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.
Our mission is to support Syro-Malabar Catholic worship, faith formation and community life for families in Maitland and the Hunter Valley, in communion with the St Thomas the Apostle Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Melbourne.
Our activities include Holy Qurbana, catechism and children's faith formation, sacramental preparation, parish community groups and celebrations of the liturgical year. Explore our Mass Times, Sacraments, Ministries and Events sections for details.
Registered charity: St Thomas’ Syro-Malabar Mass Centre, Maitland
Charity regulator: Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
ABN / Charity ID: 13 788 531 919
Official domain: saintthomasmaitland.org
Contact email: office.maitland@syromalabar.org.au
Public worship locations: Beresfield Church, Cnr Anderson Drive & Delprat Avenue, Beresfield NSW 2322; Morpeth Church, James Street, Morpeth NSW 2321.
Registered / administrative street address: 262 Sandgate Rd, Shortland, NSW 2307, Australia
St Thomas' Syro‑Malabar Mass Centre, Maitland is registered with the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission (ACNC).
Our official website, https://saintthomasmaitland.org, is operated on behalf of the registered organisation for church communications, administration, religious activities and catechism programmes.
The website and domain are maintained by authorised representatives of St Thomas' Syro‑Malabar Mass Centre, Maitland.
ACNC Charity Registration:
https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/79211a03-e597-f111-b8db-002248929f95/profile
Chaplain
Fr. Joyis Cheriyan serves as chaplain to the Syro‑Malabar community across Newcastle and Maitland, including St Thomas' Mass Centre.
