About Our Lady of Perpetual Help [Syro Malabar] · Gaithersburg, Maryland
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a Syro-Malabar Catholic parish in Gaithersburg, Maryland, serving the Greater Washington region. It belongs to the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago (an Eastern Catholic diocese established by Pope John Paul II in 2001) and provides Holy Qurbana in Malayalam and English for Syro-Malabar faithful who trace their heritage to the St. Thomas Christians of Kerala, India. The community began as a Mission in 2004–2007, worshipped for years as guests at several Latin-rite parishes, and on September 6, 2021 dedicated its own church at 20533 Zion Road — the same day it was elevated from Mission to Parish with Fr. Roy Moolechalil as its first Vicar.
- Established
- 2007
- Patron
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Rector
- Fr. Roy Moolechalil (first Vicar, appointed September 6, 2021)
- Diocese
- St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago
Why belong here
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is the Maryland anchor of the Syro-Malabar Church in the Greater Washington region — one of the few places in the area where Malayalam-speaking Catholics of Kerala heritage can worship in their own Eastern-rite liturgical tradition while living in the Washington suburbs. The parish offers Holy Qurbana in Malayalam and English, CCD/Sunday School for children of all ages, Marian devotion through the OLPH Family Pilgrimage and daily evening Rosary & Novena by conference call, plus active Marian Sangham (women's forum), Knights of Columbus, and Syro-Malabar Youth Forum chapters. With its own dedicated church on Zion Road since 2021, it is a young, growing community of around 50-plus families that welcomes new members from across the Archdiocese of Washington, Diocese of Arlington, and surrounding regions.
Mass times at Our Lady of Perpetual Help [Syro Malabar]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday & Sunday 9:00 AM (Adoration & Confession)
Adoration times
- Saturday & Sunday 9:00 AM
- Sunday 2:30 PM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help (as celebrated at the historic St. Rose of Lima worship site)
History of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Our Lady of Perpetual Help grew out of four decades of Syro-Malabar Catholic life in the Washington region, beginning in 1978 when Rev. Dr. George Madathiparampil celebrated the first Malayalam-rite Qurbana at St. Matthew's Cathedral. The community later organized as the Kerala Catholic Community (KCC), gathering monthly at a rotating series of worship sites before being formally established as the Syro-Malabar Catholic Mission of Greater Washington in 2004 under Fr. Mathew Punchayil. After incorporating in 2007 and worshipping for years as guests at Mother Seton, St. Rose of Lima, Visitation, and Mother of God parishes, the Mission purchased land in Gaithersburg in 2016, broke ground in 2019, and dedicated its own church on September 6, 2021 — the same day it was elevated to Parish status with Fr. Roy Moolechalil as its first Vicar.
Roots: Kerala Catholic Community (1978–2007)
From 1978 onward, Keralite migrants in the D.C. area met monthly for Syro-Malabar worship under the Kerala Catholic Community banner, rotating among St. Matthew's Cathedral, the National Shrine, the Little Sisters of the Poor, the Ukrainian Church, and finally St. Rose of Lima in Gaithersburg. Rev. Dr. George Madathiparampil celebrated the first Syro-Malabar Qurbana in D.C. in 1978; later priests in the region continued to support the community by offering the Holy Qurbana.
- St. Matthew's Cathedral
- National Shrine
- Little Sisters of the Poor
- Ukrainian Church
- St. Rose of Lima Parish, Gaithersburg
Founding the Mission (2004–2007)
In November 2002, Cardinal McCarrick appointed Fr. Mathew Punchayil as Director of the Syro-Malabar Mission of Greater Washington and Parochial Vicar at Mother Seton Parish, Germantown. The formal Mission launched in 2004 with monthly Holy Qurbana at Mother Seton, expanding to twice a month with the support of then-pastor Fr. Ron Potts. The community was registered as a corporation in March 2007, and its first Parish Council was elected with Shaji Joseph Kottooran and Thomas Antony (Puthussery) as trustees.
- Mother Seton Parish, Germantown (2004–2007)
- Fr. Ron Potts (then-pastor of Mother Seton)
- Shaji Joseph Kottooran and Thomas Antony Puthussery (first trustees, 2007)
Years of Hospitality: St. Rose of Lima, Visitation, Mother of God
From June 2007 the community worshipped every Sunday at St. Rose of Lima Parish, Gaithersburg, hosted by Msgr. Paul Dudziak and later Msgr. Paul Langsfeld. It moved to Visitation Parish, Darnestown on September 20, 2015 (where Fr. Mathew was also serving as Parochial Vicar), then to the Mother of God facility in Gaithersburg on November 4, 2018 for Holy Qurbana and CCD classes — moving twice more while fund-raising and planning its own church.
- St. Rose of Lima Parish (2007–2015)
- Visitation Parish, Darnestown (2015–2018)
- Mother of God facility, Gaithersburg (2018–2021)
Building the Church (2016–2021)
Land in Gaithersburg was purchased on November 16, 2016. A Revere Bank loan (now Sandy Spring Bank) was sanctioned on April 30, 2020 after parishioners' personal loans and fund-raising helped build financial strength. Site work began February 11, 2020 (Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes) and building construction November 2, 2020 (Feast of All Souls). The church was dedicated on September 6, 2021 by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath and Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt — nine months and four days of construction.
