St Thomas' Mass Centre is a home for Malayalam‑speaking Syro‑Malabar Catholic families in Maitland and the surrounding Hunter region — carrying the faith first brought to Kerala by the Apostle Thomas into a new community here in NSW.
സ്വാഗതം — welcome, you belong here.
"My Lord and my God" — John 20:28
Tradition holds that the Apostle Thomas arrived on the Kerala coast in 52 AD and founded seven churches there, planting the community of St Thomas Christians from which the Syro‑Malabar Church descends. His feast — Dukrana, marking the translation of his relics — is kept every year on 3 July, and remains one of the great celebrations of Malayalam Catholic communities worldwide.
St Thomas' Mass Centre carries that same name and heritage into Maitland, offering a place where that inheritance — its Syriac liturgy, its language, and its devotions — can be lived out by families who have made the Hunter Valley home.
The Syro‑Malabar Church is one of the Eastern Catholic Churches, in full communion with Rome, celebrating the Holy Qurbana in the East Syriac liturgical tradition. St Thomas' Mass Centre is part of the St Thomas the Apostle Syro‑Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Melbourne, which has cared for Syro‑Malabar communities across Australia, New Zealand and Oceania since 2014.
The community gathers for Sunday Holy Qurbana at Beresfield and for midweek Qurbana at Morpeth — see Mass Times below for the full schedule.
Chaplain
Fr. Joyis Cheriyan serves as chaplain to the Syro‑Malabar community across Newcastle and Maitland, including St Thomas' Mass Centre.
St Thomas' meets at two churches in the Maitland area — Beresfield on Sundays, Morpeth midweek.
Cnr Anderson Drive & Delprat Avenue, Beresfield NSW 2322
Sunday: 8:45 AM Holy Qurbana · 10:00 AM Catechism
James Street, Morpeth NSW 2321
Tuesday & Thursday: 6:00 PM Holy Qurbana
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The sacraments listed below follow Syro‑Malabar practice. Contact the mass centre in advance to register or arrange preparation.
Registration and preparation for infant and adult baptism.
Preparation classes alongside Sunday catechism.
Chrismation, typically celebrated with baptism in the East Syriac tradition.
Please contact the mass centre at least six months ahead to begin preparation.
Available before Mass and by appointment.
Available on request — please call any time for pastoral emergencies.
A sample of the feasts this community keeps each year — dates below are the traditional dates on the Church calendar. Local celebration dates and community events will be added as they're confirmed.
The mass centre's patronal feast, marking the translation of St Thomas' relics — traditionally the major celebration of the year for St Thomas Christian communities.
Patronal FeastHoly Qurbana schedule for the Nativity fast, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be published closer to the date.
Passion Week services, Pesaha (Holy Thursday), Good Friday and Easter Qurbana — dates follow the moveable Church calendar.
Space for parish picnics, retreats, Onam celebrations and other community gatherings as they're scheduled.
Small groups that carry much of the community's life outside Mass. Confirm current leaders and meeting times with the mass centre.
Fellowship and support group for the fathers and men of the community.
Mothers' fellowship offering prayer, support and community for women.
Syro‑Malabar Youth Movement — faith formation and fellowship for young people.
Leads sung prayer at Holy Qurbana. New voices — and instrumentalists — always welcome.
Weekly faith formation classes for children, 10:00 AM at Beresfield, straight after Holy Qurbana.
Sound, streaming and communications support for Mass and parish notices.
Fellowship and support network for the nurses and healthcare workers of the community.
The community's chapter of the Catholic Congress, a lay movement supporting the active participation of the faithful in Church life.
Glimpses of Holy Qurbana and community life at the mass centre.
Holy Qurbana
Parish Council Members
Kaikkaran HandoverFor sacrament registration, pastoral care, or to find out more about St Thomas' Mass Centre, get in touch.
Website: saintthomasmaitland.org
Have a question, or want to reach the chaplain or trustees? Send a message here and we'll pass it on.
