St. Mary's Knanaya Catholic Church

Rev. Fr. Jose Saurianmakil started Holy Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite with the Christmas Eve Mass on December 24, 1994. Later in 1996 when Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry, the Bishop of Kottayam visited Archbishop of New York, John Cardinal O’Connor agreed officially to establish a Knanaya Catholic Mission in the Archdiocese. Rev. Fr. Abraham Kalarickal was appointed on December 20, 1998 as the Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Victory Church, Mount Vernon, New York in view of serving the Knanaya Catholic Community in the Archdiocese of New York. Fr. Thomas Kottoor and Fr. Abraham Kalarickal worked together until Fr. Thomas Kottoor was moved to Detroit for studies. Rev. Fr. James Ponganayil was appointed as the mission director from November 1, 2007 replacing Rev. Fr. Abraham Kalarickal. Rev. Fr. Thomas Pralel was appointed as the mission director and Rev. Fr. James Ponganayil as the associate director with effect from August 17, 2008. Rev. Fr. James Ponganayil became the mission director with effect from January 01, 2009. Rev. Fr. Renny Kattel became the mission director from June 10, 2012. Fr. Jose Adoppallil was appointed as mission director since December 20, 2015.

This mission bought church from the Archdiocese of New York at 46 Conklin Ave., Haverstraw, New York, 10927 in September 2017. The church was blessed and rededicated on September 23, 2017 by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath who elevated the mission as a parish on September 23, 2017. Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt offered the first Qurbana of the church after the blessing and also inaugurated the parish by lighting the lamp. Rev. Fr. Jose Adoppallil is appointed as the first pastor of this parish. Almost all priests from the Knanaya Catholic Region and nearby parishes as well as people from many parts of the U.S. attended the function.

Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. Bipy Tharayil as the associate pastor of the parish from September 20, 2019. Fr. Bipy Tharayil is the present pastor from January 1, 2020.