Saint Mary [Syro-Malankara]

Overview of St. Mary's Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

St. Mary's is a Syro-Malankara Eastern Catholic parish serving the Greater Washington Metropolitan area from Forestville, Maryland. With one pastor, two religious sisters (Daughters of Mary), and more than 30 member families, it offers the Holy Qurbono and other liturgical services in the West Syrian/Antiochian tradition descended from St. Thomas the Apostle. The parish is part of the St. Mary, Queen of Peace Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy in the USA and Canada, currently led by Bishop Philipos Mar Stephanos.

History of the Washington Mission and Parish

From its 1985 origins as a small mission at Holy Comforter Church, through decades of worship at St. Ann's Chapel in Landover Hills, to its 2014 move into the Church of the Holy Spirit in Forestville, and finally its 2016 erection as an official parish, the community has been shaped by dedicated laity, supportive Roman Catholic hosts, and the leadership of successive pastors.

• April 28, 1985 — Mission inaugurated at Holy Comforter Church, Washington.
• 1986 — Worship moves to St. Ann's Chapel at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Landover Hills, MD.
• November 2014 — Community relocates to Church of the Holy Spirit, Forestville, MD, with Cardinal Wuerl's support.
• September 2016 — Mission erected as a parish under the St. Mary, Queen of Peace Eparchy.
• September 4, 2017 — Daughters of Mary convent blessed by Bishop Mar Eusebius.
• October 28, 2017 — Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Stephanos installed as 2nd Bishop of the Eparchy.

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Tradition

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is one of the Saint Thomas Christian churches centered in Kerala, India, traditionally founded by the Apostle St. Thomas in the 1st century. With approximately 500,000 members worldwide and about two dozen parishes/missions across the U.S. and Canada, it is in full communion with Rome as one of the Eastern Catholic Churches and is currently led by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum and Catholicos.

• Liturgy: Antiochian (West Syrian) — among the most ancient in Christendom.
• 1930 reunion with Rome under Servant of God Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios (papacy of Pius XI).
• Full communion with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, as an Eastern Catholic Church in the Universal Catholic Communion.

Liturgy and Sacraments

Sunday is the heart of parish life at St. Mary's, with Morning Prayer followed by the Holy Qurbono (the Divine Liturgy). The Sacrament of Confession is offered on Sundays during Morning Prayer. Catechesis for children and youth runs alongside the Sunday schedule.

• Holy Qurbono — Sundays (times vary by source: 9:00 AM, 10:50 AM, or 11:00 AM listed across parish/eParchy pages).
• Confession — Sundays during Morning Prayer.
• Catechism (Sunday School) — Sundays 9:45 AM–10:45 AM.

Parish Ministries and Groups

St. Mary's fosters spiritual growth and fellowship through age-specific spiritual movements and family forums that are characteristic of the Syro-Malankara tradition worldwide.

• Jesus Kids — children under 12 (monthly meetings).
• MCCL (Malankara Catholic Children's League) — Sunday-school children through 12th grade (monthly meetings).
• MCYM (Malankara Catholic Youth Movement) — ages 15–35.
• Mothers Forum.
• MCA / Fathers Forum.
• Phone Rosary — Wednesdays at 7:30 PM.

Religious Sisters and Convents

Two religious sisters of the Daughters of Mary (D.M.) serve the parish from a dedicated convent in Maryland — a major milestone in the parish's young life and a source of inspiration for younger parishioners discerning vocations.

• Sr. Anceline, D.M.
• Sr. Divya George, D.M.
• Convent blessed by Bishop Mar Eusebius on September 4, 2017.

Community Life and Outreach

Beyond Sunday worship, the parish is active in regional Catholic organizations and regular service. Youth members have participated in service days at the Little Sisters of the Poor in Baltimore and attended the Asia-Pacific Catholic Youth Conference in Washington, D.C. The parish is a member of the East Coast Kerala Catholic (ECKC) community and the North American Asia-Pacific Catholic Association, and once a year makes a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., celebrating the traditional Malankara Qurbono there.

• ECKC (East Coast Kerala Catholic) membership — parish members have served as secretary, president, and trustee.
• Little Sisters of the Poor (Baltimore) service day by MCYM.
• Annual pilgrimage and Malankara Qurbono at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.
• Hosted logistics for the 9th Malankara Catholic Convention in Leesburg, VA (2015).

Eparchy of St. Mary, Queen of Peace (USA & Canada)

The parish belongs to the St. Mary, Queen of Peace Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy in the USA and Canada, the canonical home of all Syro-Malankara Catholics in North America. The Eparchy, established as an Apostolic Exarchate in 2010 and elevated to an Eparchy by Pope Francis on December 18, 2015, is headed by Most Rev. Philipos Mar Stephanos (installed October 28, 2017 as the 2nd Bishop).

• Heavenly Patroness: St. Mary, Queen of Peace.
• Eparchial Chancery: 1500 De Paul Street, Elmont, NY 11003.
• Phone: (516) 233-1656 · Fax: (516) 616-0727.
• Eparchy website: mccna.org / syromalankarausa.org.