Weekly Newsletter-December 15, 2025

Weekly Announcements: St. Thomas the Apostle Syro Malabar Forane Catholic Church
4922 Rosehill Road, Garland, Texas 75043

  St. Thomas the Apostle Syro-Malabar Forane Catholic Church

Weekly Announcements,
December 15, 2025

Dear Parishioners,


1. Holy Qurbana Schedule

        • Monday, December 15, 2025 – Thursday, December 18, 2025
          • 8:30 am: Holy Qurbana 

        Please Note: We will have Holy Qurbana on Thursdays during the Advent Season until Christmas. 

            • Friday, December 19, 2025
              • 6:00 pm - 6:40 pm: Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
              • 6:00 pm - 6:50 pm: Eucharistic Adoration, followed by St. Jude's Novena, and Holy Qurbana
                    • Saturday, December 20, 2025
                      • 8:30 am: Holy Qurbana, followed by the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
                    • Sunday, December 21, 2025
                        • 8:30 am: Holy Qurbana 

                      Please Note: There will be only one Holy Qurbana at 8:30 am due to the CCD Christmas program, which will be held after the 8:30 am Holy Qurbana in the parish hall. 


                      2. December 2025 Updates

                                            • Christmas Carol: Carol visits began on Saturday, December 13, 2025, and will continue on December 20, and 21. Please cooperate with the caroling team and contribute generously.
                                            • Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Holy Qurbana Schedule:
                                              • The Christmas Eve Holy Qurbana will be on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at 7:30 pm. There will be two Holy Qurbanas, one in Malayalam and the other in English, both at 7:30 pm.
                                              • The Christmas Day Holy Qurbana will be on Thursday, December 25, 2025, at 9:00 am
                                            • CCD Christmas Program: The CCD Christmas program will be held next Sunday, December 21, 2025, after the 8:30 am Holy Qurbana in the Parish Hall. Everyone is encouraged to attend and enjoy the fellowship during this joyful occasion.
                                            • CCD Winter Break: The CCD Winter break will be Sunday, December 28, 2025, and Sunday, January 4, 2026. The second semester of CCD will begin on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
                                            • Young Adults Invited to Join the CCD Team: Young adults interested in teaching CCD are requested to inform our Vicar, Rev. Fr. Siby Sebastian. We encourage you to join the team, as our children can greatly benefit from teachers of different generations.  
                                            • New Year Resolution for CCD Children: We have a New Year resolution for our CCD children: Bible Bee Contest 2026! The contest will be conducted in four categories:
                                              • Category 1: Pre-K & KG (10 verses)
                                              • Category 2: Grades 1-5 (25 verses)
                                              • Category 3: Grades 6-8 (50 verses)
                                              • Category 4: Grades 9-12 (100 verses)

                                            Bible verses have already been printed and distributed to all students after the CCD exam so they can study and memorize them during the winter break. The contest will be held in April 2026; the date and time will be announced later.

                                            The top three students in each category who write the maximum number of Bible verses with the book, chapter, and verse will be awarded attractive prizes. For Pre-K to Grade 2, the contest will be conducted orally.

                                              • Zonal Gatherings of Catechists: As part of our Eparchy’s Silver Jubilee, the Department of Faith Formation is hosting a regional gathering of all current and past catechism teachers. This important event will include:
                                                • Recognition of past and current principals and teachers
                                                • Discussions on improving classroom strategies for faith formation
                                                • Special sessions with resource persons
                                                • Attendance by Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt

                                              Registration: Please register according to your state’s designated region at: https://forms.gle/7ayfEuewWa9WeWvW6. There is no fee, but registration is mandatory. For details, please click the link to view the flyer: Zonal Gatherings of Catechists.jpg

                                                • Our CCD team will arrange a bus for attendees to Houston on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Those planning to attend should register and inform the CCD Coordinators no later than December 31, 2025, so travel accommodations can be arranged. We encourage and invite all past and current CCD teachers to attend this regional event. 

                                              If you have any questions, please contact:

                                                  1. Joel Kuzhippillil - 214-868-9098
                                                  2. Bertie Paul D'souza - 469-569-4834
                                                  3. Jomol George - 203-305-4727
                                              • Wedding Anniversary Celebrations: Couples who are celebrating their 25th, 40th, or 50th wedding anniversaries this year are requested to give their names to the Trustees as early as possible. To honor these couples, we will celebrate their anniversaries on Sunday, December 28, 2025, after the first Holy Qurbana at 8:30 am.
                                              • IPSF Announcements: 

                                              1. Registration Deadline – December 21 (Sunday) 

                                                • The last date to register for the parish-level IPSF competitions is Sunday, December 21, 2025.
                                                • To register, please use the registration link: IPSF Registration (also available on our church website).
                                                • Competitions are available for Kids, Young Adults, Adults, and Seniors.
                                                • Please complete the registration before the deadline.

