Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Melbourne explained

Jurisdiction:Eparchy
Saint Thomas the Apostle of Melbourne (Syro-Malabar)
Country:Australia
Denomination:Catholic Church
Sui Iuris Church:Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Rite:East Syriac Rite
Established:11 January 2014
Major Archbishop:Mar Raphael Thattil
Bishop Title:Eparch
Bishop:Mar John Panamthottathil
Emeritus Bishops: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]

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

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

Ordinaries

Eparchs (Bishops)

See also

External links and sources

Notes and References

  1. http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/news_details.php?news=2668 New Syro Malabar Eparchy for Australia
  2. News: Pope extends jurisdiction of Melbourne Syro-Malabar eparchy . 29 January 2023 . Matters India . 10 May 2021.
  3. 23 January 2022 . Holy See Press Office . Rinunce e Nomine, 11.01.2014 . 11 January 2014 .
  4. 23 January 2022 . Holy See Press Office . Resignations and Appointments, 14.01.2023 . 14 January 2023 .