February 2010

Dearly beloved in Christ,

Thank God on behalf of our Parish that we could celebrate the 29th Parish day.

I am thankful to all Committee Members and all those who co-operated with them to make our efforts a success. With your prayers and co-operation and presence everything went on well. The Greek used in the NT to denote the church is Ecclesia. It literally means "called out" community. It is a community of believers who have been separated from the rest for a definite purpose. That purpose is seen in the call of Abraham in OT (Gen 12:1-3) Abraham was the founder of a new community instrumental to fulfill God's mission in the world. The church is called to carry out the same mission, namely to co-operate with God in the redemption of humanity, as the community of Abraham was called.

This year the Maramon Convention begins on Sunday the 14th February. This is the place where the largest Christian gathering takes place in Asia. The great reformer of the Syrian Church in Kerala, Palakunnathu Abraham Malpan was from Maramon. Maramon convention invokes spiritual motivation and alight the hearts of thousands every year through the religous preaching. People from all around India and abroad gather to receive the Word of God. Renowned preachers from all over the world come to sow the seed of goodness. On these days special Bible classes takes place for different age groups. There are spearate sessions for awareness making to abstain from alcholism, drugs and more. Let use remeber this convention in our prayers that people who attend the convention may dedicate their lives in service of the Lord.

May the Almighty bless each one of us.

Yours in His Service

Rev. P. E. Mathew

Vicar

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