The idea was proposed to and approved by the council of MGOCSM North America. The initiative of the First National Orthodox College Retreat was taken by Ajay Mathew and John Michael Chacko, and further grew with the formation of a committee in the Dallas area with the support and prayers of various clergy and laity. It is through much prayer and hard work that the initial dream of an Orthodox College Retreat eventually became a reality on Thursday, March 15, 2012. This 4 day retreat took place at the Tally Retreat Center at Camp Copass in Denton, Texas from Thursday, March 15 through Sunday, March 18, 2012.

Our Mission Statement: An open, collegiate atmosphere in which to discuss the different religions one will be faced with and also the deferring trial and tribulations that one goes through in a college environment, all leading towards a reaffirmation in Orthodoxy.

The theme chosen for the retreat was “Take a Stand”. The theme was taken from Ephesians 6:12-13: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” As college students, we go through a lot of struggles whether it be in classes, in relationships or in Church. We often do not take a stand because we do not know how to. That’s why we split the theme to have 3 different categories in order to thoroughly address these aspects: Take a Physical stand, Take a mental stand, and Take a Spiritual stand.

The main speakers for this retreat was Fr. Stephen Lawrence from Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Lowell, Massachusetts and Dn. Daniel Mathai who currently resides in Houston, Texas as the youth minister at St. Gregorios Orthodox Church. Searching for speakers, we wanted people who would not only be great speakers but also relate to the college students and help us to be able to apply what we learn once we leave OCR.

Since it took place during Great Lent, only vegetarian food was served. This along with the canonical hours of prayer were some of the ways we tried to implement the Orthodox way of life as practical for a college student. The retreat had various fun activities such as getting to know each other through a game we called Speed Friending and Capture the flag in the dark. There were small discussion groups according to age that took place before the main speaker sessions. This helped to get an understanding of the topic first and to raise questions within the individuals so that they may get answered during the main speaker session. The Love Jesus, Hate/Love Religion videos were also shown in order to demonstrate the influence social media and the internet has on us. We should be careful to filter the information especially from the internet in order to only absorb the truth.

Participants learned how to change a tire and how to wear a tie as well as putting on a sari and applying makeup. The participants bonded in the guys and girls sessions while discussing the various struggles we go through and overcoming them. A cooking game based on the tv show, Chopped also took place where the groups were given certain food items found in a college dorm/apartment and asked to make a meal out of it in the allotted time.

We wanted to keep this retreat small so that the participants could gain more from it and they wouldn’t be as hesitant to ask questions or speak out as they might with a larger crowd. The purpose behind this retreat was to reaffirm our faith in Orthodoxy and to come in unity as we realize that as young adults in this world, there are certain to be struggles; but with each other’s help and prayer, we are able to take a stand. Therefore, with the hard work and prayers of the Founding Fathers (12 committee members), Speakers, and many others, the First National Orthodox College Retreat produced its Alpha Class of 2012. Glory be to God.
Stoumen kalos (Let us stand and stand we well).

Speakers: Fr. Stephen Lawrence, Rev. Dn. Daniel Mathai

Committee Members: Fr. Mat Alexander, Ajay Mathew, John Michael Chacko, Juel Raju, Lijin Raju, Angie Thomas, Merlyn Varughese, Christine Varghese, Divine Paul, Angela John, Priya Mathew, Jithin Zachariah

Participants: Joffrin Alexander, Sherrin Alexander, Sharon Assariathu, Jake Chandy, Georgie George, Kathey George, Swapna George, Jobin Jacob, Simi Jacob, Richy James, Jeffrey John, Joel John, Sabin John, Steven John, Vipin John, Ajin Joy, Ajith Joy, Tincy Oommen, Babitha Palathumthalackal, Cheryl Rajan, Cybil Rajan, Aju Thomas, Danny Thomas, Jainy Thomas, Allen Varghese, Ashley Varghese, Nancy Varghese.

# Media wing to hold its maiden meeting in July before Holy Synod meets
# Aims at media coordination rather than control, says Metropolitan
# Media men to be recognised and honoured for their contributions

MUSCAT: Metropolitan Pulikkottil Dr Geevarghese Mar Yulios, is the new Vice Chairman of Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church’s media wing for the Outside Kerala region.

In his comments to Indian Orthodox Herald (IOH) and Malankara Orthodox TV (M.TV) during his recent visit to Muscat, the Metropolitan emphasized that the new media wing both print and the visual, besides playing meaningful roles will also help in disseminating information about church ministry to the various news channels.

The Metropolitan’s assurance has come as a boost to the media fraternity with its promises to do more.

Excerpts from the interview:

The holy Episcopal Synod has appointed you as Vice Chairman of Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church’s media wing. What role do you visualize…

This will be a new role which has been bestowed on me by the Holy Episcopal Synod. After this new set up, Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church has hence decided to vest total charge of the foreign media section towards a metropolitan.

My role will be to disseminate various Church news and doctrines to Malankara Sabha community all over the world.

