Established 28 July 2016 | Rite East Syrian Rite Area 229,848 km² | |
Population- Total- Catholics (as of 2013)60,003,00038,000 Sui iuris church Syro-Malabar Catholic Church | ||
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Great Britain is the sole eparchy (Eastern Catholic diocese) for Syro-Malabar Catholics (a Chaldean or Syro-Oriental Rite) in Great Britain, with see in Preston, Lancashire.
It is exempt (immediately subject to the Holy See and the Roman Congregation for the Oriental Churches), and has jurisdiction over Syro-Malabar Catholics in the entirety of Great Britain : England, Scotland and Wales (the United Kingdom minus Northern Ireland).
The eparchy, established in 2016, is the fourth diocesan jursdiction (after Australia and USA eparchies and Apsotolic Exarchate Canada) of the Syro-Malabar Church outside India (which per 2017 has the Major Archdiocese at Ernakulam–Angamaly, four more Metropolitan archeparchies and 23 suffragan eparchies), but the first and so far only one in Europe.
Its episcopal see is the Syro-Malabar Cathedral of St. Alphonsa at Preston in Lancashire, England. It has chaplains (mostly Indian) in 22 British Roman Catholic dioceses, a national coordination council and eight diocesan departments : Liturgy, Finance, Catechism, Faith Formation, Lay Association, Resolution Committee and Youth Association.
Ordinaries
Its first and present Eparch (diocesan bishop) is Bishop Joseph Srampickal (Benny Mathew), born on 1967.05.30 in India, ordained Priest 2000.08.12, consecrated Bishop 2016.10.09.