Sanggareddy, Andra Pradesh

Visit of Mar Theodosius to Mission fields in Sanghareddy, Andhra Pradesh
On Monday, May 9, 2011 Theodosius Thirumeni visited the various mission works in the Sanghareddi area near Secunderabad,India which Thirumeni initiated while being the Episcopa of the chennai-Bangalore Diocese.The first place Thirumeni revisited along with achens and Local Advisory Committee members was Ibrahimbad Mar Thoma church.

The evangelist and his family stay in the church premises and reach out to the nearby villages. The St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Ramachandrapuram helped this mission in constructing the place of worship. Villagers including women and children gathered to greet Thirumeni and sang songs and read the Bible. Thirumeni addressed the gathering which also was the inaugural session for the Vacation Bible School.

Chakriyal Mar Thoma Church was the next station in the visit. This is a place where Thirumeni discovered some believers as sheep without shepherd. Theodosius Thirumeni took this as a challenge and appointed Rev. Abraham Chacko as the first missionary and helped the community to complete the building of the place of worship.

The community met the requirement of the church and therefore the Episcopal Synod recognized them as the first Mar Thoma parish in the Sanghareddy region. Believers while interacting with Thirumeni, expressed the need to have a training centre in the Jerusalem Mar Thoma church premises to start a tailoring class for the young women of the area. Thirumeni spoke to the congregation assembled in the church and gave blessings.
Gongloor St Paul’s Mar Thoma Church was the last parish in Thirumeni’s day of visit to the region. The enthusiasm of the villagers helped the missionary Rev. Abraham Chacko to work with Evangelist David and family to gather together the villagers in a shed for regular worship and bible study. This humble beginning paved way to the purchase of two and a half acres of agricultural land in the village. The Ascension Mar Thoma Church, Hyderabad responded to the need for a suitable worship place with an annexe devoted for training women and children. The presence of Evangelist David and his wife in the premises of the church helps community formation and community living. Thirumeni addressed the gathering.

Thirumeni was gladly welcomed by the assembled gathering in all places with garlands and respectful greetings. Thirumeni had tea, refreshment and lunch at the mission fields. Presently Rev. Manjunath Sunder is the missionary achen staying in Sanghareddi and leading the mission activities with the help of the evangelists.

Understanding the need to have a common meeting place for the Mar Thoma members in this mission area Thirumeni and the members of the visiting team discussed the possibility of purchasing some land in Shivampet area adjacent to the one bought by the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Secunderabad Hyderabad to house the missionary achen. This is to be pursued further. Thirumeni appreciated the co-operation of all the parishes in Secunderabad-Hyderabad area in strengthening the mission activities and the lead given by Chennai-Bangalore Diocese. Travelling with thirumeni was an insightful experience for the team members.
The achens and other members thank Thirumeni for his enthusiasm and commitment to the mission
activities in this region.
Rev. Dr. Sham P. Thomas
Vicar, MTC, Secunderabad
To view more photos, please visit:
https://picasaweb.google.com/marthomadiocese/MissionFields?authkey=Gv1sRgCNjvtbja–GyqAE#