Parish History

Description

 

 St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church New York

  - A Brief History

   Author -  P.T. Thomas, Secretary

Introduction

The immigration and Naturalization Act of 1917 and 1924 restricted the immigration of any one from Eastern Europe and all of Asia including India. Persons of Indian origin were generally not permitted to immigrate to the United States. The immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 lifted this restriction, primarily due to the civil rights movement led by Dr Martin Luther King and established a seven-category preference system for immigration. This system explained how visas should be given out in order of importance which prioritized individuals who were relatives of U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, professionals, and other individuals with specialized skills. The seven-category preference system is divided by family preferences and skill-based preferences. The family preferences included unmarried children of United States citizens, unmarried children and spouses of permanent residents, married children and their dependents of United States citizens, and siblings and their dependents of United States citizens. The skilled preferences included individuals and their dependents who had exceptional abilities and knowledge in Arts and/or Science.

Our beginning

 With the passing of the 1965 Immigration and Naturalization act,  people from India were able to migrate to the United States and amongst them many people of the Nursing Profession. In due   course their spouses and other immediate family members also joined them. This necessitated the worship in their traditional language and using their liturgy. Members of the Mar Thoma faith   were not different. The first Mar Thoma worship in the United States was held in Union Seminary Chapel in New York City in February 1971 led by a student Achen studying at Princeton University. Thereafter, regular Mar Thoma worships were held from April 9, 1972, under the leadership of Mr. Joseph Mattackal at All Saints Lutheran Church in Jamaica, Queens. The officers included Mr. George P. Kurian (Secretary) Mr. Thomas Mathew, Mr. Koshy P. Thomas and Mr. Mathew V. Zachariah. Later on, Mr. Mammen C. Jacob led the worship services.  Hence Mar Thoma Church in the United States is a Laity Movement. Malankara Sabha Tharaka and Yuvadeepam wrote about this event in their publications.

Simultaneously, another worshipping community by the name of Mar Thoma -CSI congregation also began their services once a month. The church authorities back in India were not in favor of establishing Mar Thoma Churches in the United States and they encouraged the members to attend local churches.

Mar Thoma Congregation of Greater New York

The need for continuing their original form of worship was very important to members and they insisted for approval. Finally, the Mar Thoma Congregation of Greater New York was formed on May 18, 1975, and it was officially approved by the Church on January 5, 1976, by Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan. Rev. K.S. Mathew who was already leading the services was approved as the Vicar of the congregation. The Executive Committee with the following members was constituted: - Dr. T.M. Thomas (Vice President) Mr. Joseph Mattackal (Secretary) Mr. M. V. Thomas (Joint Secretary), Mr. Jacob Chacko (Treasurer) Mr. A. Abraham, Mr. M.K. Thomas, Mrs. Baby Thomas and Mr. Mammen C. Jacob (lay Leader). Mr. T. S. Yohannan and Mr. P.K. Thomas Vaidyan were the Auditors. Members of the Congregation lived in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Ad-hoc Committee

Congregation originally had a membership of 79 families. By the end of 1979, the number increased to 350 families and as such there were efforts to divide the congregations to meet the convenience of the members who were spread throughout the Tri State Area and also due to many other reasons.  After a visit by the then Metropolitan Alexander Mar Thoma, he sent out a Kalpana on September 7, 1980, authorizing the division of the congregation to four parishes. An ad-hoc Committee consisting of Rev. K.J. Philip (Co-Chairman), Rev. M.V. Benjamin (Co-Chairman), Mr. V.P. Abraham (secretary) Mr. T.S. Yohannan (Treasurer), Mr. P.M. Thomas, Mr. George Oommen, Mr. John K. Abraham, Mr. K.C. Thomas and Dr. T. M. Thomas (Members) was formed in October 1980 for the purpose of the formation of St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church. The committee prepared a list of 63 families who geographically were the residents of Manhattan, Bronx, Yonkers and the adjoining areas to the North. They also made arrangements with the Episcopal Diocese of New York for the use of Synod Hall as a place of worship for six months.

St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church New York

By the Kalpana dated January 2, 1981, of the then Diocesan Bishop Thomas Mar Athanasius, the name and membership of St Thomas Mar Thoma Church NY was approved. St Thomas Mar Thoma Church NY was dedicated on January 25, 1981, and thereafter we celebrate our parish day on 4th Sunday in January. Our Sunday School and Area Prayer groups were organized in 1981 itself.

Our first place of worship, Synod Hall of the Episcopal Diocese of New York was rented to us for worship for a period of six months, but we continued there until March of 1990. Though we were in search of our own place of worship, we were able to achieve that only in March 1990. Meanwhile we bought a property in the town of Clarkstown in Rockland County with the hope of developing that to build a Church which we still own. Since there were a number of impediments in developing that property, our search for a place of worship continued. Finally on March 15, 1990, we bought our current place of worship for an amount of

$ 925,000 which was a huge amount at that time. The dedication of the parish was held on June 2, 1990, led by Philipose Mar Chrysostom Suffragan Metropolitan who was the Diocesan Bishop at that time. He also declared that the third floor of our parsonage as the Diocesan headquarters. Rev. Johnson Varghese was the Vicar at that time.       Mr. Kochumman Geevarghese was the building Committee Convener, and the deed was signed by the Trustees Mr. Raju Varughese and Late Mr. Thomas P.K. Vaidyan.

