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INTRODUCTION
Once again God has given us an opportunity to meet together as the
representatives of the parishes in the Diocese of Calcutta to review the
past year and to plan for the future. The reporting year witnessed great
activity in all our parishes and institutions. The following is only a
brief report of the life of our diocese from the last annual general
body meeting held in March 2006 to September 2006, while the accounts
statements are from I April 2005- 31 March, 2006.
METROPOLITAN
The diocesan metropolitan, H. G. Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius is
giving able leadership in all the diocesan activities. Being the Senior
Metropolitan of the Church, His Grace has to shoulder some
responsibilities in the Head Quarters at Kottayam too. Much of the time
of His Grace is spent in traveling to different parts of the diocese as
the area is very vast, almost 1/3 of India.
ANNUAL GENERAL BODY
The 27th annual general body of the Calcutta orthodox diocesan council
was held on 25th March at St. Thomas Mission Centre Bhilai.
His Holiness Moran Mor Baselios MarThoma Didmos I, the
Catholicos the Malankara Metropolitan and His Grace Dr. Stephanos
Mar Theodosius were present. Homage was paid to the late lamented
H.H. Moran Mar Baselios MarThoma Mathews II who passed away on Jan 26th
2006. Fr. Raju Thomas and Mr. V.C. Ninan gave the condolence messages.
Then the whole assembly prayed for the departed soul. Thereafter the
welcome ceremony for the new Catholics was conducted. Rev. Fr. K.C.
Mathews and Mr. Johnykutty gave the welcome addresses. H.H. said he was
thankful for the Metropolitan and the people for giving such a warm
welcome, which was the first one outside kerala after his enthronement
as the Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitan. He exhorted the member s
to remember the church and the leaders in their daily prayers and the
priests to do so in their Holy Qurbanas.
In His presidential address the diocesan Metropolitan stressed the need
for working harder to achieve our goals. The educational and social
activities are part of our mission. So the parish members should take
greater care for the institutions in their area.
26 priests, 28 lay members, 4 Sabha Managing Committee members, 6
Council members and 3 special invitees attended the meeting.
It was decided that the first Sunday in November should be observed as
St. Thomas Mission Day and cover collection should be made.
It was also decided that Rs. 250 should be collected for each marriage
conducted in the churches in diocese as Marriage Kaimuth and the same
should be sent to the Diocese.
DIOCESAN OFFICE
Mr. C. K. Varghese, Mr. Saji Thomas, Mr. Jose are doing the works of the
diocese and mission very sincerely. The diocesan secretary along with
Fr. James Varghese and Raju Thomas is coordinating the office. Mr. Binu
John has been transferred from the diocesan office to MPCCET. We record
our deep gratitude and appreciation of the valuable service of Mr. Binu
John for the diocese. Any suggestion for improvement the office system
is most welcome.
RECEPTION TO HIS HOLINESS MORAN MAR
BASELIOS DIDIMOSI
AND THE CLOSING OF THE SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS OF DIOECESE
His Holiness Didimos I, the
Catholicos and the Malankara Metropolitan was given a warm welcome by
the members of the diocese. H.H. arrived at Raipur on 24th March 2006
and was escorted to Bhilai after the reception in St. Mary’s Church,
Raipur. Then H.H. was given a rousing welcome at Bhilai MGM School and
St. Thomas Mission Centre. H. H. participated in the annual general body
of the diocese on 25th where Thirumeni was facilitated by the various
parishes of the diocese. H.H. was the chief guest for the closing of the
silver jubilee celebrations of the diocese and the anniversary of St.
Thomas Mission held on 26th . H. H. inaugurated the Gramjyoti Village
Project for the Villages in Sarni, M.P. and distributed the certificates
for the trainees of the Durg jail. Mr. Joy Oommen, IAS, Secretary, CG
Government and Mr. AK Pandey, Supt. District Jail, Durg spoke on the
occasion.
i)
Jubilee Memorial Institution and Diocesan Centre at Kolkata
The construction work is in progress for the center in Kolkata in the
land bought by St. Thomas Cathedral, Calcutta and handed over to the
Diocese. We would like to thanks the Vicar of St. Thomas Orthodox
Cathedral, Kolkata and the project committee for their commendable work.
ii) Charitable Health Centre at Bhopal
St. Gregorios Church Kuwait had sponsored the second project,
Charitable Health Centre at Bhopal. The land was already
purchased after the Bhopal Gas tragedy for any such relief work. The
vicar and the members of St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral Bhopal are fully
dedicated to this project. We would like to thanks the above parishes
and the people for their support.
iii) Livelihood Project for Villagers at Samad Pipariya, Jabalpur
In fact the third project was already running. It was an outcome of the
devastating earthquake in Samad Pipariya, near Bhopal. We had already
built 70 houses for the people. After that we had started Balvadi, free
nutrition programme, for the children, free medical assistance and
health awareness programmes. Now we have started training for tailoring
and garment making. We have a readymade dress production unit. We have
also started production of medical plants with the help of state Forest
Research Institute. These activities are intended to ensure a stable
income for the villagers. Jabalpur St. George and Hathithal Mar
Gregorios parishes and St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary are
helping this project. Our thanks are due to these organizations.
iv) Monastery and Charitable Organization at Nagpur
5 acres of land was purchased near Nagpur for this project. It is under
cultivation now.
v) Social Service Centre at every Parish of Calcutta Diocese
Some parishes are active in the social work. But our goal is that in
every parish there will be a social service wing and connected
activities. The priests and the members should keep the pledge which
they have taken during the inauguration of the Jubilee.
