Commemoration of Late Rev Dr.Fr John Berchmans, OIC

  Commemoration of Late Rev Dr.Fr John Berchmans, OIC Genesis 26:12-13  “And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him, and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy” We remember with extreme gratitude the dynamic and bold attempt of Very Rev Fr John Berchmans OIC in  venturing into Gujarat in the late 90’s with divine mission of spreading the gospel and energising the Malankarites.. Surat Malankara Community would not have been a reality but for the untiring and divine interference of Rev Father in unifying and coordinating the widely spread Malankarites in Surat. Yes.. ,Dear loving Father, you sowed the seed  with the blessings of Lord and it was multiplied manifold, transformed  and became spiritually rich and became very wealthy.  … And the successors were sent from time to time to sow and nurture  and thereby to shine  out and glorify God… “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” The real missionary and messenger of gospel which we had witnessed during the yester years and the spirit behind evolving the concept of ETRI which became the edifice of our Diocese was called to eternal rest on 9th Sept,2018 at Thiruvalla. He had a divine passion and special affinity  for Malankarites outside Kerala. In order to commemorate his beloved memories and to pay tributes  to the soul in heaven, Holy Mass and special meeting was organised in Surat on 14th Oct,2018 under the aegis of MCA, Gurgaon Diocese, MCA, Bhopal Region and Surat Parish.   Ceremonial Mass and Dhoopa Prarthana was led by Rev Fr Jose, Kuntharayil, Director, MCA, Gurgaon Diocese, Rev Fr Ani Zachariah, OIC ,Vicar, Surat & Rev Fr Binoy George, OIC, Vicar ,Vapi. Members from Ahmedabad, Baroda, Vapi, MCA executives from Diocese and representative from Odisha Mission attended. Meeting was chaired by Rev Fathers, Adv Abraham Pattiani, MCA President, Mr Sabu  Samuel , Treasurer, MCA, Mr Avinash, MCA, Odisha, Mr Reji Thomas, MCA, Vice President, Mr. E.U.Varghese, Pastoral Council Member and Rev Sr Vimala, OSS Mr Reji Thomas, MCA, Vice President welcomed the gathering. RevFr Jose, Kuntharayil, & Rev Fr Ani Zachariah, OIC  shared the memories of Berchmans Achan.  Adv Abraham Pattiani, MCA President, Mr Sabu , Treasurer, MCA, Mr Avinash, MCA, Odisha spoke on the occasion.Mr Joseph George, MCA President, Ahmedabad, Mrs Marykutty Varghese, Vice President, MCA Bhopal Region and Mr Sabu Kalayil, Secretary, Vapi also shared the reminiscences of the departed soul. MCYM and MCCL members offered prayerful songs for the function. As  a measure to preserve the everlasting memory of our beloved Achan, Surat Parish has instituted Cash Award and Certificate for  the highest scorers in Class X & XII of Catechism Exam in Gurgaon Diocese from 2018-19 onwards  MCYM decided to conduct an Inter Church Foot Ball Tournament for children in Surat from next year onwards with an ever rolling trophy in the name of Rev Father. P.G.James, President, Bhopal Region expressed vote of thanks. Meeting concluded with the agape of the Kerala dishes prepared by Mathruvedi