About St. Teresa of Calcutta [Syro-Malabar] · Livermore, California
St. Teresa of Calcutta Syro-Malabar Catholic Mission is an Eastern Catholic mission church serving the Syro-Malabar faithful of the East Bay area in Livermore, California. It is a mission of the mother parish St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church of San Francisco and falls under the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago (Eparchy), which has pastoral jurisdiction over Syro-Malabar Catholics throughout the United States. Consecrated on July 3, 2019 by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath, the mission is co-located with St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church of Livermore and serves roughly 147 families and 621+ members. Worship is celebrated in the Syro-Malabar rite in both Malayalam and English.
- Established
- 2019
- Patron
- St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa)
- Rector
- Fr. Sijo Tharakunnel Scaria
- Diocese
- St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago (Eparchy)
Why belong here
St. Teresa of Calcutta is a close-knit Syro-Malabar Catholic mission where families from across the East Bay gather to celebrate the Holy Qurbana in Malayalam and English, raise their children in the faith through a robust CCD program, and serve the wider community through the Mother Teresa Mission (MTM) Charity ministry. Active wards (St. Alphonsa, St. George, St. Mary, St. Sebastian, Little Flower, St. Antony, and St. John Paul II), a Marian Women's Forum, and a DYA youth wing mean every member can find a spiritual home, a ministry, and friends who share the same East Syriac Catholic tradition.
Mass times at St. Teresa of Calcutta [Syro-Malabar]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday (with CCD): 2:15 – 2:45 PM
- Sunday (no CCD): 3:15 – 3:45 PM
- Friday: 6:30 – 7:00 PM
- Saturday: After the Qurbana, upon request
Adoration times
- Every 1st Saturday: Holy Adoration
- Every First Friday: Adoration for kids & youth
- Friday after 7:00 PM Holy Qurbana: Adoration
About St. Teresa of Calcutta Syro-Malabar Mission
St. Teresa of Calcutta Syro-Malabar Catholic Mission of East Bay is a mission church of the mother parish St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church of San Francisco, consecrated on July 3, 2019 by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath. The mission is co-located with St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church of Livermore and currently serves roughly 147 families and 621+ members of the Syro-Malabar Catholic tradition across the East Bay.
- Mission Director / Vicar: Fr. Sijo Tharakunnel Scaria
- Assistant Vicar: Joseph Thakkolkaran
- Mother parish: St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, San Francisco
- Co-located with: St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Livermore
Our Patroness — St. Teresa of Calcutta
The mission is named after St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa), the Albanian-Indian religious sister who founded the Missionaries of Charity and was canonized by Pope Francis in 2016. Her example of selfless service to the poorest of the poor directly inspires the parish's principal charitable outreach, the Mother Teresa Mission (MTM) Charity ministry. The parish celebrates her feast each year on September 5 with a multi-day Thirunal (feast) including English Qurbana, youth games, food fair, and a day dedicated to the saint herself.
- Feast day: September 5
- Canonized by Pope Francis, 2016
- Inspiration for the MTM Charity ministry
Holy Qurbana Requests
Parishioners can submit requests for Holy Qurbana (for special intentions, thanksgivings, or remembrances) through a dedicated form on the parish website. Requests are coordinated through the Mission Director.
Monthly Devotions and Meetings
Beyond the weekly Mass schedule, the mission gathers for monthly devotions, council meetings, and ward-based prayer groups, sustaining both spiritual life and community organization throughout the month.
- 1st Saturday — Holy Adoration
- 1st Sunday — Mission Council Meeting
- 3rd Sunday — MTM Charity Meeting
- 4th Sunday — Marian Women's Forum Meeting
- First Friday — Adoration for kids & youth
Ward Prayer Meetings
The parish is organized into named wards that meet monthly for prayer and fellowship, ensuring every family has a small community within the larger mission.
- 1st Saturday — St. John Paul II & Youth Prayer Meeting
- 2nd Saturday — St. Alphonsa & St. George
- 3rd Saturday — Little Flower & St. Mary
- 4th Saturday — St. Sebastian & St. Antony
Faith Formation — CCD (Catechism)
The Catechetical Department of St. Teresa of Calcutta provides faith formation classes for children ages 4–17 every Sunday. The program uses the official Syro-Malabar Synodal Commission for Catechesis textbook series 'On the Path of Salvation,' covering Pre-K through XII grades. The current teaching staff includes 26 catechists serving 205 enrolled students. The program's vision is to help young Syro-Malabar Catholics in the U.S. context to Learn, Love, Live, and Proclaim Jesus.
