Holy Family Malankara Catholic Canberra community
The Malankara Catholic Community in Canberra was blessed by the presence of His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mar Ignatius on 8th November 2011, marking the first visit of a Malankara Catholic Bishop to Canberra. After the Holy Mass, five families gathered at the home of the Late Mr Pappechen Pandiyath.
Later, On 30th December 2011, His Grace Most Rev.Thomas Mar Anthonios, the Curia Bishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, along with Rev. Fr. James Mammoottil OIC, visited Canberra following the direction of His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos. They held a prayer meeting during their visit.
The inaugural Malankara Catholic Holy Qurbana in Canberra was consecrated by Most Rev Dr. Joshua Mar Ignatius, alongside Oceania Coordinator Rev. Fr. Stephen Kulathumkarott and Rev. Fr. Varghese Vavoli on 28th March 2014, at
St. Peter Chanel’s Church, Yarralumla. After the Holy Mass, six families gathered and formed the first office bearers for the Malankara Catholic Community.
The initial visit of the Second Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Premkumar, and the celebration of Holy Qurbana took place on 16th February 2018, marking another significant moment for the community.
His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Yuhanon Mar Theodosius visited Canberra on 6th March 2018.
The Canberra community was later renamed as “HOLY FAMILY MALANKARA CATHOLIC CHURCH COMMUNITY CANBERRA”.
During the period from October 2018 to January 2019, the community was blessed with the service of REV. FR. JOSEPH KANNAMKULAM.
During all these years, we used to celebrate Holy Mass in either rented community or we used to rent any available Catholic Church in Canberra.
Every year we celebrated Carol services followed by dinner.
On 11th August 2022 a pivotal meeting occurred when Rev. Fr. Premkumar and community representatives got engaged with His Excellency Archbishop Christopher Prowse. His Grace generously offered St Peter Chanel’s Church, Yarralumla, for Church services, solidifying a new chapter in the Malankara community.
Currently the Malankara Catholic Community in Canberra has 11 families with each family hosting the monthly prayer on a rostered rotation basis. Rite Rev Fr Premkumar Cor Episcopo visits the community once in every 3 months and offers Holy Mass at St. Peter Chanel's Church, Yarralumla.