About St.Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Richmond VA

St. Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Catholic Mission, Richmond VA, was established under the St. Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago by Rev Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath on February 26, 2010. Rev. Fr. Sunil Paul Chiriyankandath is our fulltime Director since September 2016. Our church was originally came to existence on August 19th 2007, when few malayalee families residing in Richmond and neighboring cities came together for a Malayalam mass and felt the desire to establish a community to preserve our identity and to inculcate the tradition to our children. Currently there are about 40 families associated with us and we have Holy Mass(Qurbana) every day.

We are small community with a strong desire to construct a permanent place for us to worship. On September 11th 2015 we have purchased a 5 acre property (9941 Reams Road, Richmond VA 23236) for our future church and the construction plans are in the beginning stages. The construction plans are approved by the county and our fund-raising efforts are going in full fledge to secure enough capital to accomplish our dream. We welcome you to our dynamic and ever growing Community!

Milestones

• • Our church virtually came into existence on August 19th 2007, when the families came together to attend the Malayalam Holy Mass at St. Patrick Church in Richmond. A core committee was formed on that day to develop the community and to organize monthly Malayalam Masses. The name Malayalee Catholic Community of Virginia was picked up later by the committee.
• • Monthly Malayalam Mass started from September 2007.
• • We were blessed with the visit of His Excellency Mar Jacob Angadiath, Bishop of Syro-Malabar Chicago diocese on October 20th 2008, which has gone a long way in organizing the community.
• • On February 26, 2010 our community has been raised to the status of "Mission" under the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago by His Excellency Mar Jacob Angadiath.
• • Rev. Fr. Joseph Elamprayil was appointed as our Mission’s first Director.
• • On April 2012, Rev. Fr. Tijo Mullakkara was appointed as our Mission’s new Director by His Excellency Mar Jacob Angadiath.
• • On January 2013, Parish council has unanimously decided to register our Mission under Chicago Diocese to follow the IRS and State regulations. The new name of our church as per state record is ST. ALPHONSA SYRO-MALABAR CATHOLIC CHURCH, RICHMOND, VA OF ST. THOMAS SYRO-MALABAR CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CHICAGO.
• • On May 2013 we were blessed with the second visit of His Excellency Mar Jacob Angadiath.
• • Fr. Tijo Mullakkara started our regular weekly Mass on September 8th 2013 with kind approval from His Excellency Mar Jacob Angadiath.
• • On September 11th 2015 we have purchased a property (5 acre land) for our church. The property address is 9941 Reams Road, Richmond VA 23236.
• • On September 14th 2015, His Excellency Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. Justin Puthussery as our new Mission Director.
• • On September 25th 2016 His Excellency Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. Sunil Paul Chiriyankandath as a full-time Director for our mission.