A Short History of St. Basil Mission
The Malankara Catholic Community in Queens began in February 1998 with the approval and blessing of the Malankara Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop Most Rev. Cyril Mar Baselios and the local ordinary (local hierarch), Most Rev. Thomas Daily, Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
In the beginning, Malankara Catholics in the United States were concentrated in the cities and missions were established for them. They were fortunate to have an opportunity to participate in the Malankara Liturgy and grow in the Malankara Catholic Church traditions.
As a new mission was a felt need for the faithful living in Queens and Brooklyn, twenty-eight families formally requested to the Malankara Metropolitan to establish a mission for them in the Diocese of Brooklyn. On April 10, 1996 Malankara Catholic members from Brooklyn/Queens met with Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Mannikarott, the then co-ordinator of the Malankara Catholic Missions of North America and discussed the matter. Accordingly on July 8, 1996 Malankarites from Queens and Brooklyn met with the Malankara Metropolitan and reiterated their request at a meeting hosted by the co-ordinator Chor-Bishop Geevarghese Mannikkarott at St. Angela Merici Church, Bronx, New York. On November 5, 1996 Chor-Bishop Mannikkarott, with the approval of the Malankara Metropolitan sent an official request to Bishop Thomas Daily for the establishment of a Malankara Mission in his diocese. As there was no response from the Diocese of Brooklyn, the then co-ordinator Chor-Bishop Rt. Rev. John Kalloor and Rev. Fr. Saji M. George met the diocesan authorities and discussed this matter in June 1997. On January 18, 1998 twenty-two family members assembled at the residence of Mr. Varghese Zachariah. At the meeting, Rev. Fr. Saji M. George announced the approval by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum to conduct the Malankara Liturgy once a month with the facility provided by the Brooklyn Diocese, and an unofficial committee of Mr. Shaji Philip, Mr. Mathai P. Varghese, Mr. N. M. Chacko, Mr. Philip Zachariah, Mr. Mathai Koshy, Mr. Simon Zachariah, Mr. Joseph Varghese, and Mr. Moncy Cherian was formed. Mr. Varghese Zachariah was nominated as the PRO of the mission, whose effort in coordinating the mission is greatly remembered.
On February 15, 1998 Chor-Bishop John Kalloor, along with Rev. Fr. Saji M. George and Rev. Fr. Augustine Mangalath celebrated the first Holy Mass in St. Benedict Moore Parish Church, Jamaica, Queens.
In view of making this community a full pledged mission, Metropolitan Archbishop Most Rev. Cyril Mar Baselios sent an official request on July 6, 1998 to Bishop Most Rev. Thomas Daily to sponsor a priest. In this connection, Most. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Timotheos, Bishop of Tiruvalla also wrote to Bishop Thomas Daily. In order to expedite the matter, on August 30, 1998 Bishop Geevarghese Mar Timotheos along with Rev. Fr. Saji M. George visited Bishop Thomas Daily. Unfortunately, Diocese of Brooklyn rejected our request to sponsor a priest. However, Bishop Thomas Daily permitted us to continue our liturgical services with a priest already in the United States. Accordingly, on November 8, 1998 during the Holy Mass in New Jersey Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Bishop of Marthandam (Chor-Bishop John Kalloor) announced the decision of the Metropolitan Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios, that the Queens Malankara community was raised to the status of a Mission. Rev. Fr. Augustine Mangalth was appointed as its Vicar.
On January 17, 1999 St. Basil Malankara Catholic Church’s first Holy Mass was celebrated by Rev. Saji M. George and Rev. Fr. Augustine Mangalath at the immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston, Queens, New York. Rev. Michael Hardiman, director of the Immaculate Conception Center was the chief guest. The Mission adopted St. Basil as its Heavenly Patron. From then on, the regular Sunday Mass and other liturgical services are conducted at the Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston, Queens.
We are grateful to God Almighty for His providence and protection of our Malankara Catholic Mission of Queens. We remember with gratitude the Metropolitan Archbishop Most. Rev. Cyril Mar Baselios, who was later elevated to the dignity of Major Archbishop-Catholicos, Most Rev. Thomas Daily, Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Timotheos, Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Rev. Fr. Augustine Mangalath and Rev. Fr. Saji M. George and all other lay leaders who tirelessly worked for the realization of our Mission.
