October 2009

Dearly beloved in Christ,

Let us thank God for the blessed Parish Convention. God had used respected P.T. Koshy Achen in a wonderful way. The convention was a blessings to all those who have attended. Though there was some weather problem, God had enabled us to attend throughout. It was great that achen could conduct the Holy Communion service in the following Sunday also. Sincere thanks to achen for his sincere efforts. Let us contribute towards the mission work in that area as achen explained the work there, on the basis of the request from the Missionary achen with  Thirumeni’s recommendation.  Achen gave emphasis for repentance in his messages. Repentance means to feel sorry about something that we have spoken or done. We need to examine ourselves to see if our heart is pure as God wants. One can keep on repenting and testify it whenever they get a chance like fasting prayer, new year etc.  without amending the ways. Genuine repentance involves turning one’s back to the old way, to have a transformed attitude. That is what we see in the Parable of the lost son or what we say the prodigal son. Man is never essentially himself until he comes home to God. The son decided to come home and to plead to be taken back not as a son but in the lowest rank of slaves, the hired servants, the men who were only day laborers. He has decided to come to his father. This is a model for us also. Let us have a transformed attitude towards everything.

Now, we are having the Savika Sanghom National conference hosted by us. God has entrusted us with this great privilege and responsibility. I am thankful to all parish members for their joint effort in the preparations and fund raising. Let the fame of our Parish may spread as a fragrance.

May the Almighty God bless each one of us.

Yours in His Mission

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