Episcopal Visit to St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Chicago

 The St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church of Chicago, located in Lombard, IL, was honored to be visited by our blessed Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius Episcopa, Diocesan Bishop.  The visit of Mar Theodosius was truly a blessed and inspiring one, filled with love and fellowship. He took time out of his busy schedule to spend time with the youth and young couples of the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church of Chicago.  Mar Theodosius delivered a truly deep, profound and inspiring message themed ‘Endurance thru Suffering’.

This message centered around the personal anguish that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was going thru just before he was betrayed.  Jesus suffered great internal turmoil and fulfilled Our Almighty’s Father’s will, for us, the children of GOD.  Mar Theodosius reminded us that we do not have to suffer thru our personal dilemmas ourselves.  Because of Jesus’s suffering and fulfillment of GOD’s will, we can face and overcome all of life’s trials and tribulations with confidence, strength, and peace, in knowing that GOD is with us, always.  He inspired us by revealing to us that life and death are, in fact, two sides of the same coin, and that, in life there is death and in death there is life.   His inspiring and thought-provoking words penetrated through to the very hearts of all who were able to attend this fellowship.  Mar Theodosius went even further and engaged in an honest and open discussion with the youth and the young couples of the Church. He allowed all of us to ask questions and voice our opinions, thoughts and suggestions.  It was truly a blessed time that will be remembered and cherished.

During Mar Theodosius’s visit, he led the First Communicant’s Service, in which 12 children participated, and obtained full communicant membership into the Church.  He, again, delivered an inspiring message, reminding these young members of the beauty, importance, depth and meaning of the Holy Qurbana.  He encouraged the youth to be leaders in the Church and to put a face to the people that they were providing assistance to.  He welcomed these young individuals closer into our global Christian family by inviting them to, and celebrating, the Holy Qurbana with them, their families, and the rest of the congregation. 

This First Communicants Service was truly a ground breaking one and unlike any other that has been celebrated in the past years.  The St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church of Chicago was honored to be the first to be able to witness the introduction of a new song and a new pattern in the celebration of the English Holy Qurbana service.  Due to this fact, we are truly humbled and thankful to the Lord for such a powerful, conscious, and forward-looking Episcopa.

The St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church of Chicago has been working diligently to put together a photo directory of the Church.   This directory is to serve the purpose of increasing the depth and intimacy of the fellowship of our Church.  We were truly blessed to have our precious Mar Theodosius release the first copy of our Church Photo Directory. Mar Theodosius also solemnized the wedding of a young couple from the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church of Chicago and also conducted the Sacrament of Holy Baptism of the Church’s youngest member.  Mar Theodosius took time to visit the sick.  In addition to all of the aforementioned activities, Mar Theodosius also engaged in fellowship with the Executive Committee of our Church.

 We are so happy, humbled, and feel truly blessed to have been able to be visited by our precious Mar Theodosius.  His inspiring words, loving and powerful prayers, and his riveting sermons will resonate in our hearts.  We, the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church of Chicago humbly thank Mar Theodosius for visiting us and spending time with us.  We are also thankful for our beloved Reverend Sabu Thomas Achen, whose guidance and leadership is a blessing to us all.

I wish you all a Happy and Blessed Easter.

Yours in Christ’s Ministry

Mar Theodosius