New Jersey Parish Establishment
Rahway, New Jersey - July 8, 2012
The St. Thomas Syro-Malankara Catholic Mission in New Jersey was raised to the status of a canonical parish in the Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate in the USA on Sunday, July 8, 2012 on the occasion of the celebration of the feast of its heavenly Patron St. Thomas.
During the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, His Excellency the Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Eusebius, Bishop of the Exarchate, read out the Decree of His Excellency, establishing the parish. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Peter Kochery, the Pastor, Rev. Fr. Jacob John, the Associate Pastor, Mr. John P. Varghese, the Secretary and Mr. Thomas Karakkatt, the Treasurer of the parish together received the Decree from His Excellency on behalf of the parish community amidst laud applause.
Rev. Fr. Dennis, Pastor of the Divine Mercy parish, Br. Lintu Markose, and the parish community of St. Thomas were present on the occasion. The Syro-Malankara Catholic community in New Jersey was started in 1995. His Excellency Mar Eusebius recalled with gratitude the leadership given by the former priests and the lay leaders of this community.