Thousands of Syro-Malabar Catholics gathered at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare July 1 to see the consecration of Bishop Jacob Angadiath, who will lead the first Syro-Malabar Catholic diocese outside of India.

“(Bishop) Angadiath is a pious person of prayer,” said Jose Chennikara, spokesman for Mar Thomas Shleeha Church, the Syro-Malabar mission of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Bishop Angadiath serves as director of the mission in Bellwood. “He is often described as a humble servant of God, with unlimited faith and patience.”

Bishop Angadiath will lead the new St. Thomas Diocese, which takes in the entire United States, and will serve as the permanent apostolic visitor to Syro-Malabar Catholics in Canada.

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil traveled from Kerala, India, to preside at the four-hour ceremony, at which Cardinal George gave the homily. Several other Syro-Malabar bishops made the journey from India for the event, which was part of the four-day Syro-Malabar Catholic Convention.

Nearly 100,000 Syro-Malabar Catholics live in the United States. More than 3 million live in 24 dioceses in India, making the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church the second largest of the Eastern-rite Catholic churches.

Syro-Malabar Catholics trace their faith to the first century, when they believe St. Thomas the Apostle brought Christianity to the Malabar coast of India.

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