CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
2001-2006
Establishment of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago to the Establishment of Knanaya Region
2001 July 1
Inauguration of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago and
consecration of its bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath at Hyatt Hotel in
Chicago.
2002
2002 February 16
Fr. Philip Thodukayil started an additional
Saturday evening mass at 6:00 P.M. on every third Saturday of the month
at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Darien.
2003
2003 February 16
Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholath moved to Chicago and started living
at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Chicago while working as chaplain at
Our Lady of Resurrection Hospital at Addison and Central in Chicago.
2003 October 29
Mar Jacob Angadiath officially recognized the Knanaya Catholic Mission
of Chicago, along with nine other Knanaya Catholic Missions in the USA,
as a mission of the St. Thomas Diocese of Chicago. He also confirmed the
appointment of Rev. Fr. Philip Thodukayil as
the director of this mission. According to Mar Jacob Angadiath, “The
Knanaya Catholic Mission of Chicago will consist of all the Knanaya
Catholics living in the states of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.”
2004
2004 May 16
First Holy Communion of 20 students at St. John
Breuf Church in Niles officiated by mission direction Fr. Philip
Thodukayil.
2004 July 1
Mar Jacob Angadiath relieved Rev. Fr. Philip
Thodukayil from his service as director of Knanaya Catholic
Mission of Chicago and appointed Fr. Abraham Mutholath, the vicar
general, also as the director of the mission.
2004 July 1
Fr. Abraham Mutholath selected Mathachan
Chemmachel, John
Elackatt, Johny
Thekkeparambil, Kurian Nellamattam,
and Anil Edukkuthara as the “trustees” and
George Thottappuram as secretary and PRO of
the mission.
2004 August 7
Last Mass at St. Isidore’s Church in
Bloomingdale.
2004 August 8
First Solemn Feast Celebration of the mission at IHM Church in honor of
Pope St. Pius X. Bishop Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry sent a particle of the
scull cap worn by St. Pius X and personally gifted to Bishop Mar Mathew
Makil and kept as relic of the saint. Bishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt was
the main celebrant. Peter and Salykutty
Kulanagara were the sponsors (prasudenties)
of the feast.
2004 August 21
Last Mass at our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Darien.
2004 September 4
Mass started at St. Peter’s Church in North Lake on every Saturday at
5:00 P.M. followed by novena of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
2004 September 11
Starting of Religious Education School at North Lake. Classes are held
from 3:45 P.M. to 4:45 P.M. every Saturday.
2004 September 12
Starting of Religious Education School at IHM School. Classes are held
from 4:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. every Sunday.
2004 December 3 – 5
First marriage preparation course offered by Chicago Knanaya Catholic
Mission under the leadership of Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholath and
Family Commission headed by Tonny
Pulllappally. Nineteen youth participated in
the course.
2005
2005 March 5
First Religious Education Festival at Thaft
High School. Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholath inaugurated the
festival.
2005 May 12 - 15
Feast of St. Michael sponsored by
parishioners from Neendoor residing in
Chicago area. Co-adjutor Bishop of the
Archeparchy of Kottayam Mar Mathew Moolakkatt was the main celebrant.
2005 May 22
His Excellency Mar Mathew Moolakkatt requested the Knanaya Catholics in
Chicago to establish our own church during his homily at IHM Church. The
planning to have our own church started.
Confirmation of 24 students and First Holy
Communion of 31 students at IHM Church by Bishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt.
2005 May 31
Agreement signed by Rev. Thomas H. Cargo, pastor of St. Joseph Church in
Addison and Mission Director Rev. Abraham Mutholath for the use of St.
Joseph School for Religious Education and hall for Mass on Saturdays
with effect from June 18, 2005.
2005 June 18
Mass for Chicago Suburb is moved from St. Peter's Church in North Lake
to the hall of St. Joseph's Church in Addison. Fr. Abraham Mutholath
celebrated the first mass here for the mission.
2005 July 1
Saji
Pootrhukayil, Sunny
Thekkepparambil, James Manjankal, and
Baby Karikkal took charge as
kaikkararans (trustees) of the mission.
2005 August 18 – 21
Solemn Feast Celebration of St. Stephen sponsored by Mathew and Alphonsa
Poothura and family. The feast was
celebrated at Community Center, Thaft High
School, and IHM Church.
2005 September 23
Mission started two-year Theology Course for lay people to learn more on
the Church, Bible, and Spirituality. This helped for church awareness
and development of dedicated volunteers.
2005 September 24
First Sal Solo Devotional Music Program for Knanaya youngsters held at
OLV gymnasium.
2005 October 2
Started publishing Sunday Bulletin for the mission. It was made
available on parish website and printed copies were distributed in the
churches during weekend Masses.
Search committee formed to find a suitable
building for our church. Members in alphabetical order are:
Idiyalil Mathew,
Kanjirathumkal Raju, Karikkal Baby,
Kizhakkekuttu Biju,
Knaiyaly Jose,
Kulangara Jaibu,
Manjankal James, Mutholam Sunny,
Nediyakalayil Joy,
Nedumchira Roy, Nellamattam Kurian,
Njaravelil Jose,
Pinarkayil Jose, and Poothura
Binu.
2005 October 6 – 9
Annual Retreat by Fr. Joseph Puthenpura at
KCS Community Center organized by Knanaya Catholic Mission.
2005 October 15
Beginning of Children Ministry (KG to 3rd graders) and Teens
Ministry (4th – 8th graders in Addison.
2005 October 8
Youth Ministry Class started at Addison on the First Saturdays of every
month from 2:45 P.M. to 4:45 P.M.
2005 December 4
Celebrated the Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee of our Mission Director Rev.
Fr. Abraham Mutholath at OLV Church. Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath was the
chief guest.
Mission members contributed a substantial
amount ($44,337) to the church building fund during Jubilee Celebration
meeting at OLV School Hall.
2005 December 24
Special Collection taken for Education Aid in India and was given as
gift for the same purpose to Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt after his
consecration elevating him as Archbishop of Kottayam on January 14,
2006.
2006
2006 February 11
Starting of Legion of Mary unit in the mission.
2006 March 4
Second Religious Education Festival at Thaft
High School inaugurated by Vicar General Fr. Abraham Mutholath. First
presentation of Knanaya Kudiyetta Ballet
with original songs published by the mission.
2006 March 18
Beginning of Senior Citizen’s Ministry in the mission.
2006 March 19
Confirmation of 57 students by Fr. Abraham Mutholath at St. Joseph’s
Church in Addison for those who had not received it along with baptism.
2006 March 26
Confirmation of 114 students by Fr. Abraham Mutholath at OLV Church in
Chicago for those who had not received it along with baptism.
2006 March 30 – April 2
Annual Lenten Retreat by Fr. Jacob Kuruppinakath
organized by Knanaya Catholic Mission at KCS Community Center.
2006 April 18
First Meeting of Better Family Movement of the Knanaya Catholic Mission.
The focus was on improvement of family life and prevention of alcohol
abuse.
2006 April 28
Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath established seven regions in St. Thomas
Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago. One of these regions is for all Knanaya
Catholics in the diocese. “The formal Knanaya Catholic missions and the
faithful of the Knanaya community living in other places where no formal
missions are established will make one region.” Vicar General Rev. Fr.
Abraham Mutholath is appointed as the director of this region.
2006 April 30
Mar Jacob Angadiath officially declared the establishment of Knanaya
Catholic Region at OLV Church Chicago and appointed Vicar General Rev.
Fr. Abraham Mutholath as Region Director.
