‘COLONIA MAR THOMA’ - KEYS HANDING OVER AND FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY HELD ON MAY 10, 2008

By God’s grace, the key handover ceremony of the houses built in the Mexico Mission field was held on May 10, 2008 in the presence of the Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan, the Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos, Mr. Ingenero Erick Silva Santos, the Mayor of Matamoros, Sra. Mariza Castaneda De Silva, wife of the Mayor and President of Sistema DIF Matamoros, Mr. Jorge Camorlinga Cuerra, President of the Comite Campesino of the City of Matamoros. The houses were built and handed over as part of the Navathy celebrations of Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan under the leadership of the Mission Board of the Diocese of North America & Europe of the Mar Thoma Church. Rev. Vinoy Daniel, Vicar of Mar Thoma Church of Dallas, Farmers Branch is the Vice President and Mr. Jason M. Thomas, Diocesan Council Member, is the Convener of the Mission Board. A local working committee under the leadership of Rev. T. S. Philip, Vicar of Immanuel Mar Thoma Church, Houston along with the Diocesan Treasurer, Mr. T. A. Mathew, coordinated all the programs on May 10, 2008, including lunch for all those who attended. The place where the houses are built is named ‘Colonia Mar Thoma’ as part of the Mexico Mission project.

As per the decision of the Diocesan Assembly, 3 hectors (7.5 acres) of land in mainland Mexico was purchased to build houses for the islanders who have lost their houses due to hurricane in order to resettle them in the main land. The land where the houses are built is about 20 miles from Matamoras City near the costal area, which is on the border in Mexico close to the U.S. city of Brownsville, Texas. One hector (2.5 acres) of land was also purchased for a mission center and to construct hostels for the children of the islanders near the highway, about 11 miles from Matamoras City. The Diocesan Youth Fellowship raised about $46,500.00 to buy the land for the mission center. This land will be developed as a mission center, with a residence for the mission coordinator, with place for the youth of the Diocese to stay and work among the islanders and their children and also with facilities for technical training for the adults. One member of our Diocese contributed about $19,500.00 to buy the land to build the houses for the islanders. Both parcels of land were purchased in the name of a civil organization named ‘Chrysostom Mar Thoma Mexican Association’ registered with the Mexican government. The Diocesan Episcopa is the President of this civil organization and all the Diocesan Council members are the Board of the Directors of the organization.

The Diocesan Youth Fellowship has sponsored the project of building the hostels for boys and girls of the islanders. This is planned as a facility where our youths can undertake mission trips through out the year especially during summer and other holidays throughout the year. The construction of the hostels is expected to begin once all 90 houses are built in ‘Colonia Mar Thoma’ and the islanders are resettled in the mainland. Presently children do not have access to good educational facilities. There are about 200 children of different ages without any basic facilities like drinking water, shelter, or medical help. The goal is to provide these islanders, who are mainly fishermen, with a house of their own, basic education to the children, and other necessities like drinking water, electricity, and medical help. The construction of the houses began in October 2007 and is almost complete. The size of each house is 24’ x 12’ with concrete floor and is built with concrete bricks; the four corners of the houses are pillars of iron and concrete. Likewise, the roof is of concrete slab instead of shingles. These houses are meant to be resistant to ordinary hurricanes that may occur in that part of the world. The cost for one house is approximately $3,100. Funds are being raised from various parishes in our diocese. Several parishes, organizations and individuals have already responded to the request and the Diocesan Council expresses its sincere thanks to all who have already contributed to this noble cause.

About 200 people from including youth and clergy from different parishes in the Diocese attended the function held on May 10, 2008. The program began with song by the members of the Trinity Mar Thoma Church and Immanuel Mar Thoma Church of Houston followed by prayer by Rev. Vinoy Daniel, Vice President of the Diocesan Mission Board. Rev. T. S. Philip, Convener of the local working committee in Houston welcomed everyone including the bishops, dignitaries, islanders to the function. In his presidential address, Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos, Diocesan Episcopa expressed sincere thanks to all those who wholeheartedly supported this new mission project of the Church. Thirumeni said it was the will of God to begin this mission field, which was revealed in a dream to Thirumeni. This dream became a reality by handing over the keys of houses to the islanders on this great historic day of the Diocese and the Church.

The islanders sang two Malayalam songs, ‘Ethratholam Yehova Sahayichu’ and ‘Karuthannavan Njanallayo’, which was a touching occasion for those who attended the event and tears came to the eyes of many believers who listened to the islanders singing in Malayalam. Mr. Ingenero Erick Silva Santos, Mayor of the City of Matamoros, Sra. Mariza Castaneda De Silva, wife of the Mayor and President of the Sistema DIF Matamoros, Mr. Jorge Camorlinga Cuerra, President Comite Campesino, Rev. Biju Samuel Cherian, Diocesan Secretary and Mr. Ashley George, Diocesan Assembly Member representing the Diocesan Youth Fellowship, gave felicitation speeches. The felicitations were followed by a song and skit by children of the islanders, followed by a song from the members of the Dallas parishes.

The Valiya Metropolitan, in his speech said that in his 90 years of life, this is the most memorable day witnessing the key handover to the islanders by the Diocese of North America as part of his Navathy celebrations. The Valia Metropolitan expressed his thanks to Coorilos Thirumeni for his leadership and vision for establishing the mission field of the Mar Thoma Church outside of Asia.

The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma, in his message expressed gratitude to God almighty for enabling him to be part of this great historic event and expressed thanks to the members of the Diocese for undertaking this new mission project. The Mar Thoma Metropolitan along with Mr. Ingenero Erick Silva Santos, Mayor of the City of Matamoros and Sra. Mariza Castaneda De Silva, President of the Sisema DIF Matamoros handed over the keys to the houses. The representative from the islanders expressed sincere thanks to the members of the Mar Thoma Church for helping them with a place to live with their family. Diocesan Episcopa Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos handed over gifts to Mr. P. T. Abraham and Mr. George V. Kurien appreciation of all the leadership and help rendered by them in fulfilling God’s plan and making ‘Colonia Mar Thoma a reality. Mr. T. A. Mathew, the Diocesan Treasurer, expressed thanks to everyone who supported this mission project and also those who attended the function from different parishes of the Diocese. Lunch was served to everyone in attendance at the ceremony.

Islanders singing Malayalam song during the key handing over ceremony in Mexico.

Joseph Mar Thoma blessing the foundation stone of the new Mission Cneter in the presence of Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan and Coorilos Thirumeni.

A symbolic key is being handed over to Chrysostom Mar Thoma by Coorilos Thriuemni during the Mexico mission field inauguration on May 10, 2008.

Coorilos Thirumeni delivering speach during the key hand over ceremony in Mexico.