By Matters India Reporter
Chicago, April 19, 2026: The first-ever gathering of Malayalam-speaking religious sisters serving in the United States and Canada opened at the Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Church in Bensenville, Chicago, according to Apnades.
The April 18 event, held in connection with the silver jubilee of the Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago (Syro-Malabar) as well as the episcopal ordination jubilee of its first Bishop Jacob Angadiath who retired in 2022, drew representatives from more than 28 religious congregations.
Bishop Robert Pipta of the Ruthenian-Byzantine Catholic Diocese inaugurated the gathering, while Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield led an afternoon seminar.
Mass followed, celebrated by Bishop John “Joy” Alappatt of the Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago as the main celebrant, with Bishop Pipta delivering the homily. Bishop Angadiath and several priests concelebrated.
More than 250 nuns joined a grand procession to the venue, accompanied by traditional Kerala cultural elements including ceremonial umbrellas and the traditional chenda melam drumming, Apnades, the official online daily of the Archdiocese of Kottayam, reported.
(Photo © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)