vi) “Vimochan” Prisoners Rehabilitation Project:
Empowerment of the misplaced in the society. As per the request of the
Superintendent of District Jail, Durg, we started the project on May I,
2004. The first batch started with 11 students in Electrical and in
Electronics each, in the community hall of the prison. The salary of the
instructors, the gadgets and the consumable items, furniture etc. were
provided by the diocese and mission. The first batch ended on 31st March
2005. The total expenditure was about 1 lakh Rupees. The next batch
started on I April 2005 and ended on 31 March 2006. The courses are (1)
Electrical- 20 students (2) Electronics – 20 Students (3) Computer – 21
Students. We also started tailoring Classes for women prisoners from I
Octobers 2004 and Medical Lab Technology classes from I Sept. 2005.The
classes (both theory and practical) are conducted by qualified and
experienced instructors. Written and oral examinations are conducted and
certificates are issued. We would like to put on record the valuable
services of Fr. PT Thomas, Fr. James Varghese, Mr. Rajan George, and the
Jail authorities. We would also thanks St. Thomas College and M.P.
Christian College of Engineering and Technology for the necessary help
and for providing computers, Electrical and Electronics goods, lab
equipments, Chemicals etc. and St. Thomas Mission for supplying the
tailoring machines. Now we are approached by the authorities to open
such training courses in other jails of the state.
vii) Souvenirs
The souvenir about the diocese and the metropolitan in Malayalam, titled
“Stephanos Mar Theodosius, Manushya Sevanathilekkulla Prayanam” was
released on 6th August in a colorful function at Kottayam. Mr. Thomas
Neelarmadom, the famous Malayalam writer had prepared the book. It was
sponsored by Mr. Jacob Varghese, a members of Kuwait parish.
A documentary film “Gramangalil Sooryodayam” sponsored by the Muscat Mar
Gregorios parish was released on 17th September, at Devalokam. We
express our gratitude for the above people and parishes for the
initiative to bring out these souvenirs.
CONSECRATION
His Holiness Bava Thirumeni consecrated and laid the foundation of the
new cross shrine in front of the gate of St. Thomas Ashram.
ORDINATION
Dn. Anil Varghese and Dn. P.S. Varghese were ordained by our
metropolitan on 12th June at St. George Orthodox Valiya Palli and 5th
August at Mulund Church Bombay, respectively. Brothers Sanju John and
Aju Varghese were ordained as deacons on 20th April 2006 at the Bhilai
Mission Chapel by the Metropolitan.
APPOINTMENTS AND TRANSFERS
Fr. K. K. Joseph from korba to Raipur and Bhilai.
Fr. K. S. George from Jagadalpur to Raipur.
Fr. Jacob Thomas from Pitambur to Jagdalpur.
Fr. Joby Peter from Kuwait to Pitambur.
Fr. Jose K. Varghese from Raipur to Kuwait.
Fr. Abraham Thomas from Ahmadi to Indore.
Fr. Joseph Sunny John from Indore to Ahmadi.
Fr. Giju George from Ranchi to Chandrapur.
Fr. Shaji Joshua from Chandrapur to Ranchi.
Fr. K. I. Varghese from Salalah to Patna.
Fr. Soman Varghese from Patna to Salalah.
Fr. Anil Varghese to Bhopal.
Fr. P.S. Varghese to Korba.
Fr. Dn. Sijin Mathew to Jabalpur – Pipariya and Sarni.
ST. THOMAS ORTHODOX THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
The second Seminary of our church is doing commendable service by
training future priests especially for the four dioceses in India
outside kerala. Our Metropolitan is still the working president, and the
priests from our diocese are serving as visiting faculty.
The following students are sponsored by our diocese:
V
Year II Year
Dn. Sanju John Br. Shibu K.
Dn. Aju K. Varghese Br. Jaise K. George
Br. Geevarghese Varghese
IV Year
Br. Jobin PT
Br. Binoj M. Baby
III Year I Year
Br. Abraham P.J. Br. Renju Koshy
Br. John Jacob Br. Aji
Br. Saju V. Philip Br. Lejo
SPIRITUAL ORGANIZATIONS
Mr. K.C. Eapen and the team are rendering valuable service for the
Sunday School Children. The Diocesan Sunday School general body and
competition for students was organized in St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral,
Bhopal on 21.01.06. The Metropolitan and the diocesan secretary had
taken part in it, apart from aother dignitaries.
Martha Mariam Samajam had the annual conference in St. George church,
Jabalpur from 1-2 November 2005. Our Metropolitan, Fr. George Mathew,
Fr. Dr. Reji Mathew, the principal of Nagpur Seminary, Fr. Abraham P.
George and Fr. Mathew Cherian and others gave the leadership. Mrs. Beena
John continues to be the secretary.
The student and youth movement are active in most of the parishes. Fr.
Kurien John gives leadership this movement. The annual conference of
MGOCS and Youth movement is being held now in the same premises.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
The twenty six schools and the Two colleges in our diocese are
functioning well. We record with appreciation the work of vice
presidents, committee Members for the progress of the institutions. Fr.
James Varghese is In charge of the schools.
Prof. K.M. Kuriakose has been retired from St. Thomas College and had shifted
to Kerala. We are grateful to him for his valuable service to the
diocese and mission for many years.
VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Even though the agencies like CARE and CMAI had stopped their support
for Abhaya Niketan Makkodiya, St. Thomas Mission is putting in the
necessary amount for maintaining the staff and the work in some
villages. We are continuing the work in 15 villages with our own funds.
Abhaya Niketan Samad Pipariya, and Jagdalpur are continuing the
vocational training and balvadis. The sisters of St. Thomas convent are
conducting tailoring classes and balvadis in and around Kurud village.
The new project at Sarni, “Gramjyothi” serves ten villages there. |