About St. Thomas the Apostle · Garland, Texas
St. Thomas the Apostle Syro-Malabar Forane Catholic Church in Garland, Texas is the first Catholic parish of the Syro-Malabar Rite established outside of India, and the first Syro-Malabar parish in North America. Founded in 1992, it was later elevated to the status of a Forane Church (a regional deanery-style parish). It belongs to the Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle of Chicago, a Syro-Malabar Catholic eparchy established in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. The community celebrates the Holy Qurbana (the Syro-Malabar Mass) primarily in Malayalam and English, and serves the spiritual, faith-formation, and cultural needs of the Indian Catholic faithful of the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
- Established
- 1992
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Siby Sebastian Kocheettathott, MST (Parish Vicar)
- Diocese
- Syro-Malabar Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle of Chicago (geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas)
Why belong here
St. Thomas the Apostle is the mother parish of the Syro-Malabar Catholic faithful in North America, offering a home where families of St. Thomas Christian heritage can worship in their own liturgical rite and languages. The parish nurtures the whole community — from Pre-K through high school faith formation, youth life, men's, women's, senior, family, prayer, and charitable ministries — and runs charitable outreach assisted by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. With daily Holy Qurbana in Malayalam and English, weekly adoration, novenas, and confession, it is a vibrant cultural and spiritual anchor for Indian-Catholic families across the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
Mass times at St. Thomas the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM (after Holy Qurbana)
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM (after Holy Qurbana)
- Thursday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM (after Holy Qurbana)
- Friday: 6:00 PM – 6:40 PM
- Saturday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM (after Holy Qurbana)
Adoration times
- Friday: 6:00 PM – 6:50 PM
Parish Identity & Heritage
St. Thomas the Apostle Syro-Malabar Forane Catholic Church is the first Catholic parish of the Syro-Malabar Rite outside India and the first in North America. The Syro-Malabar Church traces its origin to AD 50, when St. Thomas the Apostle evangelized southern India, and the Garland community carries that apostolic heritage into the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
- First Syro-Malabar parish outside India, founded 1992
- First Catholic church of the Syro-Malabar Rite in North America
- Later elevated to a Forane Church
- Patron: St. Thomas the Apostle
History & Milestones
Syro-Malabar Missions were launched in the United States in 1984 in Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, and New York. The Garland community built its own church and was formally established in 1992. In 2001 Pope John Paul II erected the Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle of Chicago and appointed Mar Jacob Angadiath as its first bishop; in 2014 Pope Francis appointed Fr. Joy Alappatt as Auxiliary Bishop. The parish celebrated its 10-year church-consecration anniversary with a Holy Qurbana presided over by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath.
- 1984 — Syro-Malabar U.S. Missions established in Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, New York
- 1992 — First Syro-Malabar parish outside India established with own church in Garland
- 2001 — Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle of Chicago erected; Mar Jacob Angadiath named first bishop
- 2014 — Rev. Fr. Joy Alappatt appointed Auxiliary Bishop by Pope Francis
- 10-year church-consecration anniversary celebrated with Bishop Angadiath
Faith Leadership
The parish is currently shepherded by Rev. Fr. Siby Sebastian Kocheettathott, MST, as Parish Vicar, with Rev. Fr. Christin Pudiyakunnel serving as Associate Pastor. The parish sits within the Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle of Chicago, whose head is Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil as Head of the Syro-Malabar Rite, with Bishop Emeritus Mar Jacob Angadiath and Auxiliary Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt serving the eparchy.
- Parish Vicar: Rev. Fr. Siby Sebastian Kocheettathott, MST
- Associate Pastor: Rev. Fr. Christin Pudiyakunnel
- Bishop Emeritus: Mar Jacob Angadiath
- Auxiliary Bishop: Mar Joy Alappatt
- Head of the Syro-Malabar Rite: Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil
Holy Qurbana (Mass) Schedule
The parish celebrates the Holy Qurbana — the Syro-Malabar form of the Mass — primarily in Malayalam, with one English Qurbana each Sunday and on Fridays. Sunday Masses are followed by CCD classes in the parish hall.
- Sunday 8:30 AM — Malayalam (with CCD)
- Sunday 10:30 AM — English
- Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM — Malayalam
- Friday 7:00 PM — English (preceded by Adoration and St. Jude Novena)
- Saturday 8:30 AM — Malayalam (followed by Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help)
Devotions & Other Services
Beyond the regular Qurbana schedule, the parish maintains traditional Syro-Malabar Catholic devotions. The Friday evening gathering combines Eucharistic Adoration, the St. Jude Novena, and the English Holy Qurbana, while Saturdays feature the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Blessed Virgin Mary Novena) after the morning Mass.
- St. Jude Novena — Friday 6:00 PM
- Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help — Saturday after 8:30 AM Qurbana
- Parish annual Church Consecration Anniversary celebration
Faith Formation (CCD) & Youth Life
The St. Thomas School of Faith Formation (CCD) provides Catholic religious education from Pre-K through High School, meeting on Sundays during the 8:30 AM Malayalam Qurbana. The Youth Life program offers social and faith-building activities for the parish's young people, helping them grow as a faithful community.
- CCD classes from Pre-K through High School
- Sunday CCD during 8:30 AM Malayalam Qurbana
- Registration fee: $60 per child (includes $10 diocesan Safe Environment fee)
- Youth Life activities for parish youth
Parish Ministries & Community Life
The parish describes itself as a vibrant community with ministries catering to every age and vocation, including dedicated groups for men, women, seniors, kids, families, and prayer life. Charitable outreach is supported through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and a Parish Council provides lay governance and pastoral counsel to the Vicar.
- Men's ministry
- Women's ministry
- Senior ministry
- Kids / family ministry
- Prayer life ministries
- Charity & outreach (St. Vincent de Paul)
- Parish Council
Sacraments & Pastoral Services
The parish serves the seven sacraments and pastoral needs of its faithful in the Syro-Malabar Rite, with a dedicated Services & Sacraments page on the parish website. In addition to the weekly celebration of the Holy Qurbana, Reconciliation, and Anointing, the parish coordinates faith formation, marriage preparation, and other rites through the parish office.
- Holy Qurbana
- Sacrament of Confession (Reconciliation)
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Faith Formation (CCD)
- Marriage preparation & anniversaries
Visit, Contact & Directions
The parish welcomes visitors at 4926 Rosehill Road in Garland, Texas. By phone, the Parish Vicar's office can be reached at (972) 240-1100, and the Associate Pastor at (201) 753-6829. Driving directions from I-30 are: take Beltline (Broadway) to Rowlett Road, turn right onto Rowlett, continue to Rose Hill Road, then turn left. Email contacts include the Vicar, Trustees, and CCD Office.
- Address: 4926 Rosehill Rd, Garland, TX 75043
- Vicar phone: (972) 240-1100
- Associate Pastor phone: (201) 753-6829
- Email: [email protected]
- Trustees: [email protected]
- CCD Office: [email protected]