Spread love without fear, Mar Thoma Church head asks Christians

Jaipur, Nov 27, 2023: Christians should serve others without fear or expectations in a multireligious society, says Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan, the supreme head of the Kerala-based Mar Thoma Church.

“Whatever place you are, try to do something for the betterment of people around you,” the prelate said while addressing the valedictory function of Jaipur’s Mar Thoma parish’s golden jubilee.

The metropolitan, who was the chief guest, urged the parish community to develop a plan to support all the people around.

He also asked the parish community what it has done for the wider community for all the blessings it has received in the last 50 years.

‘Try to do big things for God. One should understand what God is expecting from us and submit ourselves to God’s plan. Spreading the message of love makes a parish relevant,” he added.

While interacting with the church executive committee the previous day, the metropolitan said, “In the present multi religious and pluralistic context in India, Christians should spread the message of love, and extend dedicated service to the wider community, without any fear and without expecting anything in return.”

Mumtaz Masih, the chairman of the Rajasthan government’s Voluntary Sector Development Centre, who was the guest of honour at the function, reminded the gathering that the foundation of Christianity is love. “Love means service to others, whether it is in the area of education or health or any other sector. We should reach out to the people in need,” he added.

The parish belongs to the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. The first Holy Communion service in Jaipur was conducted by Reverend M.C. Mani, a Mar Thoma priest who had come from Delhi. Since then regular worship services were held and in 1966, the Jaipur Mar Thoma Congregation was formed. In 1972, it was upgraded as the Jaipur Mar Thoma Church.

The services were conducted at All Saints Church (Church of Anglo-Indian Community), part of the Church of North India. The process for a new church building started in 1989 by getting land allotted. The parish had its own building by 1995 at Shipra Path in Mansarovar, one of the residential areas of Jaipur city.

In 1975, the parish began mission work. Presently the church in Rajasthan has seven priests and 13 parishes/congregations in places such as Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Jodhpur, Kota, and Udaipur. The church also manages schools in Bharatpur and in Mundia Ramsar village in Jaipur.

The Jaipur Mar Thoma Church, on completing 50 years in 2022, decided to celebrate the golden jubilee with yearlong programs on the theme “Grace filled Providence.”

The jubilee inauguration was held November 20, 2022, Catholic Bishop Oswald J. Lewis of Jaipur.

The Mar Thoma Church, is believed to have been founded by Saint Thomas (Mar Thoma) one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, in AD 52.

Mar Thoma Syrian Church defines itself as “apostolic in origin, universal in nature, biblical in faith, evangelical in principle, ecumenical in outlook, oriental in worship, democratic in function, and episcopal in character.”

The Church currently has 10 bishops led by the Metropolitan, who is based at Thiruvalla in Kerala.

The Church is served by 1,184 clergy through 13 dioceses and has more than 1.6 million followers across the globe.