IMMANUEL MAR THOMA SYRIAN CHURCH, BORIVALI REPORT OF DIOCESAN EPISCOPA’S VISIT  

Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius, our Diocesan Episcopa of Mumbai Diocese, visited Immanuel MTC, Borivali on Sunday 26^th February, 2017. Thirumeni celebrated the Holy Communion along with our Vicar Rev. P J John at 9.00 am.  A total of 21 children (12 boys and 9 girls) partook in the Lord’s Table for the first time. A large number of people approx. 550 attended the service and out of which 386 participated in the Holy Communion.Thirumeni’s brief sermon was based on the gospel portion John Ch:2 v.5-11. The theme for the day was “Time of transformation: Beginning of Great Lent”. Since Feb 26 was the beginning day lent, the gospel portion about Jesus transforming water into wine at Cana was the topic of sermon. He explained in his own style why we should fast? What benefit we get from doing fasting. Fasting means to give up something and to gain something. We need to transcend certain habits in our life. We should taste and see the Lord is good. God cannot be exhausted by your limited understandings.We should find answer to 2 major questions. Who am I & What am I expected to do. In this worldly life, we lose many our values. We have lost love and respect to each other. A doctor can tell you only physiological changes but a transformation in ourselves cannot be detected by a doctor. In a transformation the whole body go through changes. For eg: a worm becoming a butterfly. Like water was transformed to wine, we also need to transform during the Lent season.Many of the times, the most important is the choices we make. If we make a wrong choice, we may end up in a very difficult situation. We should be aware about what is happening around us. Mary had that awareness which resulted into the first miracle in the history.He congratulated the first communicants and encouraged them to have a deeper relationship with God and the fellow human beings and be like a candle which removes darkness.  During the service, a Bible was gifted to them and each one was given a candle which was lit from one of the candles in the altar symbolizing the words of Jesus” I am the light of the world”.Thirumeni’s 68^th birthday was celebrated by cutting a cake and choir sang the song “Happy birthday….. Many children came forward to get share of the birthday cake from Thirumeni’s hands. Vicar Rev. P J John said that Mumbai diocese as well as our Parish is blessed by the presence of Thirumeni for the last one year. Secretary Mr. Mathew Varghese extended vote of thanks. He said that Theodosius Thirumeni is a “True Visionary” as well as a “True Missionary” and looking forward for his able guidance in the coming days. The service ended at 12.30 pm with prayer and benediction followed by Love feast.

With the Vicar Rev. P. J. JohnWith the parish Committee MembersWith the first communicantsCutting the birthday cake and giving to the children one by oneDedication service of the first communicants