Patriarchal Vicar in Ireland : His Grace Thomas Mor Alexandrios
The local church in Waterford was established on 10th December. 2006 by the kalpana of His Grace Kuriakose Mor Theophilose Metropolitan of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in Europe and also by the interest of the faithful community of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Waterford. It was a humble beginning by 9 families, mostly working in healthcare jobs, under the leadership of Fr. Jobymon Scaria and Fr. Babu Alias through an informal process.
The first Vicar of the St. Mary’s church was Fr. Thomas Puthiyamadathil and the whole organization was started as a congregation with one service on every second Sunday. Mr. Benny Varghese and Mr. Grace Jacob John were selected as trustee and secretary respectively. By the request of His Grace Kuriakose Mor Theophilose and the Parish Committee, the Catholic Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Rt. Rev. William Lee and Vicar of the Cathedral Fr. Joseph Condon kindly permitted to use St. Patrick Church for conducting services.
The congregation was upgraded to a parish by another kalpana on 12th May 2008 and Fr. Babu Alias was appointed as Asst. Vicar, which uplifted the whole outlook to a typical parish church with two Holy Qurbono on 2nd and 4th Sundays followed by programmes like Sunday School, Committee meetings, Choir practice, and so on. Fr. Thomas Puthiyamadathil was transferred and Fr. Babu Alias was promoted as the Vicar of St. Mary’s Church on 8th February 2009 by the Bishop His Grace Kuriakose Mor Dioscoros Metropolitan.
St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church is under the patronage of His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II (Prince Patriarch of Antioch & Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church). His Grace Mor Mathews Anthimose is the present Patriarchal Vicar of this Parish. Reverend Fr. Biju M Parekkattil is the current Vicar of the Church and there are 30 families actively participate on church activities who come from Waterford and surrounding counties including Kilkenny, Tipperary and Wexford. . The Managing Committee elected by the Annual General body of the church manages the day to day affairs of this parish. The place of worship is St. Patrick’s church, Great George’s street, Waterford city, Co. Waterford.
This parish intends to support the spiritual needs of its members and to serve the less fortunate section of the community through various charitable activities. All religious services are conducted in Syriac and Malayalam, the native Indian language of the state of Kerala