A New Exarchate for the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in America Msgr. Dr. Thomas Naickamprambil is the first Bishop

The announcement is made simultaneously in Vatican and St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum at 3.30 pm Indian time. The erection of the exarchate and appointments were also publicized in Washington, July 14, by Msgr. Jean-François Lantheaume, Chargé d’Affaires, at the apostolic nunciature in the United States. Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the Father and the Head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and other Metropolitans and Bishops were present at the announcement function held at Pattom. A large gathering including Priests, Religious and Faithful received the announcement with a big applause. The Bishop-elect was invested with the Episcopal insignia. All present congratulated the Bishop-designate.

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate in North America.

The Syro-Malankara Catholics who migrated to the continent of America began to gather in New York in 1984 with the blessings of Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios of happy memory. Later, such communities organized themselves in various parts of America. In 2001 Pope John Paul II of happy memory appointed Most Rev. Isaac Mar Cleemis (at present Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos) the first Apostolic Visitator of the Malankara Faithful in America. On 10 May 2002 Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios of happy memory submitted an application to the Holy See to erect an Eparchy in America. When Most Rev. Isaac Mar Cleemis was appointed the Metropolitan of the Eparchy of Tiruvalla, Most Rev. Joseph Mar Thomas was appointed the new Apostolic Visitator on 15 December 2006. On 25 January 2010, Most Rev. Joseph Mar Thomas was appointed the Metropolitan of the Eparchy of Bathery. Now the Holy See has erected the Exarchate for the Malankarites in North America. It will be known as the Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate in North America. The Head Quarters of the new Exarchate will be Mar Ivanios Malankara Catholic Center (950 Hill Avenue) in New Hyde Park, New York. The Malankara Catholic Church in Long Island is the main parish of this new Exarchate. At present there are 16 parishes and 15 mission stations for the Malankara Catholic Church in North America. Around 1000 Malankara Catholic families and 10,000 members are in the new Exarchate. There are 30 priests and 34 religious rendering their ministry in this region. Three Bethany convents and seven convents of the Daughters of Mary are in the new Exarchate.

Bishop-Designate Msgr. Dr. Thomas Naickamparambil

Rev. Fr. Thomas was born on 6 June 1961 at Mylapra in Pathanamthitta District of the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta. Mr. N.T. Varughese and Mrs. Sosamma Varughese of Naickamparambil family are his parents. His home parish is Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church, Mylapra. After completing schooling from Govt U.P. School Moozhiyar and Sacred Heart High School, Mylapra, he joined St. Aloysious Minor Seminary, Pattom, Trivandrum. On passing Pre-Degree from Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum, he was send to the Papal Seminary, Pune where he completed priestly formation. On 29 December 1986 he was ordained a priest by Benedict Mar Gregorios of happy memory. He secured a Masters Degree in Philosophy from Jnana Deepa Vidhya Peeth, Pune and took Doctorate in Philosophy from the Gregorian University, Rome.