Rooted in the apostolic tradition of St Thomas, we celebrate the sacraments and grow together in our relationship with God.
🏠 Community
We are a family of families — supporting one another through life's joys and sorrows, bound together by faith and heritage.
🌿 Tradition
We honor and preserve the ancient Knanaya Catholic tradition, passing it on faithfully to the next generation.
✨ Service
Inspired by the Gospel, we serve those in need — within our parish and in the wider community around us.
🎓 Formation
We invest in faith formation for all ages — children, youth, and adults — helping every member grow in knowledge and love of God.
💕 Welcome
Every visitor is a gift. We strive to make all who enter our doors feel welcomed, valued, and at home.
Parish Ministries
Serving God and neighbour through active ministry
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Ministry of Charity
Dedicated to serving those in need through direct, person-to-person assistance. Members visit the poor, provide material aid, and offer friendship to the vulnerable in our community.
Legion of Mary
Marian Apostolate
A lay apostolic organisation consecrated to Our Lady. Members meet weekly for prayer and are sent out in pairs to do apostolic work — visiting hospitals, homes, and reaching out to inactive Catholics.
Cherupushpam Mission League
Mission Apostolate
A children's mission organisation that nurtures a spirit of prayer, sacrifice, and solidarity with missionary work around the world. Members learn to give generously and intercede for the Church's missions.
The following parishes and missions come under this Forane
Fr. Jemy Puthusseril
St. Mary's Knanaya Catholic Forane Parish 🏠 San Jose, CA
St. Joseph Knanaya Catholic Mission 🏠 Tracy, CA
Fr. Benoy Naramangalath
Pope St. Pius X Knanaya Catholic Parish 🏠 Los Angeles, CA
St. Stephen's Knanaya Catholic Mission 🏠 Las Vegas, NV
Fr. Regi Thandasseril
St. John Paul II Knanaya Catholic Mission 🏠 Sacramento, CA
Previous Vicars
Those who have shepherded our parish since its founding
Fr. Dominic Joseph
Mission Director
July 2000 – Sep 2008
Fr. John Chennakuzhiyil
Mission Director
Sep 2008 – Oct 2009
Rev. Msgr. Jacob Vellian
Mission Director
Oct 2009 – May 2010
Fr. Stany Edathiparambil
Mission Director & First Pastor
July 2010 – May 2013
Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath
Second Pastor
May 2013 – Oct 2014
Fr. Pathrose Champakkara
Third Pastor
Oct 2014 – July 2016
Fr. Mathew Meledath
Fourth Pastor
July 2016 – May 2018
Fr. Saji Pinarkayil
Fifth Pastor
May 2018 – Sep 2023
Our Story
St Mary's Knanaya Catholic Forane Church in San Jose is home to the Knanaya Catholic community — a community whose heritage traces back nearly two thousand years to the apostolic mission of St Thomas in Kerala, India.
Knanaya Heritage
Knai Thomman
The Knanaya community originates from a Jewish-Christian immigrant group that migrated from Southern Mesopotamia to the Malabar Coast of Cranganore (Kodungalloor) in AD 345, under the leadership of an enterprising merchant, Thomas of Cana (Knai Thomman). This community blended with the existing St Thomas Christians of Kerala while maintaining a distinct identity rooted in their Semitic heritage and ancient liturgical traditions.
Over the centuries, the Knanaya Catholics preserved their unique heritage through endogamous marriage customs, distinctive liturgy, and a strong communal identity — passing these traditions faithfully from generation to generation. Today the community spans the globe, with vibrant parishes in India, North America, Europe, and beyond.
The Knanaya Catholics are part of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, one of the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome, celebrating the ancient Chaldean rite with deep roots in the apostolic tradition of St Thomas.
Our Mission
To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, celebrate the sacraments, and serve our community with love — preserving the rich heritage of the Knanaya Catholic tradition for generations to come.
Parish History
Mary Grotto
The Knanaya Mission in San Jose was established with the blessing of Bishop Patrick J. McGrath of the Diocese of San Jose. On July 1, 2000, Fr. Dominic Joseph arrived as the founding mission director, serving the community while also ministering at St. Frances Cabrini Church.
Leadership of the mission passed through several devoted priests: Rev. Fr. John Chennakuzhiyil (September 2008), Rev. Msgr. Jacob Vellian (October 2009), and Fr. Stany Edathiparambil (July 2010).
On March 24, 2012, Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath consecrated our church building at 324 Gloria Ave and elevated the mission to a full parish, with Fr. Stany Edathiparambil appointed as founding pastor. Subsequent pastors who shepherded the parish include Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath (May 2013), Fr. Pathrose Champakkara (October 2014), Fr. Mathew Meledath (July 2016), and Fr. Saji Pinarkayil (May 2018).
A landmark moment came on February 18, 2015, when the parish was declared a Forane Parish of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago — formally established on April 19, 2015 — recognising its central pastoral role for Knanaya Catholics across Northern California.
A rectory was purchased at 3450 East Hills Drive and blessed on June 4, 2017. A parish cemetery, named in association with KCCNC, was blessed on November 19, 2022.
Since September 2023, Fr. Jemy Puthusseril has served as Forane Vicar. Today the parish is home to 237 Knanaya Catholic families across Northern California, continuing to grow in faith, community, and service.
Come Worship With Us
We celebrate Mass daily. All are welcome to join us in prayer and community.
