A community United in Love

St. Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Los Angeles, is one of the pioneering parishes of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago. Its origin is very simple. Three decades ago some of the immigrant Catholic families from Kerala, India, assembled in any one of their family homes and have Holy Mass celebrated as and when priests were available. Kerala Catholic Association gave leadership to this. Eventually this gathering was held in the parish hall of St. John Eudes Church, Chatsworth, and there was liturgical service every month.

Frs. Jose Kuruvila OIC, Paul Alangattukaran CMI, James Thottappilly, George Punchakunnel and Abraham Mutholath officiated at these liturgical services and helped build up a community. It was also an occasion for the Syro-Malabar Catholics to come together and socialize.

This continued until Fr. Paul Kottackal started working as an associate priest in St. John Eudes in 2001. His arrival coincided with the start of St. Thomas Diocese of Chicago. The Catholic community in Southern California was officially approved as one of the Missions of this Diocese and it was named after St. Alphonsa (then Blessed Alphonsa), and Fr. Paul was appointed the Director of the Mission. Simultaneously the families from Orange County who used to participate in all the activities in Chatsworth started another Mission; so also the Knanaya community.

Another milestone in the history of this parish is the welcome given to it to use the facility of Rancho San Antonio, Chatsworth. Its chapel and other spaces were made available for liturgical and other socio-cultural activities. The cooperation and encouragement given by Bro. John its Director is unfathomable.

Of course without the support of St. John Eudes parish, St. Alphonsa parish would not have made the growth that it has achieved in a short period of time. The encouragement given by Cardinal Roger Mahoney, the Archbishop of Los Angeles, Right Rev. Gerald Wilkerson the local bishop, Rev. Msgr. Robert McNamara (former pastor of SJE) and Rev. Msgr. Peter D. Nugent the pastor of St. John Eudes, is worth mentioning.

In 2008 St. Alphonsa Mission purchased its own church building in San Fernando City. On July 13, 2008 it was consecrated by Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church in the presence of Bishop Jacob Angadiath, Bishop Sebastian Vadakkel, hundreds of priests, nuns and faithful, and it was raised into a parish. Thenceforth Mass is celebrated every Sunday as well as other liturgically important days in the new church, and it has become the center of all activities.

It has a Parish Council which is comprised of sixteen members. Each Family Unit elects two representatives to the Council and the rest is nominated by the pastor. The trustees are elected from this body. Parish Council acts as an advisory board to the pastor in taking all important decisions with regard to the parish.

This parish community has six Family Units. The members of each Unit periodically meet in the home of a family to pray together, to study the Bible and to socialize.

Each Sunday there is CCD (religious instruction) class. It is conducted under the supervision of sixteen dedicated teachers.

The number of the member families of the parish is not constant since there are families who stay in this area for a short term assignment and migrate to other places. There are around eighty families who are almost settled, and who are very active in the parish.

Besides liturgical services, there are many socio-cultural activities organized by the parishioners, which make the members interact with and get connected to each other. St. Alphonsa Community is small but vibrant and united in love.

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