About St. Therese of Lisieux Syro-Malabar Mission · Lenexa, Kansas
St. Therese of Lisieux Syro-Malabar Mission is a Syro-Malabar Catholic mission serving the Malayalees (Malayalam-speaking Catholics from Kerala, India) of the greater Kansas City area. The mission is based in Lenexa, Kansas, at 9130 Pflumm Road, and falls under the Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago, the Syro-Malabar Catholic eparchy that covers much of the central United States. Holy Qurbana (the Syro-Malabar Eucharistic liturgy) is celebrated in both Malayalam and English, and the community gathers for catechism, rosary, adoration, and confession as a tight-knit diaspora family of faith.
- Patron
- St. Therese of Lisieux (Thérèse of the Child Jesus)
- Rector
- Fr. Sunoj Thomas
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago (Syro-Malabar Catholic)
Why belong here
The mission is a home for Malayalam-speaking Catholic faithful in the Kansas City metro who want to worship in their own language and follow the East Syriac Eucharistic tradition of the Syro-Malabar Church. Families can raise their children in the faith through the on-site Catechism program, while adults join the Choir, Altar Servers, and Pastoral Council or volunteer as Kaikkarans (trustees). With weekly Holy Qurbana in Malayalam and English, monthly First Friday Adoration, and a warm community structure, it offers the rare gift of an authentically Kerala-rooted parish life in the heart of Johnson County, Kansas.
Mass times at St. Therese of Lisieux Syro-Malabar Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 7:00 PM (during Adoration; First Friday of the month emphasized)
Adoration times
- Friday 7:00 PM (First Friday of the month)
About the Mission
St. Therese of Lisieux Syro-Malabar Mission is the Syro-Malabar Catholic community of the Kansas City area, established to serve Malayalam-speaking Catholic families from Kerala living in northeastern Kansas and western Missouri. The mission operates under the Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago and gathers in Lenexa, Kansas, offering the full Syro-Malabar Eucharistic liturgy in both Malayalam and English.
Patron — St. Therese of Lisieux
The mission takes its name from St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus (St. Therese of Lisieux), the French Carmelite nun and Doctor of the Church known for her 'Little Way' of spiritual childhood. Her feast day is October 1.
Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago
The mission is part of the Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago, a Syro-Malabar Catholic eparchy erected by Pope John Paul II to serve the spiritual needs of the growing Syro-Malabar diaspora across the central United States. The eparchy is named for St. Thomas the Apostle, who tradition holds evangelized the Malabar Coast of India in the first century.
Pastoral Team & Administration
The mission is led by its pastor together with elected lay leaders who help shepherd parish life. Administration includes the Pastor, the Pastoral Council, and the Kaikkarans (trustees) — a traditional Syro-Malabar term for the lay stewards of the parish.
- Pastor: Fr. Sunoj Thomas ([email protected])
- Kaikkarans (Trustees): Ebin Philip and Thomas Jacob
- Pastoral Council Members (per the parish website)
Liturgy & Qurbana Schedule
The centerpiece of parish life is the celebration of the Holy Qurbana — the Syro-Malabar Eucharistic Liturgy, which follows the East Syriac tradition of St. Thomas Christians. Qurbana is offered in Malayalam on most Sundays and on First Fridays, and in English on the 5th Sunday of months that have one. Catechism classes and the Rosary are scheduled immediately before Sunday Qurbana.
- Sunday – 3:00 PM Catechism Classes
- Sunday – 3:10 PM Rosary
- Sunday – 3:45 PM Holy Qurbana (Malayalam)
- 5th Sunday of the month – 3:45 PM Holy Qurbana (English)
- First Friday – 7:00 PM Adoration & Confession
- First Friday – 8:00 PM Holy Qurbana (Malayalam)
Faith Formation — Catechism
Children of the parish receive faith formation through weekly Catechism Classes, held every Sunday at 3:00 PM. The program introduces young parishioners to the prayers, sacraments, and traditions of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, including Malayalam prayers and liturgical songs.
- Catechism Classes: Sunday 3:00 PM (1st–4th weeks of the month)
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Lay ministry is central to the life of the mission. Parishioners serve the community as members of the Choir, as Altar Servers at the Qurbana, on the Pastoral Council, and as Kaikkarans (trustees). Catechism teaching and organizing parish events are additional ways families get involved.
- Choir
- Altar Servers
- Pastoral Council
- Kaikkarans (Trustees)
- Catechism teachers
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the mission by email or in person at the Lenexa address. The pastor and parish secretary are the main points of contact; the official Facebook page keeps the community up to date on schedule changes and special events.
- Address: 9130 Pflumm Rd, Lenexa, KS 66215
- Email (Fr. Sunoj Thomas): [email protected]
- Email (Aljo Abraham, parish contact): [email protected]
- Website: https://www.syromalabarkc.com/
- Facebook: facebook.com/stteresasyromalabar