Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Melbourne

Last updated

Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Melbourne (Syro-Malabar)
Melbourne eparchy.jpeg
Location
Country Australia
Information
Denomination Catholic Church
Sui iuris church Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Rite East Syriac Rite
Established11 January 2014
Cathedral Syro Malabar Cathedral of St Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Major Archbishop George Alencherry
Eparch John Panamthottathil
Bishops emeritus Bosco Puthur
Website
http://syromalabar.org.au

The St. Thomas the Apostle Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Melbourne is a Syro-Malabar Catholic Church ecclesiastical territory or eparchy of the Catholic Church in Australia. The eparchy was erected by Pope Francis on 11 January 2014. This is the second eparchy of the Syro-Malabar Church outside India, after the Eparchy of Chicago, and it has jurisdiction over Syro-Malabar Catholics in the entirety of Australia. [1]

Contents

It is not part of any ecclesiastical province, but immediately subject to the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly and depends on the Roman Congregation for the Oriental Churches. In 2021 its territory was extended to include New Zealand and Oceania. [2] Its future cathedral is the Cathedral of St. Alphonsa in the episcopal see of Melbourne, Victoria.

History

The eparchy was approved on 23 December 2013 as the Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Melbourne, on Australian territory previously without a formal jurisdiction of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.

Statistics

As of 2014, it pastorally served 50,000 Catholics with 17 priests (5 diocesan, 12 religious), 12 lay religious (brothers).

Ordinaries

Eparchs (Bishops)

See also

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References

  1. New Syro Malabar Eparchy for Australia
  2. "Pope extends jurisdiction of Melbourne Syro-Malabar eparchy". Matters India. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  3. "Rinunce e Nomine, 11.01.2014" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2022.