Syro-malabar Mass

Intermountain Catholic

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Father Alex Vellappaly (left) distributes communion to Dixy Thomas. Fr. Alex is visiting from the Diocese of Kanjirappally in India, and celebrated the traditional Syro-malabar Mass at Saint Catherine of Siena Newman Center on April 15, where he has been staying since August. The prayers were in English and the Mass hymns were sung in Malayalam by friends of Fr. Alex from Kerala, India, who are members of Saint John the Baptist Parish in Draper. The Mass was sponsored by St. Catherine of Siena men’s group, who also invited the men’s group from Saint Ann Parish in Salt Lake City to attend. "The Syro-malabar church in India is fast-developing in the world," Fr. Alex said, adding that there are communities in different parts of India and around the world including the Diocese of Chicago. It has always been in communion with the Vatican and is the second largest Eastern Church. Its liturgical calendar has nine seasons. IC photos/Christine Young