About Saint Mary [Syro-Malankara] · Hollywood, Florida
St. Mary's Syro-Malankara Catholic Mission serves the faithful of the Syro-Malankara Catholic tradition from Kerala, India living in South Florida. It is a Mission (not a parish) of the Eparchy of St. Mary, Queen of Peace of the Syro-Malankara Faithful in the USA and Canada, an Eastern Catholic Church of the Antiochian Rite in full communion with Rome. The community celebrates its worship — Holy Qurbono (the Syriac-rite Divine Liturgy), morning prayer (Prabhatha Namaskaram), and catechism — in Malayalam, the language of Kerala, and gathers at the chapel of Nativity Catholic Church, 5220 Johnson Street in Hollywood, FL. Though small in numbers, the Mission prides itself on keeping the Syriac-Malankara traditions alive, teaching them to the next generation, and feeling like a family.
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary); the parent eparchy is named St. Mary, Queen of Peace
- Rector
- Rev. Dr. Santhosh Thomas (Rev. Fr. Santosh Thomas Pulipra), Vicar
- Diocese
- Eparchy of St. Mary, Queen of Peace of the Syro-Malankara Faithful in the USA and Canada (Syro-Malankara Catholic, an Eastern Catholic Church of the Antiochian Rite in full communion with Rome)
Why belong here
St. Mary's is the gathering place for Keralite Syro-Malankara Catholic families in South Florida who want to worship in their own Antiochian-rite tradition and Malayalam language, while remaining in full communion with the Bishop of Rome. Members find a small, family-like community that actively teaches the Syriac-Malankara faith to its children through Sunday Catechism and gathers for the Holy Qurbono, feast-day Qurbanos, prayer meetings in members' homes, and shared meals after Liturgy. The Mission is a visible outpost of an ancient Indian Catholic Church that traces its heritage to St. Thomas the Apostle, and a place where Kerala's spiritual and cultural identity is kept alive in the diaspora.
Mass times at Saint Mary [Syro-Malankara]
Weekly Mass schedule
Who We Are
St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church of South Florida is part of the Syro-Malankara Major Archiepiscopal Church, an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome. The Mission was started by faithful Catholic Malankarites from Kerala, India. In Malayalam the church name translates to Syro-Malankara Catholica Sabha or Malankara Suriani Catholica Sabha — also called the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church of India. The Mission is presently located at Nativity Catholic Church, 5220 Johnson St, Hollywood, FL 33021, and the members take pride in keeping their Malankara Catholic faith alive, teaching Kerala's traditions to the next generation, and preserving a small-family feel in the community.
- Part of the Syro-Malankara Major Archiepiscopal Church
- Mailing address: 5220 Johnson St, Hollywood, FL 33021
- Hosted in the chapel of Nativity Catholic Church
Our Vicar (Pastor)
The Mission's current vicar is Rev. Dr. Santhosh Thomas, whose hard work and dedication the parish credits with giving the Mission further strength. He is identified in the Eparchy directory as Rev. Fr. Santosh Thomas Pulipra. The community was originally founded and shaped by the inspirational leadership of Rev. Fr. Joel Mathew, whose guiding motto — 'It's not the quantity of members, but the moral quality of each member which makes a good community' — is published on the parish website.
- Current Vicar: Rev. Dr. Santhosh Thomas
- Former Vicar: Rev. Fr. Joel Mathew (founding spiritual leader)
Our Faith — Syro-Malankara Catholic
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church has its roots in the Antiochian Rite and is a Major Archiepiscopal sui iuris Eastern Catholic Church in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, with historical links to the Syrian Church. The community sees itself as built on the principles of the Universal Catholic Church, carrying forward the reunion movement begun by the Servant of God, late Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios. Its roots, the parish teaches, have 'stretched to the four corners of the earth' because of the prayers of its forebears and the leadership of His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, the successor of the Apostolic See of St. Thomas the Apostle in India.
- Antiochian-rite (West Syrian) tradition
- In full communion with the Bishop of Rome
- Heritage from the Apostle St. Thomas and the Syrian Christians of Kerala
Schedule of Services
The Mission's Sunday morning gathers catechism, morning prayer, and the Holy Qurbono in one continuous flow of worship, followed by a social time. The Qurbano is celebrated in Malayalam, following the Syriac-rite tradition. The parish also publishes dedicated schedules for Holy Week and the Christmas/New Year season, and maintains a monthly prayer meeting and quarterly committee meeting on top of weekly worship.
