Cathedral

The Cathedral Church of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago is Mar Thoma Sleeha Church in Bellwood. This is located at 5000 St. Charles Road, Bellwood, Illinois 60104..

It was in 1987, this Church facility was given to the Syro-Malabar Community by His Eminence Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, Archbishop of Chicago. St. John Chrysostom Church and school were serving the Catholic faithful in Bellwood and Hillside, in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Gradually the Catholic population dwindled and so the school was closed first and later the Church was also closed. It was in 1985, Rev. Dr. Antony Kurialacherry came to Chicago and started to celebrate our Syro-Malabar Holy Qurbana for our community. Different locations were used for the celebration of Holy Qurbana once a month. The community felt the need to have a place of its own. But it was not able to take the financial burden. So Fr. Kurialacherry and a few of our leaders approached His Eminence Joseph Cardinal Bernardin with a request to help to find a place of worship for our community. Since St. John Chrysostom Church was closed, they specifically requested for this facility. Though His Eminence was little hesitant at first, then he whole-heartedly let our community take this Church and school facility for our use. It was a great gift to our small community by His Eminence and the Archdiocese of Chicago.

His Excellency Mar Joseph Pallikaparapil, Bishop of Palai, the chairman of the commission for the overseas Syro-Malabar faithful, visited Chicago for the inauguration and he renamed the St. John Chrysostom Church to be Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Church.

Rev. Dr. Antony Kurialacherry was the founding priest of this Syro-Malabar mission in Chicago. It was his insight and vision that enabled the Syro-Malabar Community to get this Church facility and to function as a Syro-Malabar Mission. Rev. Fr. Zacharias Elappunkal has served this Syro-Malabar Mission for a short period.

Rev. Fr. Mathew Panthalany, from the diocese of Palai, was assigned to be the Mission Director in 1989 and he reached here and stayed at St. John Vianney Church, Northlake and worked hard to build up our Syro-Malabar Community. In 1990 he moved his residence to the Church and besides regular Sunday Liturgy, he started weekday Holy Qurbana. He worked hard to start faith formation program for children. Since the starting of CCD program, the growth of the parish community was remarkable. Sacramental preparations were done and First Holy Communion and Confirmations were solemnly administered to the children. Malayalam language school was begun for children. Two youth-groups were organized: CYM for the Youth who speak Malayalam and SMYO for the youth who speak only English. Occasional prayer meetings were held at the Church. He took the leadership to remodel the weekday Chapel for Holy Qurbana and Alphonsa Hall and Chavara Hall were built for Social and cultural gatherings. The ministry of Fr. Mathew Panthalany transformed the Syro-Malabar Mission into a vibrant Syro-Malabar Parish.

Rev. Fr. Jos Kandathikudy from the diocese of Mananthavady replaced Fr. Mathew Panthalany, as the new Director in 1995. His leadership skills helped the community to grow fast. His bible classes and ward-based prayer meetings were encouraging for the people. St. Vincent de Paul Society, Mothers’ Association and Little Flower Mission League were started by him. He initiated the Holy Qurbana at St. Timothy Church in Devon area every Sunday. The pastoral vision of Fr. Jos Kandathikudy helped the community to grow in all dimensions.

Following Rev. Fr. Jos Kandathikudy, Rev. Fr. Jacob Angadiath became the Director of the Syro-Malabar Mission in July 1999. To keep the unity of the community and to promote all the programs initiated by the previous Directors, he devoted himself totally. Faith formation of the children, formation of the prayer group leaders with Bible Study, and Mission League Senior group were some of his special interest besides the regular activities of the parish. The first Syro-Malabar Convention in Philadelphia became successful due to the active presence and participation of the Chicago Community. The next (Second) Convention was entrusted to the Chicago Syro-Malabar Mission. Executive Committee and various sub-committees were formed and convention dates were fixed for June 30, July 1, 2, 3 , 2001 to be held in Hyatt Regency in Chicago.

