoration (monthly, following 7:00 PM English Qurbana)
Membership & Becoming a Parishioner
New and returning Catholics are welcomed through a formal registration process facilitated by the parish's Welcoming Ministry. The Welcoming Committee offers parish orientation and hospitality, including a shared meal, before completing registration.
- Contact the Parish Office at +1 (708) 544-7250 to begin registration
- Welcoming Committee provides orientation and hospitality
- Forms available on the cathedral website
- New parishioners paired with a welcoming minister to help integrate into parish life
Architecture & Visiting
Completed in 2008 and designed by Jaeger, Nickola & Associates, the cathedral blends a maroon-brick baroque-inspired façade with traditional Kerala-style bell-shaped domes. The interior features octagonal plans, stained-glass saints, walnut/oak/brass liturgical furnishings, a baldachino-crowned tabernacle, and the bishop's cathedra. Outside, the Marian grotto and Good Shepherd statue at the entrance are notable landmarks.
- Architects: Jaeger, Nickola & Associates
- Liturgical furnishings: JNKA Architects of Kerala (2008–2011)
- Capacity: 1,165
- Best of Brick Excellence in Masonry Award (Masonry Advisory Council)
- Three levels: main nave, upper choir level, lower-level Mar Ephrem Chapel
- Side chapels: Daily Chapel and Eucharistic Chapel
- Marian grotto dedicated October 2011
Diocese & Wider Syro-Malabar Church
Mar Thoma Sleeha Cathedral belongs to the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago, the first Syro-Malabar eparchy outside India, which now serves more than 50 parishes and missions across the United States. The Eparchy is immediately subject to the Holy See through the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.
- Eparchy erected by Pope John Paul II, 13 March 2001
- First bishop: Mar Jacob Angadiath (2001–2022)
- Current bishop: Mar Joy Alappatt (since 1 October 2022)
- Eparchy mailing address: 372 S. Prairie Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126
- Diocesan website: https://stthomasdiocese.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Antony Thundathil2001 (approx., as first Cathedral Vicar / Finance Officer of the newly erected eparchy)
Named Finance Officer and first Cathedral Vicar when the diocese was inaugurated on 1 July 2001.
- Bishop (then-Fr.) Joy AlappattAugust 2011 – October 2022
Appointed Vicar/Pastor of Mar Thoma Sleeha Cathedral in August 2011; named Auxiliary Bishop in 2014 while continuing as pastor; installed as Bishop of the Eparchy on 1 October 2022.
- Fr. Thomas Kadukapillil2022 – present
Succeeded Bishop Alappatt as Vicar of the cathedral.