September 2010

Dearly beloved in Christ,

                Life is the most precocious gift from God. God created man in his own image and likeness. In the creation account in the Bible we read that the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being. It is God’s life giving breath that makes all the difference. Everything else is but dust. Since we share God’s life we have to respect life, not only ours but also others. This is the God given mandate to all the children of God – to look after and take care of the creation.

                The theme of the Youth Fellowship Retreat was ‘Back to Basics-Finding true Life ’‘Our life will become meaningful only in relation with Christ who laid his very life for us as a sacrifice. The Retreat was a time for our youth to meet together for a meaningful discussion, contemplation, introspection and dedication. It is in companionship with the Lord and commitment to the community that our life becomes fruitful. Fullness of life could be achieved and experienced only when we are prepared to lose it. It seems quite paradoxical. Indeed it is beyond our comprehension. How is it possible to experience life by losing life?  Here we have to ponder upon the grain of wheat metaphor used by Jesus in John’s Gospel. “I tell you the truth, unless the kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

                Dietrich Bonheoffer, a German theologian who became a martyr at the age of 34 under the Nazi regime wrote in his book ‘Cost of Discipleship’ - “When Christ calls a man, he wants to follow him and bids him to die for him.” To be a disciple of Christ is a serious and decisive decision to face the worst in this world. Today there is an increasing trend to deny and avoid the cross aspect from Christian life. Everybody wants to have an easy and frictionless life, but Jesus wants us to follow him the way he walked, the life he led –the life of compassion and self denial.

                Our Yuvajana Sakhyam is planning to organize a program –COMPASSION-2010. Though the drama is for entertainment, it aims something far beyond – to address the drama in real life. To ameliorate the sufferings and mitigate the miseries of the weaker and most vulnerable sections of the society was the focus of Jesus ministry of compassion. Through this program the Yuvajana Sakhyam aims to extend financial support ‘ Snehasanketham’ –a project of the Kottayam –Kochi Diocese for the rehabilitation of the mentally challenged children at Peerumed, in the Highrange region and those of others who are in dire need of assistance.

                We believe that it is our Christian responsibility to feel the pulse of the society and to listen to the cries of those in our surrounding and wipe the tears of every eye. I hope that all our members will extend their whole hearted support and co-operation in this endeavor.

With Love and Prayers,

Johnny Achen

Rev. Joseph Johnny (Vicar)

We are blessed to be under the pastoral guidance and leadership of Rev. Joseph Johnny as our new Vicar of St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church NY. Achen's native place is Chengannur and Pretha Kochmma is from Thumpamon. They have two sons, Eben and Reuben, who are in seventh and fourth grades respectively.

Achen is in his 15th year of ministry for the Lord as a priest of the Mar Thoma Church. He had the privilege to serve in different parishes in India such as Jamshedpur, Asansol, Durgapur, Bilaspur, Korba and Ambikapur in Northern India; Edamuri(Ranni), Kothamangalam, Kolenchery,Mamala and finally Keezhvaipur in the Kottayam- Kochi Diocese. Each parish experiences were vivid and varied and was really enriching. 

email Rev. Joseph Johnny at
revjosephjohney@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. Dr. G. 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