St.George Syro-Malbar Catholic Church

His Eminence, the late Cardinal Joseph Parekkattil, envisioned the development of Thiruvankulam and its surrounding areas and foresaw the need for a new parish that would serve as a valuable asset to the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese. When the late Rev. Fr. Abraham Karedan, then Vicar of St. Mary's Forane Church, Thripunithura, approached the Cardinal with a proposal for establishing a church in Thiruvankulam, the request was promptly approved. Permission was granted without delay to purchase the land and secure the necessary financial assistance.

In 1975, land was acquired, and a thatched shed was constructed, marking the humble beginnings of the parish. Soon after, prayer services commenced in the temporary structure. Within a year, through the collective efforts of the few Catholic families residing in and around Thiruvankulam, a church was built on the present site. On June 19, 1977, His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Parekkattil consecrated the newly constructed church, dedicating it to St. George as its patron.

For the next nineteen years, priests from Thripunithura Forane Church celebrated the Holy Mass in Thiruvankulam. Under the leadership of the vicars of Thripunithura, the parish flourished, fostering a close-knit community of believers and achieving significant spiritual and infrastructural growth.

Between 1970 and 1980, industrial development in Ernakulam led to an influx of young professionals from various parts of Kerala. Many of these individuals, devout believers, chose Thiruvankulam as their place of residence, significantly increasing the number of parishioners and strengthening the faith community.

Recognizing the need for accessible education, Rev. Fr. Paul Chakyath initiated the construction of a school in 1982. This project was later completed by Rev. Fr. Thomas Mulavarickal, providing affordable primary education to children in the parish.

His Excellency Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, the current Archbishop of the Faridabad Archdiocese, served as the assistant vicar of Thripunithura Forane Church during this period. He played a pivotal role in strengthening the parish's spiritual foundation by introducing catechism classes for children, initiating the celebration of Holy Mass on first Fridays, and establishing the Christian Life Community  (CLC), the first devotional organization of its kind in the parish.

In 1991, Rev. Fr. Jose Paul Nellissery, then the Vicar of Tripunithura Ferona, took the initiative to establish Thiruvankulam Church as a parish. He selected parish representatives and personally met with Mar Jacob Manathodath to convey the necessity of this elevation. Under the Bishop’s guidance, the parishioners united to construct a four-story building at the rear of the church, with the ground floor serving as the vicarage (Pallimeda) and the remaining space designated for educational and religious purposes. On April 16, 1996, the church and the newly built structure were blessed by the Bishop.

Rev. Fr. George Koyilparampil was appointed as the first Vicar of the Parish on May 11, 1996. During his tenure, he arranged the necessary rites and rituals for the church, including the establishment of a new altar. He also initiated various devotional activities, including family units, and obtained approval for the construction of a convent for the sisters adjacent to the church. The CMC Convent was blessed by His Excellency in November 2000.

Rev. Fr. Joseph Kodiyan led the parish for nine months starting in June 1999. His tenure was marked by the formation of the Parish Council and the strengthening of various devotional organizations.

Rev. Fr. Paul Kottakal, who assumed responsibilities as Vicar in March 2000, commenced the construction of an additional building adjacent to the existing structure to provide more classrooms and a small hall. However, due to his transfer to a parish in America, the completion of this project was overseen by his successor, Rev. Fr. Thomas Narikulam. During this period, significant modifications were made to the church’s interior, and 90 cents of land were acquired for the parish. In 2002, the Silver Jubilee of the church was celebrated with great splendor.

From February 2005 to February 2015, Rev. Fr. Jose Vyalikodath served the parish, overseeing major renovation projects. An additional floor was added to the new building, converting it into a vicarage. Furthermore, a chapel was constructed at Kesavanpadi due to his dedicated efforts. The beautifully renovated church was consecrated in 2012 by His Eminence Cardinal George Alencherry. Additionally, the construction of the Parish Hall, which serves the entire town, was another remarkable achievement during his tenure. However, during this period, operations at St. George LP School were suspended due to a lack of government approval.

Rev. Fr. Martin Edayantrath and Rev. Fr. Jose Thelakatt led the parish for short durations, imparting valuable lessons of unity and harmony among the parishioners.

Rev. Fr. Joseph Pathadan made significant contributions to the parish during his tenure from March 2015 to May 2016. Under his leadership, the vicarage was renovated with enhanced facilities, and the parish bulletin, Kathir, was introduced.

Rev. Fr. Jimmy Kunthathur efficiently administered the parish while simultaneously fulfilling his responsibilities as the Assistant Director of Lisie Hospital. However, he too was soon transferred to another parish.

From October 2016, Thiruvankulam Parish had witnessed substantial spiritual and material growth under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Dr. Zacharias Paranilam, who also held the esteemed position of Director of Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue for the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese.

The Vincent de Paul Society and various other Catholic associations within Thiruvankulam Parish remain at the forefront of charitable initiatives in the Archdiocese, offering support and hope to the destitute, regardless of their religious background.

As we reflect on the four-decade-long history of Thiruvankulam Church, we express our profound gratitude to all those, both living and deceased, who have dedicated a significant part of their lives to the growth and development of this parish. Today, we take pride in the fact that our church has expanded from four family units to eleven, continuing its mission of faith and service.

The leaders of our parish, across different periods, have enhanced the reputation of our church through fair and impartial intervention in the challenges faced by people of various castes and religions in our village. In doing so, our church has remained a beacon of truth for all.