New Jersey: St. George Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Paterson, New Jersey, is preparing for a historic moment as two deacons from the same parish will be ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 2026.
Deacon Sam Kuttappassery and Deacon Michael James will be ordained during a solemn liturgical celebration at the parish church located on Getty Avenue. The ordination ceremony will begin at 10:00 AM and will be presided over by Mar Joy Alappatt, Bishop of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago.
The ordination is being described as a rare and grace filled occasion for the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in the United States. Church leaders and parish members say it is uncommon for two first generation Malayalee Indian Catholics from the same parish community outside India to be ordained together at the same time.
The event also carries emotional significance for Bishop Joy Alappatt, who previously served the Paterson community for more than a decade during its early years. During that period, both Deacon Sam and Deacon Michael were growing up in the parish as school children. Parish members believe the bishop’s leadership and spiritual guidance played an important role in fostering vocations within the community.
St. George Syro-Malabar Catholic Church traces its roots to the former Syro-Malabar Catholic Mission of Garfield, which was later renamed Blessed John Paul II Mission before becoming St. George Parish after purchasing its present church building from the Diocese of Paterson. The parish is recognized as the first church dedicated to St. George under the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago.
Deacon Sam Kuttappassery grew up in New Jersey with his parents, Roby and Cicy, and his sister, Reshma. He first sensed his call to priesthood during high school. He later completed degrees in Economics and Public Health from Rutgers University before pursuing seminary formation in Illinois and Rome.
Deacon Michael James, born in New York and raised in New Jersey, is the son of James and Sherly James. He first experienced a call to priesthood during Eucharistic Adoration at a Syro-Malabar Regional Youth Conference. He earned a degree in Biology from Caldwell University before entering seminary formation at Mundelein Seminary in Illinois.
Church leaders say the ordination is a sign of hope for the Syro-Malabar Catholic community in the diaspora, especially at a time when priestly vocations are limited in many regions outside India. They believe the event highlights the importance of strong family faith, active parish life, youth ministry, and Eucharistic devotion in nurturing vocations among young people.
The ordination day celebrations will begin with the reception of the bishop at 9:30 AM, followed by a solemn procession at 9:45 AM. After the ordination liturgy and Holy Qurbana, the parish will host a felicitation program and community lunch.
The celebrations will continue on June 14, when the newly ordained priests will celebrate their First Holy Qurbana at St. George Church.
Under the leadership of parish vicar Fr. Simmy Thomas, the parish has invited clergy, religious, parishioners, friends, and well wishers to participate in the celebrations and pray for the newly ordained priests as they begin their priestly ministry.