Father Kurian Varghese |
By Carrie McClish
Staff writer
One of the East Bay’s newest parishes may one
day be created from a stalk of one of the most ancient Eastern communities
in the Church — Syro-Malabar Catholics.
There is a growing community of Syro-Malabar Catholics in Fremont, who
trace their roots back to apostolic times when St. Thomas traveled to
India, beginning in 52 A.D. and founded seven communities until his martyrdom
in 72 A.D.
Though his journey is not nearly as treacherous as that of St. Thomas,
Father Kurian Varghese is a man on a mission. He was sent by the Syro-Malabar
bishop in the U.S. to the Oakland Diocese a little more than a month ago
to help develop this community.
So far he has been spending his time getting to know the 300 Syro-Malabar
Catholic families who have been meeting for Sunday Mass at 4:30 p.m. at
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Fremont. They have also been gathering
for prayer in homes of different members.
Earlier this month, religious education classes began to be offered about
an hour before the Sunday liturgy. More than 40 people attended the first
class, which was for adults, said Father Varghese. There are plans to
start a religious education class for youth.
Father Varghese, 42, a native of Kerala, India, brings a variety of skills
to his new position. Ordained to the priesthood in 1991, he spent a number
of years working in mission areas in Kerala as a social worker and youth
minister. He also served as a pastor. Prior to moving to the Oakland Diocese,
he worked in Chicago, where the first diocese for Syro-Malabar Catholics
outside of India was created in 2001.
In California, there are three Syro-Malabar missions — one in the
Bay Area, one in Los Angeles and another in Orange County. There is also
a smaller community in the Sacramento area.
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