                                              2. New Event Added – Table Tennis (Female Categories)

                                                • The IPSF Host Team has added Table Tennis Singles for various female categories.
                                                • Please revisit the registration link and register for this newly added event if interested.
                                              • Convention 2026 Updates: The deadline for the Early Registration Package is December 31, 2025. To register, please click the link: Convention 2026 Registration

                                                       To view the flyer, please click on the link: PreCana 2026 Flyer.jpg

                                              • Parking Lot Pledge Payments: You can make your Church Parking Lot Pledge payments via Zelle or Credit Card. Please contribute and support this effort. We also encourage ward representatives to take initiative by contacting ward members.
                                              • Church Pledge Statement Distribution: We kindly request all parishioners with pending pledges to make their payments as soon as possible. The suggested amount is $1,200 per family. Statements are ready and can be collected from your Parish Council members or the Trustees. 


                                              3. Upcoming Events

                                              • FLAME 2026: FLAME 2026 is a regional DYA Conference that will be held from January 2-5, 2026. This conference is intended for college students. For any questions, please contact Don Joseph (469-845-5701) or Kevin Thomas (214-603-1330). 
                                              • IPSF 2026: The Inter Parish Sports Festival (IPSF) will be hosted by Divine Mercy Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Edinburg (McAllen), TX Parish, and is scheduled for August 6-9, 2026, at Edinburg. Please mark your calendars.
                                                • Jubilee Convention 2026: Our diocese is preparing for the Syro-Malabar Convention 2026, which will be held at McCormick Place, Chicago, July 9-12, 2026. We encourage everyone to participate in this special Jubilee Convention. Please register as soon as possible. A committee is available to assist you - please contact them if you need any help. 
                                                  • Kuriachen Mannanal - (972)-741-0103
                                                  • Annie Nellikunnel - (732)-618-2122
                                                  • Elsy Philip - (214)-418-3431
                                                  • Jeeva Raju - (469)-734-6481

                                                For more details, visit www.SyroConvention.org

                                                To register, visit https://register.syroconvention.org/syro-convention-2026


                                                    4. Safe Environment Updates


                                                    5. Additional Church Related Information

                                                    • ParishOnNet Access: According to diocesan guidelines, we have provided ParishOnNet access to all parishioners. To access ParishOnNet for our church, please click on the ParishOnNet link. You can view your family details, church contributions, tax statements, CCD registration, and more. If you are unable to access ParishOnNet, please contact the Trustees.
                                                    • Church Payments via Zelle: If you choose to make payments to the church via Zelle, please use payst.thomasgarland@gmail.com as the recipient email. Also, include the purpose of the payment and your parish Family ID number to help us accurately identify and process your payment.
                                                    • Offertory Collection: When placing your offertory collection in the envelope, please ensure that you write your Family ID number and clearly state the intended purpose of your donation.
                                                    • Church/Parish Hall Booking: To secure a booking for the church or parish hall for any purpose, individuals must complete the required form available at the Parish Trustees' Office.


                                                    God Bless You
                                                    Rev. Fr. Siby Sebastian MST


                                                    Church Main Office (972) 240-1100

                                                    Kaikkarans (Trustees):
                                                    Antony Nelluvelil (Tomy) (972) 533-7399
                                                    Kurian Mannanal (972) 741-0103
                                                    Mathew John (Raju) (214) 417-6717
                                                    Sunny Kochuparambil (972) 365-9506

                                                    Parish Council Secretary & Asst. Secretary:
                                                    Mini Joseph Vilangolil (972) 896-2515
                                                    Lissamma Xavier (Asst. Secretary) (817) 657-4427

                                                    Liturgy Coordinator:
                                                    Jose Paul (972) 589-0434

                                                    Parish Vicar:
                                                    Rev. Fr. Siby Sebastian MST (346) 270-0262

                                                    Copyright © 2021 St. Thomas the Apostle Syro-Malabar Forane Catholic Church,
                                                    4922 Rosehill Road, Garland, Texas 75043. All rights reserved.
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