Our parish exists so that Malankara Catholic families in Surat never have to choose between their livelihood and their liturgy.
Like many Malankara parishes outside Kerala, ours began in living rooms. Families who had moved to Surat for work (textiles, diamonds, business, and professions) began gathering for prayer, longing for the Holy Qurbono of their home parishes.
What started as occasional liturgies celebrated by visiting priests grew into a regular Sunday congregation, then a mission, and today a parish community under the patronage of Mary Matha, Mary our Mother, with our own resident priest, catechism classes, and pious associations.
“The Church grows not by transplanting buildings, but by families who refuse to let the lamp go out.”
The parish serves Malankara Catholic families across Surat and the surrounding industrial belt, and welcomes every visitor, Catholic or not, Malayali or not, who wishes to pray with us.
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is one of the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Pope, tracing its origin to the communities founded by St. Thomas the Apostle in India in 52 AD. In 1930, under the leadership of Archbishop Mar Ivanios, a movement of reunion brought part of the Malankara Church into full communion with Rome, keeping its own liturgy, spirituality, and discipline intact.
Our worship follows the West Syriac (Antiochene) tradition: the Eucharist is called the Holy Qurbono, celebrated with the ancient Anaphora of St. James, rich in incense, chant, and the rhythm of the liturgical hours.
Dear brothers and sisters, every Sunday when the veil is drawn and the Qurbono begins, Surat becomes, for one hour, a corner of the Kingdom. Bring your children, bring your worries, bring your neighbours. The altar has room for all of them. Parish Priest
“Behold your Mother.”John 19:27
