Knanaya Region
Knanaya Catholic Region of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago | |
|---|---|
Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath handing over to the first Knanaya Region director Fr. Abraham Mutholath the decree establishing the Knanaya Region | |
| Location | |
| Country | USA |
| Territory | United States |
| Ecclesiastical province | Knanaya Catholic Region |
| Statistics | |
| Parishes | 7 missions |
| Churches | 15 |
| Congregations | 4 convents |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Eastern Catholic |
| Rite | Syro-Malabar |
| Established | 28 April 2006 |
| Secular priests | 19 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Major Archbishop | Mar Raphael Thattil |
| Bishop | Mar Joy Alappatt |
| Vicar General | Fr. Thomas Mulavanal |
| Bishops emeritus | Mar Jacob Angadiath |
| Website | |
| www.knanayaregion.us www.knanayaregion.org | |
Knanaya Region is a subdivision of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago. This region was officially established by Mar Jacob Angadiath, the bishop of the diocese on 30 April 2006. On that day, the bishop appointed Fr. Abraham Mutholath, the then Vicar General for Knanaya Community, as the first director of the Knanaya Region. The purpose of this region is to coordinate all the pastoral activities of the diocese under the leadership of Knanaya Region director who is also one of the Vicar Generals of the diocese.
According to the decree of the Bishop, all Knanaya Catholic parishes, Knanaya missions, and all the Knanaya Catholic faithful who live in the USA outside the proper territory of an established Knanaya Catholic parish or mission will come under this region. This is a personal jurisdiction style followed in the Syro-Malabar Church in India where the Archbishop of Kottayam has personal jurisdiction over all the Knanaya Catholics within the juridical boundary of the Syro-Malabar Church.
The Knanaya Catholic Region has five forane parishes, 15 parishes, seven missions, and four convents.