The Chicago Mar Thoma Church is the realization of the heartfelt desire of few faithful families who desired to worship in our tradition, and organized prayer group beginning in 1973. The late Metropolitan, The Most Rev. Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma (then Alexander Mar Theophilus Episcopa at the time) on his visit to Chicago in 1973 encouraged the small group to meet for regular Bible study, prayer, and worship and elected a committee. This eventually became a Mar Thoma Congregation as per decision of the Episcopal Synod in May 1978. As the congregation continued to grow spiritually and in membership it was elevated as a full parish in Aug 1981. We have had the privilege of a full-time Vicar beginning in 1983.
The members strongly desired to have their own place of worship and with the Almighty God’s help we purchased the land at 240 Potter Road, Des Plaines Illinois in 1983. The Most Rev. Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan laid the foundation stone on July 14, 1985. With God’s grace and the wholehearted prayers and support of our members, in November 1986, the late Rt. Rev. Easow Mar Timotheos Episcopa dedicated the newly constructed Chicago Mar Thoma Church (CMTC). The parish has grown tremendously, in membership, in service to the community, and in her support of the missions of the Church. With the tremendous growth of membership over the years, Chicago Mar Thoma Church became the mother parish for Bethel Mar Thoma Church in Frankfort, IL which was dedicated in 1994. In 1998 the Parish celebrated its Silver Jubilee. In 2004 St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church was formed as another offshoot from the mother Parish. In January of 2010, The Most Rev. Dr. Theodosius Mar Thoma (then Geevarghese Mar Theodosius Episcopa) dedicated the renovated and expanded Church Building. By God’s grace and benevolence, we celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the formation of the Mar Thoma Faith Community in Chicagoland in 2023 and the 50th Parish Day on November 5th, 2023.
The CMTC has a vibrant Sunday School, Youth Fellowship, Yuvajana Sakhyam, Parish Mission, Choir, Sevika Sangham, Senior Citizen’s Fellowship, and eleven area prayer groups. These organizations cater to the spiritual needs, nurture Christian character, impart Biblical instruction, and provide opportunity for social interaction to each age group. Today, the Chicago Mar Thoma Church is one of the largest Parishes in the Diocese of North America with over 350 families. We praise God for His amazing grace that sustained and guided us in our growth thus far. Currently, the parish is served by Rev. Aby M. Thomas Tharaken as the Vicar and Rev. Sherin Varghese Oommen as the Assistant Vicar.