The wing will look after both print and the visual media. It will work under the Presidentship of Chengannur Diocese Metropolitan HG Thomas Mar Athanasius and Niranam Diocese Metropolitan Dr Yuhanon Mar Chrysostomos. HG Mar Athanasius will look after activities in Kerala while myself will head the media for all Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church activities in the Outside Kerala region. We will meet soon to chalk out our future programmes.

What will be the main aims and programmes of the wing..

Let me make few things very clear. The media wing has not been formed with the intention to control the media but to help the freelancers in their work.

We will go to any extent to provide information to freelance journalists with providing latest information about the church activities and the ministry. Let me make it clear that the church will not control the media with a tight leash. But we will disseminate whatever information we have and also accept and honour Christian media workers.

The Holy Episcopal Synod is also very clear on this. The media cell will also act as a platform for media watch and alert.

When is the committee you likely to meet

The new committee has not met so far after its formation. We have planned to meet by July before the Holy Episcopal Synod meets in August for its customary sitting. We plan to discuss few matters in our meeting and will come up with proposals to be presented at the Holy Synod meeting.

Can you explain on the type of media watch and how it will act on..

As I said earlier, the wing has no plans to impose total control on the media but instead will help the freelancers towards discharging their duties in a free and fair manner possible. It will also serve as a proper platform for media watch on many of the church issues.

The Kolencherry church issue is one such. Media can really play a major part in solving the vexed issue. Many other issues which the church faces can be highlighted by the media and a solution can be found. They have to be vigilant and help solve the matter and not aggravate the issue. The church schism which presently exists can be solved and cooperation of the media is very much sought.

We will be able to help the media get accurate information and facts for all their news. HH the Catholicos will act as the spokesperson of the Sabha matters.

We feel the recent Kolencherry issue was not highlighted by the media with regard to the views of the Indian Orthodox Church. At the height of the crisis in September last year, we conducted a press conference on the issue to express our stand on the matter. Sadly it never came out the way we had expected it to be, both in print and visual media. The news media failed to project our views to the world and instead were partial. Rather than espousing our stand, the media was more eager to report on which of the political parties we would align with or support during the Piravom by elections.

The main purpose of the cell will be to strive towards unifying all media groups in the outside Kerala region and for its effective working with a common goal.

The Holy Episcopal Synod also discussed the role played by various Orthodox print and e-media channels like Indian Orthodox Herald, (IOH), Malankara Orthodox TV (M.TV), Orthodox TV, ICON and others.

Any other issues which will be taken up…

The Indian Orthodox will also try and highlight topical issues. Something like the recent Earth Day, Heritage Day, Autism Day and various other events of global significance.

If any incidents occur, say in North India, we must be able to explain to our community about our stand on such issues. We like to have some kind of coordination with the media folk but never to control them or twist them. I can give my assurance in this regard.

We will honour our media men for their contributions and encourage them. We will provide them with all official information and help towards their work. The committee will hold its first meeting in July and come up with suggestions.

She is the first nurse to qualify for the Indian administrative service, having secured 65th rank in the examination. As there are over 85 vacancies in general quota in the glamorous IAS, Annies is confident of joining the IAS cadre. Interestingly, Annies, 26, is already in the All India Services. She appeared for last year’s examination and was selected for the Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS). She is currently undergoing ICAS training in Faridabad, Haryana.

As her aim was to join the IAS, she decided to try her luck and came out with flying colours. What adds more sheen to her story is that she is a member of a farming community in the remote Pampakuda village in Ernakulam district, unlike the majority of other achievers who are from cities and big towns and have a family background of high academic records. Her father Joy is a farmer and mother Leela a housewife.

IAS exam “My father’s decade old dream has come true,” she told Gulf News over phone from Faridabad. Joy used to tell his daughter about the IAS exam and joining government service when she was in school.”But I had no idea about it then. I began thinking seriously only when I was doing my one-year internship in 2009 after completing my BSc in nursing at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.

“A close relative of mine was then doing his LLB in the city. He motivated me. Finally after finishing nursing, I decided to take up the challenge.’’

Initial confusion – But there was initial confusion whether a nursing student could take the IAS exams. “I was then told that any graduate from a recognised Indian university could appear for the exam.’’

She took Malayalam Literature and Psychology as her optional subjects for the Civil Service exam. She joined the Kerala Civil Service Academy in Thiruvanathaparuam for overall coaching and brushed up her knowledge on Malayalam literature at St Thomas College in Palai, a small town near Kottayam. And for the last part of her preparations, she went to Delhi and joined a coaching class in an institute there.

Annies K Joy is a member of St. Marys Church, Faridabad of Delhi diocese and daughter of Joy Paul.

Express India News

While applauding the charity work of the youth members, Dr Mar Yulios, has urged them to do more for the new Ahmedabad Diocese and for the MGOHE.