In the beginning, Malankara Catholics in the United States were concentrated in the cities and missions were established for them. They were fortunate to have an opportunity to participate in the Malankara Liturgy and grow in the Malankara Catholic Church traditions.
As a new mission was a felt need for the faithful living in Queens and Brooklyn, twenty-eight families formally requested to the Malankara Metropolitan to establish a mission for them in the Diocese of Brooklyn. On April 10, 1996 Malankara Catholic members from Brooklyn/Queens met with Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Mannikarott, the then co-ordinator of the Malankara Catholic Missions of North America and discussed the matter. Accordingly on July 8, 1996 Malankarites from Queens and Brooklyn met with the Malankara Metropolitan and reiterated their request at a meeting hosted by the co-ordinator Chor-Bishop Geevarghese Mannikkarott at St. Angela Merici Church, Bronx, New York. On November 5, 1996 Chor-Bishop Mannikkarott, with the approval of the Malankara Metropolitan sent an official request to Bishop Thomas Daily for the establishment of a Malankara Mission in his diocese. As there was no response from the Diocese of Brooklyn, the then co-ordinator Chor-Bishop Rt. Rev. John Kalloor and Rev. Fr. Saji M. George met the diocesan authorities and discussed this matter in June 1997. On January 18, 1998 twenty-two family members assembled at the residence of Mr. Varghese Zachariah. At the meeting, Rev. Fr. Saji M. George announced the approval by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum to conduct the Malankara Liturgy once a month with the facility provided by the Brooklyn Diocese, and an unofficial committee of Mr. Shaji Philip, Mr. Mathai P. Varghese, Mr. N. M. Chacko, Mr. Philip Zachariah, Mr. Mathai Koshy, Mr. Simon Zachariah, Mr. Joseph Varghese, and Mr. Moncy Cherian was formed. Mr. Varghese Zachariah was nominated as the PRO of the mission, whose effort in coordinating the mission is greatly remembered.
On February 15, 1998 Chor-Bishop John Kalloor, along with Rev. Fr. Saji M. George and Rev. Fr. Augustine Mangalath celebrated the first Holy Mass in St. Benedict Moore Parish Church, Jamaica, Queens.
In view of making this community a full pledged mission, Metropolitan Archbishop Most Rev. Cyril Mar Baselios sent an official request on July 6, 1998 to Bishop Most Rev. Thomas Daily to sponsor a priest. In this connection, Most. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Timotheos, Bishop of Tiruvalla also wrote to Bishop Thomas Daily. In order to expedite the matter, on August 30, 1998 Bishop Geevarghese Mar Timotheos along with Rev. Fr. Saji M. George visited Bishop Thomas Daily. Unfortunately, Diocese of Brooklyn rejected our request to sponsor a priest. However, Bishop Thomas Daily permitted us to continue our liturgical services with a priest already in the United States. Accordingly, on November 8, 1998 during the Holy Mass in New Jersey Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Bishop of Marthandam (Chor-Bishop John Kalloor) announced the decision of the Metropolitan Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios, that the Queens Malankara community was raised to the status of a Mission. Rev. Fr. Augustine Mangalth was appointed as its Vicar.
On January 17, 1999 St. Basil Malankara Catholic Church’s first Holy Mass was celebrated by Rev. Saji M. George and Rev. Fr. Augustine Mangalath at the immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston, Queens, New York. Rev. Michael Hardiman, director of the Immaculate Conception Center was the chief guest. The Mission adopted St. Basil as its Heavenly Patron. From then on, the regular Sunday Mass and other liturgical services are conducted at the Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston, Queens.
We are grateful to God Almighty for His providence and protection of our Malankara Catholic Mission of Queens. We remember with gratitude the Metropolitan Archbishop Most. Rev. Cyril Mar Baselios, who was later elevated to the dignity of Major Archbishop-Catholicos, Most Rev. Thomas Daily, Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Timotheos, Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Rev. Fr. Augustine Mangalath and Rev. Fr. Saji M. George and all other lay leaders who tirelessly worked for the realization of our Mission.
Rev. Fr. Augustine Mangalath was the First Vicar of Queens Mission from Nov. 1998 to Feb. 2003.
Rev. Fr. Shaji Thomas - Vicar from January - November 2004
Rev. Fr. Lous Puthenveettil, Vicar - from Nov. 2004 to June 2006
Rev. Fr. Antony Padipurackal OIC, Vicar - from 2006 to 2010.