Syro Malabar Church
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is one of the 22 Eastern (Oriental) Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome. It is the second largest Eastern Catholic Church after the Ukrainian Church and the largest of the Saint Thomas Christian (Nazrani) denominations with 4.6 million believers. It is a sui juris Church governed by the Synod of Bishops headed by the Major Archbishop. The Syro-Malabar Church, with its deep-rooted spirituality and high rate of vocations to priesthood and religious life, can be considered as the most vibrant Catholic community in the world.
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church follows the East Syrian Rite liturgy, traditionally attributed to saints Addai and Mari, which dates back to 3rd century Edessa, and like the Chaldean Rite is a Syro-Oriental Rite. It is one of the two Eastern Catholic Churches from India, the other being the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church which follows the West Syrian Rite liturgy. Saint Alphonsa is the first canonized saint from the Church. Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Euphrasia Eluvathingal are other saints from the church.
Syro Malabar Church - Canada
Apostolic Exarch of Syro-Malabar Exarchate , Canada.
The Apostolic Exarchate for the Syro-Malabar faithful in Canada was formally erected by His Holiness Pope Francis on August 06, 2015 through the Apostolic Constitution “Spiritualem ubertatem” with its see in Mississauga. Very Reverend Jose Kalluvelil was appointed the first Apostolic Exarch and the titular Bishop of Tabalta. The inauguration of the Exarchate and the Episcopal Ordination of Very Rev. Jose Kalluvelil took place on September 19, 2015 in the Church of Virgin Mary and St. Athanasius, at the Canadian Coptic Centre, 1245 Eglington Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario. His Beatitude Mar George Cardinal Alenchery, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, was the Principal Consecrator and Mar Jacob Manathodath, Eparchial Bishop of Palghat (India) and Mar Jacob Angadiath, Eparchial Bishop of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago (United States) were the Co-consecrators.
Syro-Malabar Winnipeg
| Chronicle | ||
| Year | Date | Events |
| 1965 | Members of the Syro Malabar community first arrived in Manitoba | |
| 1995 | July | Mar George Marian Anathil S V D (Diocese of Indore) visited the community |
| 2000 | July | Mar Mathew Moolekatt , (Eparchy of Kottayam ) vsited the community |
| 2003 | Fr. Nicholas Porathur - priest from Arch Diocese of Trichur worked in the St. Boniface Archdiocese celebrated Qurbana | |
| 2006 to 2008 | Fr. Philip Malayil HGN ( Archdiocese of Winnipeg) started monthly malayalam masses (Syro Malabar rite) for the Catholic community at St. Peter's church , Keewatin Street , Winnipeg | |
| 2008 | July | Mar Joseph Pallikaparampil ( Eparchy of Palai ) celebrated qurbana for the community @ House of Peace , Edmonton Street |
| 2008 | July | Mar Jose Pandarasseril ( Archeparchy of Kottayam) visited Winnipeg to officiate a wedding at St Peter's Church , Kewatin St , Winnipeg |
| Jesus Youth started | ||
| 2009 | Fr. Thomas Mullamangalam (Diocese of Thunderbay) celebrated qurbana | |
| FR Roy HGN (Arch Diocese of Winnipeg) cele brated Qurbana | ||
| April | Retreat conducted by Queen Mary Ministry | |
| 2009-2011 | Fr. Sandy SJ student at St Pauls College, University of Manitoba celebrated Qurbana at St John the Brebeuf church | |
| 2011 -2012 | Fr Tomy VA celebrated Qurbana for the community | |
| 2014 | April | Fr. Varghese Thoppilan VC appointed as the parochial vicar of CTK Parsih Winnipeg |
| Started two Sunday Qurbana in a month for the Catholic community at CTK parish , St Mary's Road , Winnipeg | ||
| Retreat conducted by Divine Retreat Center , Toronto | ||
| 2015 | Nov 6 to 10 | Mar Jose Kalluvelil(Exarch of Syro Malabar Canada) first pastoral visit to Winnipeg |
| Dec | First Christmas celebration in Syro Malabar rite | |
| 2016 | March | First Good Friday celebration in Syro Malabar rite |
| March | First Easter celebration in Syro Malabar rite | |
| May | Adopted St.Jude as the patron saint for the Syro Malabar Catholic Community in Winnipeg | |
| May | Parsih Council was set up with 5 elected members | |
| 2016 | 10-Jun | First meeting of the Parish council with 5 elected and 3 nominated members |
| 17-Jun | Farewell meeting for Fr. Varghese Thoppilan | |
| 1-Aug | Mar Jose Kalluvelil celebrated Qurbana at Blessed Vasyl Shrine with Fr. Varghese Thoppilan | |
| Aug 14th to 21st | Fr Sebastain Arikat , Syro Malabar Cathedral Vicar , Toronto celebrated Qurbana at St Emile Church on two sundays , met with Archbishop Legatt and visited members of the community in Portage | |
| 6-Sep | St Emile Parish Council approved the request from Syro Malabar community to use the church and parish center for celebrating Qurbana & Catechism classes | |
| 16-Sep | Fr. Tomy Chttinapilly from the Syro Malabar Eparchy of Chanda, India appointed as the first director of Syro Malabar Mission Manitoba reached Winnipeg | |
| 18-Sep | Fr. Tomy celebrated first Qurbana at St Emile Church | |
| 1-Oct | Fr. Tomy Chttinapilly represented SM mission Winnipeg in the first anniversary celebration of the Apostolic Exarchate Canada in Missasuaga, Ontario. | |
| Oct | First Meeting of the Parish council with additional memebrs elected by Fr. Tomy . Decided to have Monthly PC meeting on every second Saturday | |
| 30-Oct | Celebrated the feast of St Jude Patron Saint for the first time by the parish | |
| Nov | Catechism Classes started for the children at the St Emile Parish Center on Sundays from 4 to 5 PM | |
| Started Week day Rosary and Qurbana on Tuesday and Friday started in the St Emile chapel from 7 to 8 PM. St Jude Novena celebrated after the Qurbana on Tuesdays. | ||
| Syro Malabar Qurbana was celebrated in Pine Falls, Ashern, Portage la prairie. Fr Tomy visited families at Killarney, Brandon, Beausejour. | ||
| Syro Malabar families are present in Swan River, Dauphin, Pinawa & Thompson | ||
| 2017 | Feb | First Ash Monday celebration in Syro Malabar Rite |
| April | First Maundy Thursday celebration in Syro Malabar Rite | |
Need Help - We are still working on this chronicle to mark all the major events happened in the Catholic community of Winnipeg in the last six decades. If you find any omissions or have more information please contact us at syromalabarwpg@gmail.com