About Saint Alphonsa [Syro-Malabar] · Coppell, Texas
Saint Alphonsa Catholic Church is a Syro-Malabar Catholic parish serving the faithful of Kerala-origin in the Dallas–Fort Worth area from its home at 200 S Heartz Road in Coppell, Texas. It began in 2007 as an outstation of Saint Anne's Church in Coppell and was formally established as a parish on October 12, 2009 — the very day Pope Benedict XVI canonized Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, the church's patroness. The parish belongs to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago (an Eastern Catholic eparchy in full communion with Rome) and celebrates the Holy Qurbana in both Malayalam and English. From 150 founding families it has grown to more than 700 registered families, with a satellite Malayalam Mass each Saturday at St. Francis of Assisi in Frisco.
- Established
- 2009
- Patron
- Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Fr. Mathews Munjanath (Pastor/Vicar)
- Diocese
- Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago (Eparchy of St. Thomas of Chicago); geographically within the territory of the Roman Diocese of Dallas
Why belong here
Saint Alphonsa offers the rare gift of a fully Syro-Malabar Catholic liturgical life — complete with the Solemn Holy Qurbana in Malayalam and English, Thursday and Friday novenas, Tuesday-through-Saturday morning adoration, and regular confession — in the heart of the DFW metroplex. A growing, family-oriented congregation of more than 700 registered families welcomes newcomers through its CCD faith formation program for Pre-K through 12th grade, Malayalam language classes, the Youth Choir, a Young Adult Ministry, a Women's Forum, the Legion of Mary, the Cherupushpa Mission League (LFML) for children, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for outreach to those in need.
Mass times at Saint Alphonsa [Syro-Malabar]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 7:30 AM (after morning Holy Qurbana)
- Friday 7:30 AM (after morning Holy Qurbana)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 7:30 AM
- Wednesday 7:30 AM
- Thursday 7:30 AM
- Friday 7:30 AM
- Saturday 7:30 AM
History of Saint Alphonsa Church, Coppell
Saint Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Coppell began in 2007 as a small outstation unit serving the Syro-Malabar Catholic faithful of the Dallas–Fort Worth area, with the Holy Eucharist first celebrated at Saint Anne's Roman Catholic Church in Coppell. The Syro-Malabar Diocese of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago then approved the community as the Syro-Malabar Catholic Mission DFW, and the parish was canonically established on October 12, 2009 — the same day Pope Benedict XVI canonized the parish's patroness, Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception. Fr. Saji Chakkittamuriyil blessed the new church at 200 S. Heartz Road and began its liturgical life; in March 2010 the mission was erected as a parish with Fr. Varghese Naikkamparampil as its first Vicar.
- 2007 — outstation unit of the DFW Syro-Malabar community begins, with liturgy at Saint Anne's, Coppell.
- Approved as the Syro-Malabar Catholic Mission DFW by the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago.
- Oct. 12, 2009 — church blessed and established, coinciding with the canonization of Saint Alphonsa.
- March 2010 — mission erected as a parish; Fr. Varghese Naikkamparampil named first Vicar.
- 2014 — church expanded under Fr. Johnsty Thachara to accommodate growth.
- Today: 700+ registered families across the DFW metroplex.
Our Patroness — Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception
The parish takes its name from Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception (born Anna Muttathupadathu, 19 August 1910 – 28 July 1946), an Indian Franciscan Clarist sister from Kerala. She is the first woman of Indian origin and the first saint of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church to be canonized, raised to the altars by Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City on October 12, 2008 — exactly one year before the Coppell parish was dedicated in her honor. Her feast day is observed throughout the Syro-Malabar Church on July 28.
- Born Anna Muttathupadathu on August 19, 1910, in Kudamalur, Kerala.
- Joined the Franciscan Clarist Congregation; took the name Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception on August 2, 1928.
- Beatified February 8, 1986 by Pope John Paul II at Kottayam.
- Canonized October 12, 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City.
- Feast day: July 28.
Faith Formation — CCD and Malayalam Classes
The parish's faith-formation program supports children from Pre-K through 12th grade in their Catholic faith journey. Classes are held on Sundays in conjunction with the morning Masses, and a Malayalam language class helps young Syro-Malabar faithful maintain fluency in the language of their heritage liturgy.
- 9:00 AM — CCD class for Grades 4 to 12.
- 10:45 AM — CCD class for Pre-K to Grade 3.
- 12:15 PM — Malayalam Class.
- Contact the CCD office or parish office for enrollment information.
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Saint Alphonsa's spiritual and community life is supported by a wide range of parish ministries serving children, youth, young adults, women, and the wider DFW community.
- St. Alphonsa Rosary Ministry — leads the Rosary before and after the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass.
- Young Adult Ministry — meets the first Sunday of every month at 7:00 PM in the Media Room for prayer, discussion, and a light meal.
- Youth Choir — children in grades 3–9 lead music at the 11:00 AM Mass, Christmas Eve, and First Eucharist Masses.
- Women's Forum — ministry nurturing the talents and active participation of young women in parish life.
- Legion of Mary — visits families and the sick, supports parish apostolic and missionary work.
- Cherupushpa Mission League (LFML) — children's lay organization under the patronage of St. Therese of Lisieux, supporting missions across India through prayer, time and resources.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) — global Catholic outreach organization serving those in need without discrimination.
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full Syro-Malabar liturgical and sacramental life. The Holy Qurbana (Mass) is the central act of worship, accompanied by regular confession, Eucharistic adoration, and the parish's First Eucharist preparation program through CCD.
- Holy Qurbana — daily and Sunday schedule above.
- Confession — Thursday and Friday at 7:30 AM.
- Eucharistic Adoration — Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 AM.
- First Eucharist preparation through the CCD program.
Devotions
Saint Alphonsa sustains several devotional practices rooted in both Syro-Malabar and universal Catholic tradition.
- Novena after Holy Qurbana on Thursdays and Fridays.
- Rosary before and after the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass (Rosary Ministry).
- Eucharistic Adoration Tuesday through Saturday mornings at 7:30 AM.
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach Saint Alphonsa by phone, email, or in person at the parish office. The church is located in Coppell, a Dallas suburb, and the parish also maintains an active Facebook presence.
- Address: 200 S Heartz Rd, Coppell, TX 75019.
- Phone: (469) 240-0006.
- Email: [email protected].
- Website: http://www.saintalphonsachurch.org/ (redirects to http://www.stalphonsacoppell.org/).
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StAlphonsaChurchCoppell/.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Saji Chakkittamuriyil2009 – March 2010
Director of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Mission DFW; blessed the new church and began liturgical celebrations on Oct. 12, 2009.
- Fr. Varghese Naikkamparampilfrom March 2010
Appointed first Vicar when the mission was erected as a parish.
- Fr. Johnsty Thachara
Vicar who led the 2014 church expansion to accommodate the growing community.
- Fr. Mathews Munjanathcurrent
Current Pastor/Vicar.