- Ground-breaking: September 22, 2019 (Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt)
- Architect: Thomas J. Taltavul
- Land planner: Dave McKee, Benning Associates
- Site-work coordinator: Chuck Croker
- Builder: Holland Construction
- Project coordinator: Johnson John Kurichiel
- Church artist: Jijo Joseph Pallickal
Parish Trustees (2008–2021)
A succession of lay trustees has led the Mission and Parish alongside the priest directors.
- 2008: Vinson Xavier Palathingal and Justin Jose Madathiparambil
- 2009–2010: Jijo Joseph Pallickal and Rony Thomas Parayankuzhiyil
- 2011–2012: Thomas Sebastian Anchukandathil and Thomas Abraham Theniaplackal
- 2013–2014: Dr. Johny Alencherry, Davis Chalissery, Rex Thomas Mullappalil and Roy Mathew Kannamtharappel
- 2015–2016: Dr. Johny Alencherry, Davis Chalissery, James Paul Mandapathil and Jasmin Jose Thundathil
- 2017–2018: Jasmin Jose Thundathil and Manoj Mathew Kollamparambil
- 2019–2021: Manoj Mathew Kollamparambil and Joyal Jose Thundathil (later Thomas Abraham Theniaplackal assumed the role)
Clergy & Leadership
The parish is served by the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago, whose bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath and auxiliary bishop Mar Joy Alappatt consecrated the church and presided at key milestones. Fr. Roy Moolechalil, appointed Mission Director after Fr. Mathew Punchayil's retirement in 2018, became the first Vicar of the Parish on September 6, 2021.
- Fr. Roy Moolechalil — Vicar (first, appointed Sept. 6, 2021)
- Fr. Mathew Punchayil — Mission Director 2004–2018 (retired Dec. 1, 2018)
- Fr. Joseph Elampara OCD — first Director, St. Jude Mission of Northern Virginia (2011)
- Rev. Dr. George Madathiparampil — celebrated first Syro-Malabar Qurbana in D.C. (1978)
- Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath — Bishop of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago
- Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt — Auxiliary Bishop, ordained September 27, 2014
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
Holy Qurbana is celebrated in the Syro-Malabar rite, primarily in Malayalam, with an English Qurbana on Sunday-school Sundays. Adoration and Confession are scheduled on weekend mornings, and the parish maintains a strong devotional rhythm around the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
- Sunday 9:30 AM — Holy Qurbana in Malayalam
- Sunday 11:00 AM — Holy Qurbana in English (Sunday School Sundays only)
- Saturday & Sunday 9:00 AM — Adoration & Confession
Devotions
Marian devotion is a defining feature of parish life, with a weekly Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a daily evening Rosary & Novena by conference call at 8:30 PM, and the OLPH Family Pilgrimage — in which the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is enthroned in a different parish home each week for prayers and novenas.
- Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- OLPH Family Pilgrimage (home enthronement)
- Rosary & Novena by conference call — 8:30 PM daily
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- Annual Retreats
- Annual Family Bible Quiz
Ministries & Parish Life
The parish organizes four active ministries, each combining prayer and service, plus Sunday School for children in grades 1 through 12. Activities aim to foster faith formation across generations, support families, and welcome new arrivals to the Greater Washington region.
- Marian Sangham — women's forum dedicated to strengthening family and domestic church
- Knights of Columbus — Catholic men's service fraternity
- Syro-Malabar Youth Forum — monthly faith and fellowship for young people
- Sunday School (CCD) — grades 1 through 12
- Choir
- Parish Council (Prathinidhiyogam)
- Kerala Catholic Community fellowship & hospitality
Faith Formation & Sunday School
Sunday School began in September 2007 with around 30 children of all age-groups and remains a backbone of parish life, complementing Malayalam language classes and the Annual Family Bible Quiz for adult education in Scripture, Liturgy, and Church History.
- CCD grades 1–12
- Malayalam language classes
- Annual Family Bible Quiz
Worship, Location & Contact
Our Lady of Perpetual Help worships at its own church at 20533 Zion Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20882, and serves Syro-Malabar Catholics across the Archdiocese of Washington, Diocese of Arlington, and surrounding regions of Maryland and Northern Virginia.
- Address: 20533 Zion Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20882
- Phone: (301) 873-7006
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: syromalabargw.org
- Eparchy: St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Dr. George Madathiparampil1978
Celebrated the first Syro-Malabar Qurbana in the Washington area at St. Matthew's Cathedral, founding the local Kerala Catholic Community (KCC).
- Fr. Mathew Punchayil2004–2018
Appointed Director of the Syro-Malabar Mission of Greater Washington in November 2002 by Cardinal McCarrick; launched the formal Mission in 2004 at Mother Seton Parish, Germantown; led the community through St. Rose of Lima, Visitation, and Mother of God worship sites. Retired December 1, 2018.
- Fr. Roy Moolechalil2018–present
Appointed Mission Director after Fr. Mathew's retirement in 2018; led the building campaign and ground-breaking (2019); appointed first Vicar of the Parish when it was elevated on September 6, 2021.