About Us

St. Monica Mission, Hornchurch

St. Monica Mission is a vibrant Syro-Malabar Catholic community based in Hornchurch, operating under the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Great Britain. Our mission was formally inaugurated in December 2018 by Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church.
We are a growing and faith-filled community rooted in the East Syriac liturgical tradition and the teachings of the Catholic Church. Our mission is to worship God, nurture faith, and build a supportive community that serves families, children, youth, and individuals from all walks of life.

✝️ Our Vision
To grow as a Christ-centred community that:
Celebrates the Holy Qurbana with reverence and devotion
Forms children and youth through catechetical formation
Supports families through active ministries
Extends Christ’s love through prayer, service, and fellowship

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Our Community
We are home to over 100 families, many of whom are recent migrants seeking spiritual support, cultural connection, and a deeper sense of belonging. As our numbers grow, so does our commitment to sharing the Gospel and our Syro-Malabar heritage in the UK.

💒 Our Ministries
Catechism for children and youth
Holy Qurbana in Malayalam
Mathruvedi (Mothers’ forum)
Youth Ministry (SMYM)
Altar Servers, Choir, and Women’s Forum
Feast celebrations, retreats, and cultural events

🕊️ Join Us
We warmly welcome you to be part of our mission—whether you are a Syro-Malabar Catholic, exploring your faith, or looking for a spiritual home.
Together, let us follow the example of St. Monica, a model of perseverance and prayer, and grow as a joyful, faithful community in Christ.

Our History

The St Monica Mission has its roots going back nearly two decades. Around 17 years ago, a small group of Syro-Malabar faithful began gathering under the name St Mary’s Mass Centre, celebrating Holy Qurbana and maintaining their Eastern Catholic identity within the Hornchurch parish.

Even before the formal establishment of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Great Britain, we had already begun catechism classes for our children — a humble beginning 18 years ago that laid the foundation for our vibrant faith formation programme.

Following the creation of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy, we continued to operate as St Mary’s Mass Centre, based at St Mary, Mother of God Roman Catholic Church in Hornchurch. We are grateful to the various parish priests of Hornchurch, who have always been welcoming and supportive of our mission.

A significant milestone in our journey came on 5th December 2018, when His Beatitude Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, formally inaugurated the St Monica Mission during a special celebration at Our Lady & St George Church in Walthamstow.

Today, the St Monica Mission continues to grow as a thriving community of faith, currently celebrating weekly Holy Qurbana and catechism sessions at La Salette Roman Catholic Church in Rainham. With God’s grace, and the intercession of our patroness St Monica, we look forward to continuing our journey of faith, fellowship, and service.