Dearly Beloved,
Greetings to all of you in the precious name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. This year also God has enabled us to observe the Lent and the Passion of Christ. After the passion we celebrated Easter. We got victory over sin and death. So let us be thankful to Jesus Christ for His Love towards the sinful humanity. I express my sincere thanks to all those who participated in the Lent evening prayers, who opened their houses for conducting this prayer and also in the Lent Special Offertory. We will use that money for charity purpose.
April first Sunday we celebrate as Parish Day. This is the birthday of our Parish and this is the time to give thanks to the Lord and let us dedicate ourselves to the Lord and pray Lord Jesus, ‘THY WILL BE DONE THROUGH OUR PARISH.’ Parish is not a club or a company but it is the communion of Believers. So we should have a Christ like life styles in all our activities wherever we are (in our house, office, church etc.).
We are lighted by Jesus in order to lighten others. We have to propagate The Light of Salvation. This is the Mission of Church. Save the World. It has different dimensions (ecologically, financially, medically, educationally and so on). We are responsible and accountable to the Lord. We cannot live by separating ourselves from the Lord Jesus. Jesus Himself said this. Through our worship and meditation of the Word of God we have to beautify our life.
Our this year’s church retreat is from July 29th to 31st. I request the cooperation of adults, youths and children. We have got two eminent Leaders to lead the sessions and let us make it as a blessed occasion.
I want to visit The MEXICO MISSION ON April 15th and 16thand will celebrate the Holy Qurbana on 16th. Those who want to participate in this, may come with me.This is our Diocesan mission field.
During the month of May and June we celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. A time to praise God for our parents for their pain and suffering they experienced to grow us and to have a bright future to us. May God Almighty again strengthen them to continue their prayers for our bright future. The children also have a responsibility to take care of them when they are sick, when they feel pain. The responsibility is not for a particular day but till their last breath. When they leave this world let them go in peace.
Rt.Rev.Dr.Geevarghese Mar Theodosius Thirumeni is transferred to Mumbai Diocese and Rt.Rev.Dr.Issac Mar Philexinos Thirumeni will be our New Diocesan Episcopa from April 1st onwards. I on behalf of The Mar Thoma Church Of New Jersey express our sincere thanks to Theodosius Thirumeni for His able leadership rendered to the Diocese and do welcome our new Diocesan Episcopa. May the Lord Almighty strengthen Philexinos Thirumeni to work for the upliftment of the people of this Diocese.
May God bless us all,
Philip Mathew Achen