Infant Jesus Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

During the period of 1986-89, a few Syro-Malabar Catholic families moved from the Bay Area to Sacramento in search of better opportunities. As the community gradually grew in size, the families came together frequently for prayer meetings and social gatherings and they reached out to local Indian priests serving in adjacent dioceses to cater to their spiritual needs.

Rev. Fr. Thomas Nechikat was one among the first priests who extended his help to the growing community. Rev. Fr. Jose Karikattil joined the Sacramento Diocese in 1994 and upon request, he also frequently offered Holy Qurbana in the Syro-Malabar Rite. In 2000, Rev. Fr. Mathew Rappuzha was appointed to the Sacramento Diocese and he too availed his services to the Syro-Malabar community.

In 2001, the Indian Catholic Association of Sacramento (ICAS) was established to be an ethnic Indian group consisting of Syro-Malabar Catholics and other Catholics from India, residing in the greater Sacramento area. In 2002, ICAS was recognized by the Bishop of Sacramento Diocese at that time, Most Rev. Bishop William Weigand, who officially appointed Rev. Fr. Rappuzha as its chaplain. The KICC gathered once a month in a community center in Citrus Heights, California for Holy Qurbana and fellowship.