- Sunday Catechism — 11:00 AM
- Prabhatha Namaskaram (Morning Prayer) — 12:00 PM
- Holy Qurbono (Holy Mass) — 12:30 PM
- Refreshments & Social Gathering — 2:00 PM
- Monthly Prayer Meeting — last Saturday of the month, at a member's home (location announced in advance)
- Parish Committee Meeting — first Sunday of every third month, after Qurbano and Sunday School
Holy Week Services
The Mission publishes its Holy Week schedule on its Schedule of Services page, with the full Paschal Triduum observed: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil / Easter Service.
- Palm Sunday Service — 12:00 PM
- Maundy Thursday Service — 7:30 PM
- Good Friday Service — 9:00 AM
- Easter Service (Holy Saturday) — 6:30 PM
Christmas & New Year
The Mission celebrates the Nativity of the Lord and the New Year with special Holy Qurbanos, in keeping with the Syro-Malankara liturgical calendar.
- Christmas Holy Service & Qurbano — December 24, 6:30 PM
- New Year Holy Qurbano — December 31, 7:30 PM
Our Vision & Mission
The Mission states its vision as proclaiming the Kingdom of God — whose visible signs are love, justice and peace — and seeking out the lost to bring them into the Father's fold. It commits itself to the spiritual, educational, cultural, and social development of those entrusted to its care, and to expending its resources for the uplift of the poor and the relief of the suffering. Its mission is to build up the Church, the Body of Christ, working with the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, liturgical celebrations, and the lived faith of the community, with every member expected to witness Christ in his or her own vocation.
- Vision: proclaim the Kingdom through love, justice, and peace
- Mission: build up the Body of Christ through Word, liturgy, and community witness
- Every member to witness Christ in his/her vocation
Faith Formation & Sunday School
Children of the community are catechized each Sunday at 11:00 AM, immediately before the Qurbano. The Mission emphasizes passing on the Syriac-Malankara traditions of Kerala to the younger generation, alongside faith-building Bible programs such as the Year of Faith Bible Quiz announced on its News page.
- Sunday Catechism — 11:00 AM
- Year of Faith Bible Quiz (referenced in parish communications)
Community & Prayer Life
Beyond Sunday Qurbano, the community sustains itself with a monthly prayer meeting (last Saturday of each month, hosted at a member's home, with the address announced in advance), refreshments and social time after Sunday Mass, and quarterly committee meetings. The parish describes itself as a 'small family' community and, in its own vision, as one that seeks the lost and devotes itself to the spiritual, educational, cultural, and social development of its members.
- Monthly prayer gathering in parishioner homes
- Sunday social after Qurbano (~2:00 PM)
- Quarterly pastoral committee meetings
Governance & Eparchial Oversight
St. Mary's is a Mission within the Eparchy of St. Mary, Queen of Peace of the Syro-Malankara Faithful in the USA and Canada, which is led by His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Philipos Mar Stephanos (the second Bishop of the Eparchy, installed October 28, 2017, and Apostolic Visitor of the Malankara Missions of North America and Europe). The worldwide Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is headed by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos. The parish website also acknowledges the Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church.
- Eparchy: St. Mary, Queen of Peace (USA & Canada), Elmont, NY
- Bishop: Most Rev. Dr. Philipos Mar Stephanos
- Catholicos: Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis
News & Updates
The Mission publishes a News & Updates page highlighting events from across the Syro-Malankara Catholic world, including Bishop Thomas Mar Eusebius's visit to the Holy Father (March 27, 2014) and Mar Ivanios Day celebrations at St. Vincent de Paul, Elmont, NY (July 14), remembering the Servant of God Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios on his 60th death anniversary. The page also offers a downloadable Malayalam Bible (New Testament, Old Testament, and Word List/Maps) for the community.
- Bishop Thomas Mar Eusebius visits Pope Francis (March 27, 2014)
- 60th Mar Ivanios Day at St. Vincent de Paul, Elmont, NY (July 14)
- Downloadable Malayalam Bible (NT, OT, Word List/Maps)
Contact
The Mission can be reached by phone, email, or post at its chapel home inside Nativity Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL. Its Contact page links to a 'Get Directions' map service for visitors.
- Address: 5220 Johnson St, Hollywood, FL 33021 (Nativity Church Campus — Chapel)
- Telephone: (954) 526-9192
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Joel Mathew
Inspirational and devotional founding spiritual leader who helped bring the faithful together to form the community. Quoted by the Mission: 'It's not the quantity of members, but the moral quality of each member which makes a good community.'
- Rev. Dr. Santhosh Thomas (Rev. Fr. Santosh Thomas Pulipra)
Current vicar; credited with giving the church further strength through his hard work and dedication.