Our parish as the pioneer

Our parish was the pioneer in many fields. We started the Youth Conference, the Junior Conference for the Sunday School children, and the regional activities for the Yuvajana Sakhyam including the Youth Camps participating all youths in NY, NJ, CT and PA areas.

Our Mission Activities

We started Vazhichal Mission to commemorate our 25th Anniversary. The Mission activities continued for many years and then had to be discontinued due to various reason. Our youths distributed Turkeys during Thanksgiving to the needy neighbors. Our youths organize Memorial Day BBQ for our neighbors, and it was well attended. We distribute clothes to the needy in the neighborhood. Our youths participated in the Neighborhood Mission, Native American Mission and other Mission activities of the Diocese. Our Yuvajana Sakhyam and Sevika Sanghom supported a lot of mission activities both in the United States and in India including building houses for homeless, providing marriage aid, supporting higher education and helping the sick and needy. The yearly Arts Festival of the Yuvajana Sakhyam, the Family Night of the Sevika Sanghom and the Choir Fest of Our Choir are programs worth mentioning. The St. Thomas Invitational Tournament organized by our Youth Fellowship brought teams from all over the United States. We also actively supported the Light to Life Mission of the Diocese. We also started a mission to provide transportation to our own members who are elderly and not able to drive. Our helping hands Mission provided food and other support to the homebound people during Covid time. Fourth Soil of our Youth Fellowship did commendable services to the needy in the neighborhood. .

Women and Youth Empowerment

Our parish supported and encouraged women and youths to take active roles in the parish life. Amongst our women Mrs. Elsy Jube, Mrs. Marykutty Thomas, Mrs. Neena S Philip and Ms. Bindu Koshy held official positions. Mrs. Marykutty Thomas also served as the Diocesan Secretary of the Sevika Sanghom. Mr. Anil Abraham, Mr. John Abraham, Mr. Ullas Thannickal, Mr. John C Thomas, Mr. Saji Kochumman, Mr. Simon Ninan, Mr. Sujin Samuel, Mr. Jobby Thomas, Mr. Ashley Varghese, Mr. Sunil Varghese, Mr. Blessen Kurian. Mr. Bino Chacko, Mr. Nobin Vaidian, Mr. Roshan Abraham Thomas, Mr. Shajy Mathai, Mr. Bobby Eapen, Mr. Varghese John, Mr. Roni Mathew, Mr. Saju V Mathew are amongst the youths who held official positions in the Church.

Our Programs

Our Edavaka Mission continues to be a vital organization of the parish providing spiritual support to our families. Edavaka Mission organizes lent prayers and other prayer events. As the time passed, many of our original members became elderly which necessitated the formation of the Senior Citizens Fellowship which conducts study classes every first and third Thursdays.

Every year, we conduct Retreat for the Executive Committee Members and Organizational Committee Members. We also hold Student dedication, graduate recognition program, picnic, Convention, Retreat, Thanksgiving Program, Christmas House caroling, Christmas Carol Service and Watchnight Service in addition to our regular Holy Communion Service in English for the first wo weeks of the month and in Malayalam for the last two weeks of the month.

We also hosted the Diocesan Family Conference in 2004 and various other regional and organizational conferences. 

Covid was a difficult time for us as for people everywhere. We had to close the church for some time and then re-open gradually. However, we were able to conduct all our programs through Zoom and thereby maintain contact and fellowship with our members. At this time there is no restriction on the number of participants but sign in and face masks are required to participate in the service. Our members continue to provide leadership in the Diocesan and Church activities.

Our Departed Leaders

A number of members who provided leadership to us physically departed us to be with the Lord. Zacharias Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan as Rev. Oommen Koruth was our first Vicar and also our former Vicars Rev. M.V. Benjamin and Rev. K.J. Philip physically left us. Dr. T.M. Thomas,      Mr.T.S. Yohannan, Mr. Thomas P.K. Vaidyan, Mr. P.M. Mathews, Dr. M. S. Isaac, Mr. C.G. Abraham, Mr. T. V. Mathews, Mr. John Kurian and Mrs. Marykutty Thomas are amongst the departed who held official positions in the parish. In addition,  a number of members who served the parish in the Executive Committee and through the organizations also left us. They include, but are not limited to Mr. John George, Mr. Abraham Philipose, Mr. P.M. Varghese, Mr. Thomas John,   Mrs. Annamma Thomas, Mrs. Mary Mathews, Mrs. Joice Jolly and Mr. P.T. Mathew. We fondly remember them and are indeed grateful for their services.

Conclusion

We completed forty years as St Thomas Mar Thoma Church NY and 31 years in our current church Building. I want to thank God for the manifold blessings he had showered upon us from our very humble beginning to date. We also pray that our younger generation continue to participate and provide leadership in the Church activities and carry on the vision of their parents and grandparents who went through the tedious tasks of establishing the church, finding a place to worship and buying our own church building.  

 

Taking into consideration our services in the Neighborhood, City of Yonkers named the Street in front of our Church as Thomas Mar Thoma Way.