About

The Indian Catholic Association of Florida (ICAF) was established and officially recognized as a mission of the Archdiocese of Miami, serving Catholics of the Syro-Malabar, Latin, and Malankara rites. The community consisted of approximately 60 families.

Malayalam Masses were celebrated periodically at Nativity Church in Hollywood and St. Clement Church in Fort Lauderdale. As the community grew, plans and fundraising began for a permanent church dedicated to Our Lady of Health, Velankanni.

Rev. Fr. Joseph Maroor, pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Church in Pembroke Pines, welcomed the community for regular Sunday Malayalam liturgies. Catechism classes and annual spiritual retreats soon followed, helping the community grow in faith and unity.

After years of prayer, fundraising, and searching for a permanent home, the community purchased a former Baptist church property in Coral Springs and named it Our Lady of Health (Velankanni Matha) Church.

With the majority of the community belonging to the Syro-Malabar Church, the General Body voted to transition the mission into a Syro-Malabar parish, beginning an important new chapter in the history of the community.

Three Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (SABS) joined the community with the support of the Diocese of Chicago. Their arrival enriched the spiritual and pastoral life of the parish and established the first SABS convent associated with a Syro-Malabar parish in the United States.

The mission was officially elevated to an independent Syro-Malabar Parish. Fr. John Melepuram was appointed the first Vicar, serving from December 2003 to December 2008. At the time, the parish had approximately 94 registered families.

The church was solemnly blessed by Archbishop John Favalora of Miami and Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath of Chicago, marking the fulfillment of a dream that had begun nearly two decades earlier.

Under the leadership of Fr. John Melepuram, the parish hosted the North American Syro-Malabar Diocesan Convention in Miami, welcoming more than 3,000 participants from across North America.

Fr. Zacharias Thottuvelil became the parish’s second Vicar, serving from January 2009 to November 30, 2013. During his tenure, the parish continued to strengthen its spiritual, pastoral, and community life.

Fr. Kuriakose Kumbakeel became the third Vicar, serving from November 30, 2013 to February 9, 2017. He continued the parish’s mission of nurturing faith and strengthening the community.

Fr. Thomas Kadukappallil became the fourth Vicar, serving from February 9, 2017 to February 7, 2019. Under his pastoral leadership, the parish continued to grow in faith, fellowship, and service.

Fr. Johnsty Thachara became the fifth Vicar, serving from February 7, 2019 to September 14, 2023. He guided the parish through an important period in its continuing spiritual and community development.

Rev. Fr. Thomas Pulickal (Timmy Achan) became the first Assistant Vicar of Our Lady of Health, serving from August 2020 to April 2023. He assisted in the parish’s pastoral, sacramental, liturgical, youth, and community ministries.

Fr. George Elambasseril became the sixth Vicar of Our Lady of Health, beginning his pastoral leadership on September 15, 2023. Under his leadership, the parish continues to strengthen its spiritual life, ministries, and service to the Syro-Malabar Catholic community.

As part of the Jubilee Year celebrations, our parish had the privilege of hosting the first All-Catholic Malayali Priests Gathering at Our Lady of Health, bringing together Malayali Catholic priests for prayer, fellowship, fraternity, and shared ministry.