Dr Mar Yulios was addressing the valedictory of the OCYM’s activities for 2011-12 at the St Thomas Church, Ruwi, on April 13, Friday, after lighting the traditional lamp.

The Metropolitan also advised old-time youth members to encourage new comers and to work united for the welfare of all and for the church in general. Metropolitan later welcomed new office bearers for 2012-13 and urged them to do their best. Prizes and mementoes were also presented by the Metropolitan to all those who won prizes in the various competitions held during the year.

Outgoing Vice President Mathew Abraham in his address gave details of the activities undertaken during 2011-12 and the achievements.

Mar Gregorios Orthodox Maha Edavaka Vicar Fr Joji George, Associate Vicar Rev Fr Binu John Thomas and Fr Varghese George also addressed.

Large numbers of youth movement and church members also took part in the function.

The first Holy Qurbana along with the feast of St. George was celebrated at Wollongong, on April 28, 2012. The new congregation named after St. George, was attended by a number of faithful from the St. Dionysius Orthodox Cathedral. Fr. Thomas Varghese, the vicar of the Cathedral, was the Chief celebrant on the occasion.

Here on, Holy Qurbana will be celebrated once in every month at nearby church in Wollongong.

The new congregation will satisfy a long felt need of the International student community of the Indian Orthodox Faith Studying at the University of Wollongong, agreed many those attended the feast.

For further information contact, John Thomas: 02 42440998

Reported by: Sujeev Varghese

Fr. Reji Chacko is the vicar of the parish. The Church is located at 28201 Kemptown Road, Damascus, MD 20872, USA. Phone: (301) 570-3614

E I Rajan will be the new Trustee, Dr Prakash Ninan, Co-Trustee and John Thomas (Santhosh) Secretary are the new members. Area members for 16 areas in Muscat were also elected.

They are: Jacobs Kuriakose (Darsait/Muscat/Corniche), Mammen George (Muttrah/Great Muttrah), Boban Mathew Thomas (Ruwi), Mathew P Thomas (Wadi Kabir East/Industrial Area), Biju M Samuel (Wadi Kabir West/Market Road), E M Daniel (Walja/MBD), M K Abraham (Hamariya/Central East),
Biju Varghese (Hamariya West/Al Nadha), O Thomas (Wattayah/Qurum/Al Amerat), Mathew Varghese (Al Khuwair East), Reji Philip (Al Khuwair Central and South), Salib John (Al Ghubra/Azaiba), John Thomas Vadakkedom (Ghala/Royal Hospital), C M Varghese (Seeb/Al Hail), Thomas Vaidhyan (MOD/Rusayl/Al Khoud), Achenkunj John (Interior). Sajan C Varghese will be the new Auditor and Abraham Mathew the Ex-0fficio.

Mar Greogorios OCYM also elected its office bearers for 2012-13.
Biju George will be the new Vice President with Binu Ammini, the Treasurer, Joji John as Secretary and Jomy John as Joint Secretary. They will be aided by a six-member committee consisting of Binil K S, Biju John, Varghese P Alex, Tijo Thomas and Jithin Sunny. Byju Babu John will be the Ex-officio and Cyril Samuel the auditor.

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30 member Churches (representing Orthodox and Protestant traditions), 17 Regional Christian Councils, 17 All India Christian Organizations, 7 Related Agencies and 3 Autonomous Bodies attend the assembly. The assembly will conclude on April 28.

“The Gospel in a Groaning World” is the main theme of the assembly. Assembly activities include business sessions, workshops, plenary sessions based on the theme.

A strong participation of the youth of the Malankara Orthodox Church was seen at the NCCI Youth Pre-Assembly held at the Student Christian Movement of India Centre in Bangalore on April 21-23. The theme of the pre-assembly was “Standing for Gospel, Google and Green”.

Fr. Vineeth Koshy of the Indian Orthodox Church is currently the Youth General Secretary of the NCCI.

Reported by: Stanly DJ

During the meeting, Al Obaidli stressed that the UAE under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan promotes the values of tolerance, understanding and dialogue in continuation of the wise policy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

HH Catholicos praised the policy of the UAE in the field of respecting people of other religions and allowing them to practice their faith in an atmosphere of security and respect, pointing out that there are many similarities between the religions, especially between Islam and Christianity.

HH added that the climate of tolerance, witnessed by the UAE, offers a global model of civilized co-existence between diverse cultures and religions.

This visit aims at familiarizing with the aesthetics of the Islamic architecture in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which stands as an splendorous edifice in the UAE and the region.

HH the Catholicos is on short visit to St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Abu Dhabi to take part in the centenary celebrations of the re-establishment of Catholicate in India

Today, a civic reception will be held to honour the church supreme head at National Theatre Abu Dhabi, said Rev Jose Chemmanam, Vicar of St George Orthodox Cathedral, Abu Dhabi. The Catholicate centenary celebration is coordinated by a committee including Rev Cherian Jacob, assistant vicar; KK Stephen, trustee and KE Thomas, secretary