Rev. Fr. John Kizhakkekara Appointed as First Resident Priest for the Syro Malankara Catholic Community in Perth

The Syro Malankara Catholic community in Perth is overjoyed to announce the formal appointment of Rev. Fr. John Kizhakkekara (Babu Achan) as their first resident priest. This appointment marks a major milestone for the community, providing long-awaited spiritual leadership and regular liturgical services.

Fr. John Kizhakkekara brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Originally from Punalur, Kerala, he has previously served at St. Antony’s Malankara Catholic Church, Kanjirampara, Trivandrum, and St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Kottarakara, Kollam. In addition to his pastoral duties, Fr. John holds an MBA in Human Resources from the University of Madras and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Loyola College of Social Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram.

The appointment of Fr. John as the first resident priest was made possible through the dedicated efforts of His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis, His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Antony Mor Silvanos, His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mor Theodosious, and Rev. Fr. Prem Kumar Corepiscopa. Special appreciation is extended to Rev. Fr. Stephen Kulathumkarrot for his invaluable contributions throughout the process.

Since 2015, the Syro Malankara Catholic faithful in Perth have gathered for Holy Qurbono once every three months, with priests traveling from Adelaide and Brisbane. Now, with Fr. John’s appointment, the community will have weekly Sunday services at 3:30 PM at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, located at 6 Lilian Rd, Maida Vale WA 6057, a peaceful and welcoming church nestled in Perth’s serene Maida Vale suburb. This development is expected to significantly strengthen the spiritual life of the Malankara community.

For those living in Perth and nearby regions of Australia who wish to attend Holy Qurbono or learn more about the activities of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church in Perth, you are warmly encouraged to reach out to Rev. Fr. John Kizhakkekara. He will be delighted to welcome you to the community and provide more information on how to participate.

For further details:

• Rev. Fr. John Kizhakkekara: 0470287634
• Mr. Shijo Thomas: 0468307171