The Syro-Malabar Eparchy Melbourne took over the Pallotti College in Millgrove on 20 June.
The move came after the Pallotti Fathers ran the religious retreat centre and offered a place for prayer, reflection and renewal for its guests for 60 years.
The Syro-Malabar Eparchy announced the changeover in a Facebook post.
“We are grateful to the Pallottine Fathers for their decades of dedicated ministry,” said eparchial bishop Mar John Panamthottathil.
Mr Panamthottathil said he was humbled to take over the college underneath its new name, Santhom Grove.
It will now function as a pastoral and community resource centre for the Eparchy and its community.
The Syro-Malabar Eparchy stressed that all current retreats, events and ministry activities would continue as normal.
A blessing and inauguration ceremony took place on 11 July and was officiated by major archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church Mar Raphael Thattil.
As an auspice of the Union of Catholic Apostolate, the Pallottine Fathers came to Australia from Germany in 1901 and took over the Beagle Bay Mission in Broome, Western Australia.
From there they spread to other missions in Australia and eventually down to Millgrove where they acquired the Pallotti College in 1955.
The Pallotti Community expressed their farewells on social media after the announcement was made.
“Very sad. But great to hear that it still continues. So many great memories with family and friends,” one account said.
