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 |
Vicars
of
the
Past
Quarter
Century
|
||
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 |