About St. Toma [Syrian] · Farmington Hills, Michigan
St. Toma Syriac Catholic Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Deliverance, the Syriac Catholic eparchy serving the United States, located at 25600 Drake Road in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Established in 2002 and dedicated to St. Thomas the Apostle, it is the first church ever erected outside of the Middle East specifically to serve Syriac Catholics. Most parishioners are Iraqi refugees and immigrants who fled persecution and instability in the Middle East. The parish is pastored by Bishop Mor Barnaba Yousif Habash, with Fr. Muntaser Haddad serving as Rector.
- Established
- 2002
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. Muntaser Haddad (Rector)
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Our Lady of Deliverance in the United States (Syriac Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Toma Syriac Catholic Cathedral is the spiritual home of a vibrant Iraqi and Middle Eastern Syriac Catholic community in southeast Michigan, offering Mass in Syriac with English and Arabic translations — a rare treasure outside of the Middle East. The parish gathers for the Holy Liturgy, Bible studies, spiritual retreats, adoration, and a full slate of sacraments, while also building community through bingo nights, picnics, youth gatherings, ladies' meetings, and family parties. As the cathedral of the entire U.S. Syriac Catholic eparchy since 2022, it offers both a deep-rooted heritage and a warm, family-centered welcome.
Mass times at St. Toma [Syrian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Every Saturday 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
- By appointment — contact Fr. Muntaser Haddad at 248-536-2176 or [email protected]
Adoration times
- Adoration & Benediction: 6:00 pm every First Thursday of the month
Parish History
The Syriac Catholic community in metro Detroit predates the current church. Under Msgr. Mansour Mattosha, the faithful worshipped at St. Beed Catholic Church. In 1990, Msgr. Toma Azizo arrived and began a new mission, eventually leading the community through several borrowed spaces and a small purchased church before outgrowing all of them. The parish then acquired property from the Archdiocese of Detroit in Farmington Hills, where on June 24, 2000, Cardinal Mousa Daoud and the Syriac Catholic Patriarch laid the foundation stones. The completed cathedral opened its doors in June 2002. On July 1, 2022, Pope Francis approved moving the cathedra of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Deliverance from Bayonne, NJ, to St. Toma, making it the spiritual center of Syriac Catholics across the United States.
- Pre-1990: Community led by Msgr. Mansour Mattosha, worshipped at St. Beed Catholic Church
- 1990–2015: Msgr. Toma Azizo served as pastor
- 2015–2021: Fr. Androws Habash served as pastor (now in New Jersey)
- June 24, 2000: Foundation stones laid
- June 2002: Parish opened its current doors
- July 1, 2022: Became cathedral of the eparchy by decision of Pope Francis
Our Community
St. Toma's parishioners are primarily Iraqi families who came to the United States seeking employment, spiritual freedom, and the right to study. They fled persecution and the social, political, and economic instability of the Middle East. The parish also welcomes Syriac Catholics from Lebanon and Syria. According to the parish, its vision is to transform the Gospel and evangelize it to the generations growing within the church and the surrounding community, proclaiming the mysteries of faith, hope, and love of our Lord's presence in everyday life.
- Iraqi heritage is central to parish identity
- Refugees and immigrants from across the Middle East
- Multigenerational community with youth, kids, and ladies' groups
Sacraments
As an Eastern Catholic (Syriac) parish, St. Toma administers the three sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist — with Confirmation given immediately after Baptism rather than at age 15. First Holy Communion preparation is held on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, with a parent-and-child meeting each fall and the First Communion Mass in May. Couples preparing for Marriage must contact the parish office at least six months before the wedding. The Anointing of the Sick is arranged through Fr. Muntaser Haddad for those facing surgery or serious illness.
- Baptism & Confirmation (together, Eastern tradition)
- First Holy Communion — Saturday classes 10:00 am–12:00 pm, First Communion in May
- Marriage — 6-month preparation required
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
- Reconciliation — Saturday mornings and by appointment
Parish Life & Activities
Beyond the Holy Liturgy and sacraments, St. Toma runs a busy calendar of spiritual and social activities. Spiritual programs include Bible Studies, visits to the sick, spiritual retreats, and monthly Adoration & Benediction. Social gatherings bring the community together through bingo nights, New Year parties, parish picnics, youth events, kids' gatherings, and ladies' meetings — all reinforcing the close-knit, family-centered character of the parish.
- Bible Studies
- Spiritual Retreats
- Visits to the sick
- Bingo nights
- New Year Parties
- Parish picnics
- Youth gatherings
- Kids gatherings
- Ladies gatherings
Clergy & Staff
St. Toma is pastored at the eparchial level by His Excellency Mor Barnaba Yousif Habash, Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Deliverance in the United States. Day-to-day parish life is shepherded by Fr. Muntaser Haddad, who serves as Rector and is the contact for confession, anointings, weddings, First Communion registration, and other pastoral needs.
- Most Rev. Mor Barnaba Yousif Habash — Bishop
- Fr. Muntaser Haddad — Rector
- Parish phone: 248-536-2176
- Parish email: [email protected]
Contact & Visit
St. Toma welcomes visitors and newcomers. The parish office can be reached by phone at 248-536-2176 or by email at [email protected]. The cathedral is located at 25600 Drake Road in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The community also maintains an active presence on Facebook under the page 'St. Toma Syriac Catholic Cathedral'.
- Address: 25600 Drake Rd, Farmington Hills, MI 48335
- Phone: 248-536-2176
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/sttsyriac/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Mansour Mattosha–1990
Earlier pastor; community worshipped at St. Beed Catholic Church; retired
- Msgr. Toma Azizo1990–2015
Came to U.S. in 1990, served community across multiple borrowed churches, oversaw purchase of property and construction of current cathedral; retired
- Fr. Androws Habash2015–2021
Now pastor of Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac Catholic Church in New Jersey