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Our Past:
In response to the request
made on 27th October 1977 by the members of
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church residing in and around
Andheri and Vile Parle area, and on the basis of the
report dated 2nd November 1977 of the Diocesan
Secretary, H. G Thomas Mar Makarios, the then Metropolitan
of Bombay, by his order Ref. No. T. M./99/78 dated 26th
June 1978 gave sanction to Rev. Fr. K. T Thomas ( Now H. G
Thomas Mar Athanasius (Metropolitan of the Diocese of
Chengannur) for conducting Holy Qurbana once in a month
for the benefit of the people residing in this area. Thus
a congregation was formed. The first service of this
congregation was solemnized by Rev. Fr K. T Thomas, in
July 1978 at an industrial gala of Mr. Daniel A. Fernandes
of Francis Engineering Co. For the first five months Holy
Qurbana was conducted in St. Xaviers High School Hall at
Vile Parle by Rev. Fr. K. T. Thomas who was the driving
force behind this congregation in the infant stage. His
strong will and leadership nourished and encouraged us a
lot. We express our sincere gratitude to His Grace.
Subsequently Rev. Fr. Thomas Kurian took charge as the
Vicar and continued till 1980. The venue of worship was
shifted to Holy Family School hall and then to the
Ashankur Hall where we continue to assemble for worship,
with the help of the generous and hospitable authorities
of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church. The good office of
Late K. V. Yohannan helped a lot to get this place and
facilities for the worship.
The
congregation has been registered under Bombay Public Trust
Act vide Reg. No. F 5892 and Society Act vide GBBSD 487/79 in October, 1979.
Our Growth:
As
a result of representation made to H. H Moran Mar Baselios
Mar Thoma Mathews I, the then Catholicos, the supreme head
of the Church and to the Diocesan Metropolitan, the
congregation was declared in accordance with the
constitution of Malankara Orthodox Syrian church as a
parish from 1st December 1979 by H. G Dr.
Philipos Mar Theophilus , the then Metropolitan of Bombay
(and Angamali) under his order No. 48/79 dated 14th
November 1979.
Rev. Fr.
Thomas Kurian was appointed as the first parish Vicar. M/s
P. M George and P. E Easo were elected as the Secretary
and the Treasurer respectively during the period of
Congregation and after the establishment of the parish.
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1. Rev. Fr. Thomas
Kurian: (Jan 1979 to Feb 1980) |
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his tenure the venue of worship was shifted from
Holy family High School Hall to Ashankur hall, the
present premises. |
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2. Rev. Fr. M. T. Easo
(March 1980 to May 1988) |
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this period, the membership increased substantially
due to his dedicated services, membership drives and
House Visits. The Financial position also increased
through Fund Raising programs and it was possible to
conduct Holy Qurbana every Sunday. The Fund raised
was the key source for purchasing the Parsonage. |
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3. Rev. Fr. C. J
Varghese (June 1988 to Nov 1991) |
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present parsonage at Bhavani Nagar, Marol was bought
for the church on 1st August 1988. |
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4. Rev. Fr. P. A
Kuriakose (Alichan Achan) ( Dec 1991 to May 1996) |
| A Major
Fund raising program was held under his leadership
at the Dinanath Mangeshkar hall, Vile Parle, Mumbai
and by releasing an excellent souvenir. Under his
initiative, the free medical centre was set up at
Sahar in Andheri-E for the benefit of the poor and
the under privileged. He updated the membership
register and published a Parish Directory. |
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5. Rev. Fr. Scariah
Varghese (Santosh Achan) (June 1996 to Nov 1996) |
| Though
he served for a short spell of 6 months, it was
under his guidance, the first anniversary of the
Free Medical Centre was celebrated in a grand scale
and presided over by H. G Geevarghese Mar Coorilos,
the then Asst. Metropolitan of Mumbai Diocese. A
souvenir was also released for the occasion and the
proceeds formed the Corpus for the Free medical
Centre. |
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6. Rev. Fr. Matthew
Thannimootil (Saji Achan) (Dec 1996 to Nov 1998) |
| Achan
was noted for his oratorical and editorial prowess. |
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7. Rev. Fr. Koshy Alex
(From Nov 1998 onwards...) |
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Land for the proposed new Church has been bought at
Kondivitta in Andheri-E on 22nd February 2002. Fund
Raising programs for the construction of Church have
been Organized. A massive Get Together Feast and
various Picnics were arranged. The MGOCSM and the
Sunday School are active as never before and the
Parish Choir is finally coming of age with the
dedicated services of Eby, an Altar Help to Achan. |
Although
the parish started with only 46 families now it consists
of more than 260 families. We express our sincere respect,
gratitude and obedience to Late Lamented H. H Moran Mar
Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I Catholicos, the incumbent H.
H. Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II Catholicos and
Malankara Metropolitan, Former Diocesan Metropolitan, Late
Lamented Dr. Philipos Mar Theophilus, Our Diocesan
Metropolitan H. G. Geevarghese Mar Coorilos and all the
bishops in our church. We express our love and respect to
out former Vicars who labored and led us in the spiritual
pastures. We also thankfully remember all our church
members, dead and alive, near and far, who sweated and
contributed for the upbringing of this parish.
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