November 2004

 

Dearly beloved in Christ,

Greetings to you all in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

As members of this Parish, we are able to experience His love, care and protection in our lives in the days that have passed. Church is a community of pilgrimage! Let us place our trust, confidence and hope in Christ and witness this in all our situations and circumstances.

During this month, our parish is observing different special programs such as World Sunday School day, Thanksgiving day, Youth Fellowship musical Concert, Family Sunday, mission Sunday etc etc. Why do we observe these days? Is it just to collect the offertory? No. We are reminded that what we do today as individuals, families and parish will greatly affect out next generation in molding and shaping their future. We have great responsibility towards them and to our Lord in leading a life of faith and witness.

We are going to celebrate thanks giving day. How many of us really use it to give thanks to the Almighty Lord? We should always be thankful to the Lord. The psalmist says in Psalm 107 "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for His mercy endures forever".

The 'Twenty-five Day Lent' begins on the first of December. Christians have traditionally applied a name to these days of preparation leading up to Christmas Day. We call it the 'Season of Advent'. When we look forward to the coming of Christ into the world, let us prepare ourselves for the great celebration of Christmas. Let us always be happy with the Lord.

Yours in Christ's Love

Jojan Achen

Rev. Jojan Mathews John (Vicar)

We are blessed to be under the pastoral guidance and leadership of Rev. Jojan Mathew John as Vicar of St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church NY. Achen's mother parish in India is Kuttapuzha Varicadu Sehion Mar Thoma Church located inThiruvalla. Achen attended college at Mar Thoma College, Thiruvalla; completed his M. Phil. from Bombay and received a Bachelors in Divinity from Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam.

Rev. Jojan M. John was ordained as a priest in the Mar Thoma Church on July 6, 1994 and has served as Vicar previously at Trivandram Quillon Diocese (Kovilloor , Mezhacodu, Melpalai and Kuttamala[Kulasekharam Center] ) for five years and Mar Thoma Church Thane, Mumbai for five years.

Jojan Achen was the convener for Land for Landless project and council member of the Trivadram Quilon Diocese. He served also as the president of the 35th Western India Youth Conference in 2001, Mumbai. In his many roles Achen has served very well as an administrator, organizer, and is also a talented singer.

Achen's wife is Mrs. Susan Mathews John BSc, BEd, and children, Vishakh John Mathews, age 5, and Vrindha Chinnu Mathews, age 2. Achen's father, Rev. V. K. John, is a senior priest of the Mar Thoma Church.

 

Jojan Achen's Address in India is:

Varikkamakkal House

Chumathra P.O.

Kuttapuzha, Thiruvalla 689103

Phone: 0469-2601424

 

 

email Jojan Achen at
revjmj@yahoo.co.in
 

 

Vicars of the Past Quarter Century
(including Vicars of the Mar Thoma Congregation of Greater New York)


Mar Thoma Congregation of Greater New York
Rev. Oommen Koruthu (Student Achen later elevated as 
Bishop Zacharias Mar Theophilus)
May 1975 — Aug. 1975
Rev. K. S. Mathew   (Student Achen) Sept. 1975 – Sept. 1977
Rev. Thomas P. George    (Student Achen) Sept. 1977 – Aug. 1979
(Late) Rev. M. V. Benjamin      Sept. 1979 – May 1981

St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, New York
(Late) Rev. M. V. Benjamin Co-Chairman Ad-hoc Committee Church in formation     Oct. 1980 - Jan. 1981 
  Vicar                                        Jan. 1981 - May 1981
(Late) Rev. K. J. Philip Co-Chairman  Ad-hoc Committee Church in formation  Oct. 1980 - Jan. 1981
  Associate Vicar                      Jan. 1981 - Aug. 1981
Rev. N. M. Cherian Vicar of all Mar  Thoma Congregations in New York May 1981 - June 1983
Rev. Dr. T. Jacob Thomas      (Student Achen)  
  Assistant Vicar July 1981 - May 1983
  Vicar     June 1983 - Mar. 1985
Rev. George Varghese   Mar. 1985 - April 1989
Rev. Johnson Varghese          June 1989 - May 1992
Rev. Dr. T. P. Abraham      June 1992 - May 1995
Rev. P. M.  Thomas   May 1995 - April 1999
Rev. K. Y. Jacob             May 1999 - June 1999
Rev. Thomas P. Chandy      June 1999 – May 2002
Rev. Dr. K. A. Abraham        May 2002 - August 2004
Rev. Jojan Mathews John   May 2004 - Present