June 2009

Dearly beloved in Christ,

We are entering into the sixth month of the year 2009. In other words we are coming to the half year. This year our Diocesan assembly was held during the month of April. A gist of presidential address by our Diocesan Episcopa is give below. Gist of Thirumeni’s message:- In every Holy Qurbana Service we affirm our faith by saying, Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. The church is in her faith journey now – from the celebration of Christ’s resurrection to His second coming. The journey is meaningful only when the Church finds its relevance in confronting the contemporary issues of the day. ‘Change’ the catch word of the time is quite relevant for us as we think on the transforming power of Christ.

Church is the people of God. (I Pet: 2:9) It is the body of Christ. It is a called out and sanctified community. Ecclesia, the church, is a community, motivated by the Holy Spirit, committed in believing in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and participating in the life and growth of the Kingdom of God. The images of the church in the New Testament are: - Christ’s body (I Cor: 12:27); People of God (1 Pet: 2:9); Servants of God (Mark 10:45); Salt and light of the earth/world (Matt:5:13,14); House hold of God (Eph2:19); Bride of Christ (Eph:2:23), etc.

Church is not a mere bureaucratic organization. It is not an isolated association which we can choose or reject. It is a living and growing community. Acts.2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers.” It is a Christ centered fellowship. The fellowship of the early Christians gathered together regularly, they grew by studying the Holy Scripture, confronted the realities of the day with much prayer. They experienced the presence of the risen Lord and were motivated by the Holy Spirit, to live a meaningful Christian life and to look forward in faith and hope to second coming of Jesus Christ. Today we follow this pattern to make our Christian life meaningful and purposeful.

The Church is not to be conformed to this world but grow to be transformed in obedience to the higher divine call given by the risen Jesus. The local parish does not simply exist but becomes a dynamic presence in engaging herself in the places and nations where God has placed us as a liberating force, liberating people from all the evil forces that dehumanize them. There is a need now to re - invent the church, re-read the scriptures and liturgy and re-vision the mission and ministry of the church in the contemporary world that is fast changing.

Church is an alternate community because it is not conforming itself with the things of the world, but transforming in obedience to the divine will. It remains dynamic in the process and presenting herself as a pleasing sacrifice to God. Let us be active participants in the total mission and ministry of our Church.

May the Almighty bless each one of us.

Yours in His Service,

Babu Achen

Rev. P. E. Mathew

Rev. P. E. Mathew (Vicar)

We are blessed to be under the pastoral guidance and leadership of Rev. P. E. Mathew as Vicar of St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church NY. Achen's native place is Kallooppara and Laly Kochmma is from Varikkadu, Tiruvalla. They have one son, Eby, who is finishing his BSc in Mangalore.

Achen and family had been in the Karnataka Missions Field (Hoskote, Mundugod, Sirsi Sankeshwar, Kunta) for several years and then served in Kerala. The last parish they ministered at was in the Sultan Bathery and Nilambur area.

email Rev. P. E. Mathew at
babuachen@yahoo.com 

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 - April 2007