It’s been almost 11 years since Pope Francis announced the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle in Melbourne and tomorrow it will have its own consecrated cathedral. Source: ACBC Media Blog.
Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church, Raphael Thattil, will consecrate St Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Cathedral in Epping, in the city’s north.
A host of bishops, senior clerics, members of state and federal parliament and representatives from Catholic parishes across Victoria are expected to attend the Sacrament of the Cathedral Church and celebratory Mass.
The consecration of the cathedral is the culmination of years of prayer, sacrifice, fellowship and work by around 550 families seeking to have a church of their own.
On December 23, 2013, Pope Francis erected the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle as only the second Syro-Malabar diocese outside India.
The foundation stone for the cathedral was laid on July 3, 2020, by Bishop Bosco Puthur, the first bishop of the new eparchy.
The cathedral has been completed on a 1.2 hectare site owned by the cathedral parish at 53 McKellar Way, near the Hume Freeway, in Epping.
The diocesan website describes the cathedral as being “built in a very beautiful manner with oriental tradition on 1711 square metres”.
The cathedral will accommodate up to 1000 people and includes a balcony and a room for parents with babies. A chapel can accommodate about 100 people.
Classrooms for faith training and related facilities have been built adjacent to the church.
The parish hall has a seating capacity of about 500 people, a stage and a kitchen with modern facilities, which were completed and inaugurated in November 2022.
“We would like to thank everyone who prayed, worked and financially supported the realisation of the dream of the Melbourne Syro-Malabar Diocese,” Melbourne Syro-Malabar Bishop John Panamthottathil said.
The consecration is due to start at 9am (AEDT) tomorrow and will be livestreamed.
FULL STORY
Melbourne Syro-Malabar cathedral to be consecrated (ACBC Media Blog)
