Rockland Parish Establishment

The St. Peter’s Syro-Malankara Catholic Mission in Rockland County, New York was raised to the status of a canonical parish in the Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate in the USA on Sunday, July 1, 2012 on the occasion of the feast of its heavenly Patron and the tenth anniversary of the starting of the mission. During the celebration of the Holy Eucharist by His Excellency the Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Eusebius, Bishop of the Exarchate, Rev. Sunny Mathew, Vice-Chancellor of the Exarchate read out the Decree of His Excellency, establishing the parish. Rev. Augustine A Mangalath, the Pastor, Mr. Sherin Joseph, the Secretary and Mr. Thomas Mammen, the Treasurer of the parish together received the Decree from His Excellency on behalf of the parish community amidst laud applause. Rev. Satyan Antony OIC, Rev. Antony Padipurackal OIC, Rev. Sisters working in the Exarchate and representatives from the other Syro-Malankara Catholic parishes in the Tri-State region were also present on the occasion. The Syro-Malankara Catholic community in Rockland County was started in 2002 by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the then Apostolic Visitator of the Syro-Malankara Catholics in North America. His Excellency Mar Eusebius recalled with gratitude the leadership given by the former Vicars and the lay leaders of this community.