It was at this time that the great historical event happened. Holy Father John Paul II established a diocese for the Syro-Malabar faithful in America and it was based in Chicago. Rev. Fr. Jacob Angadiath, the Director of the Syro-Malabar Mission in Chicago, was made the first bishop of this newly formed diocese. His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago, at his chancery office on March 13, 2001, did the formal announcement. Newly Elect Bishop Jacob Angadiath was also given the responsibility of being the Permanent Apostolic Visitator to Canada. Being the Director, Convention Convener and Bishop Elect, he had to do all these responsibilities single-handedly. Since the Convention was all set, the Episcopal Ordination and inauguration of the Diocese were integrated to the Convention. Thus the Inauguration of the Diocese and Episcopal Consecration of Bishop Jacob Angadiath took place on July 1, 2001, at Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago together with the convention. On July 3, 2001, on the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, “Dukrana”, newly consecrated Bishop was enthroned at the Church by the Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Vithayathil and thus Mar Thoma Sleeha Church became Mar Thoma Sleeha Cathedral Church of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago.

Rev. Antony Thundathil, MST came to Chicago on May 18, 2001, to serve in the newly formed diocese. He was appointed as the Vicar of the Mar Thoma Sleeha Cathedral Church immediately after the inauguration of the diocese. Soon after the Episcopal ordination, Rev. Fr. Zacharias Thottuvelil from the diocese of Palai arrived here to work in the new diocese. He was given the responsibility of Chancellor of the diocese and secretary to the bishop. Bishop, Vicar and Chancellor stayed at the Cathedral rectory.

The first Presbyteral meeting of the diocese was held at the Cathedral Church in October 2001 and formal announcement of diocesan office-bearers was done at that meeting. In February 2002, chancery office (Bishop’s office) was moved to the house purchased at 717 Eastland, Elmhurst. Later Bishop’s office was moved to 3009 S. 49^th Avenue in Cicero, IL 60804 in April 2003. Now the Bishop’s residence is moved to 372 S. Prairie Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126, in March 2007.

Since the establishment of the diocese, the mission status of the community is replaced by parish (Church) features. Instead of the pastoral council, parish council was formed with Kaikarans (Trustees) as responsible persons. The Finance council was dissolved. New set up was established with the promulgation of the procedure Rules of the Diocese.

Rev. Fr. Antony Thundathil, MST has proved himself a strong Vicar (pastor) with his efficient administrative skills. He had the privilege of the priestly ministry of Rev. Fr. Varghese Naickomparampil, VC, Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Vadana, MST, Rev. Fr. Antony Kudukkamthadam, MST and Rev. Fr. Thomas Kadukappillil from Palai, as assistants to him at the Cathedral. Now Fr. Joji (Sebastian) Kaniampadickal serves as the assistant. The service given to the parish by Fr. Paul Therly and Fr. Jose Nazhiyampara at St. Timothy Church is to be highly appreciated.

The faith formation program is very important and it is well organized at the Cathedral. Six hundred and seventy nine students attend the Catechism program and more than sixty teachers are actively involved in the faith sharing program. School of Language conducts classes for Malayalam and two hundred and fifty students are enlisted for the program. The Cultural Academy is another area of ministry in which one hundred and fifty children are actively participating. St. Vincent de Paul Society, Little Flower Mission League (CML), CYM, SMYO, Mothers’ Association, Ladies Forum, SMCC, are other organizations functioning at the Cathedral. Adult choir and children’s choir, Senior Altar Servers and Junior Altar Servers, Ushers and lectors make the liturgy very solemn and devotional. The parish council under the leadership of the Assistant parish priest and the Vicar makes this Cathedral Parish, the heart of the Diocese.

Since the placing of the stage frame of the Episcopal Ordination platform in the Sanctuary of the present Church, there was an earnest desire to build a new Church. The casual conversation had considerable impact on our people and solid consultations took place in the parish council in 2004. Pothuyogam was convened and various aspects of building a new Church were discussed and finally it was approved to build a new Cathedral Church in the existing parking lot.

The fund-raising event was inaugurated by His Beatitude Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, the Major Archbishop of our Syro-Malabar Church, during the celebration of the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle – “Dukrana” – in July 2005. Final plans and permissions were approved in due time. The ground breaking for the new Church was done on October 28, 2006. The construction work is steadily progressing. Fund-raising events have been arranged one after another. Everybody is involved, the young and old, male and female, children and adults and every step of progress of the construction is watched by everyone. Everyday the prayer for the new Church is being recited at the Church as well as in the homes of the families. The building committee is highly enthusiastic in raising the necessary fund for the construction and they are supervising the day-to-day progress.

God willing, we are planning the solemn dedication of the newly built Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Cathedral on July 5, 2008, in connection with the St. Thomas Day – “Dukrana” – celebrations.

On Sundays there separate masses for the Youth in English.