- Ages 4–17
- 26 teachers, 205 students
- Textbook: 'On the Path of Salvation' (Pre-K to XII)
- Annual events: Bible Quiz, Cultural Program, Retreats, Graduation
Mother Teresa Mission (MTM) Charity
MTM Charity is the mission's principal outreach arm, inspired directly by the parish's patroness. Its mission is to freely share time, skills, money, and assets with brothers and sisters in need and to instill the love of giving in the parish, especially among youth.
- Empowering communities locally and around the world
- Volunteer and donation drives with local non-profits
- Coordinators: Saju Puthankulam, Jayesh Santhan, and Ruben Thomas
- Meets every 3rd Sunday of the month
Youth Ministry — DYA
The mission's youth are affiliated with the diocesan Diocesan Youth Association (DYA). Activities include Passion Reenactment on Good Friday, Easter egg hunts, prayer hikes, Trunk or Treat, bake sales, social events, and a Galentine's Day gathering.
- Youth Coordinator: Nikita Mary Thomas (2024–2025 council)
- Annual Passion Reenactment, Easter egg hunt, fundraiser, prayer hike
Marian Women's Forum
The Marian Women's Forum gathers the women of the parish for spiritual life, fellowship, and service, meeting every 4th Sunday of the month. The forum hosts an annual gathering and a food fest among other activities.
- President: Nimmy Jose Manjaly
- Meets every 4th Sunday
- Annual Gathering and Food Fest
Parish Leadership — Mission Council
The mission is led by the Mission Director, Fr. Sijo Tharakunnel Scaria, with an Assistant Vicar and a Mission Council made up of Trustees, Pastoral Council members, ward presidents, ministry representatives, and coordinators.
- Mission Director: Fr. Sijo Tharakunnel Scaria
- Assistant Vicar: Joseph Thakkolkaran
- Trustees include Tojo Thomas, Akhil Martin Thomas, Francy Varghese, Jismon Olickal, Vipin Mathew, and James Joseph Alumkal
- Pastoral Council members: Dr. Sonia Mathew, Biju Joseph, Jose Chungath
- Secretary: Lily Elizabeth John / Rinu Varghese
- Youth Coordinators: Nikita Mary Thomas, Sharon Joseph
Our Diocese — St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago
St. Teresa of Calcutta Mission is part of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago, the only Eastern Catholic eparchy in the United States exclusively for Syro-Malabar faithful. Established by Pope John Paul II on March 13, 2001, the diocese currently encompasses 50 parishes and 34 missions, served by 68 priests, with 9,500 Sunday School students, 2,450 catechists, and 85,000 faithful members across the country. Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath was its first bishop; Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt now leads the eparchy, having succeeded Bishop Angadiath in 2022.
- Diocese established: March 13, 2001
- First bishop: Mar Jacob Angadiath (episcopal ordination July 1, 2001)
- Auxiliary Bishop appointed 2014: Mar Joy Alappatt
- Current bishop: Mar Joy Alappatt (since July 3, 2022)
- Diocesan office: 310 W. Lake Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126
Annual Calendar and Feast Days
The mission follows the Syro-Malabar liturgical calendar alongside universal Catholic holy days, marked by special celebrations throughout the year — from Pesaha (Maundy Thursday) and Easter to the parish Thirunal in honor of St. Teresa of Calcutta each September.
- August: Eight-day fasting (Ettunombu) begins; Thirunal Kodiyettam (Day 1) and Feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta on the 6th
- Easter season: Pesaha Thursday, Passion Friday with youth reenactment, Easter Sunday, CCD All Saints Day
- November: Marian Women's Forum Annual Gathering, Catechetical Sunday, Feast of Christ the King
- Solemnities observed: Assumption of Our Lady, Ascension, Holy Trinity, Exaltation of the Cross
Getting Involved and Contact
Parishioners and visitors can engage with the mission by attending Mass in Malayalam or English, joining a ward, enrolling children in CCD, volunteering with MTM Charity, or participating in DYA youth activities. The parish can be reached through the contact form on the official website.
- Website: http://www.stteresasyromalabar.org/
- Address: 678 Enos Way, Livermore, CA 94551
- Co-located with St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church of Livermore