Vicar’s Message

We were blessed to celebrate our 53rd Parish Day on September 27. We were especially honored by the presence of our beloved Diocesan Episcopa, The Right Reverend Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos Episcopa Thirumeni, who led us in Holy Communion and blessed our congregation.

It was a beautiful occasion of thanksgiving as we celebrated our parish, honored those who have journeyed with us through the years, and rejoiced in the younger generation. Sixteen children received their First Holy Communion, entering into the fullness of sacramental participation in the life of the Church. We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen them and that their lives will continue to glorify Christ.

Our altar boys and covenant girls and the participants of the LEAD program were also blessed by Thirumeni. Their presence reminds us that the future of the Church is not something distant; it is already present among us in our children and young people.

As a parish family, we also rejoice in the significant milestones celebrated by our members.

Last month, Biju Koshy Varghese and Sheryl Sabu entered into the holy bond of matrimony. We praise God for bringing them together and pray that their family life will be filled with His abiding love, joy, peace, and grace. May God guide them throughout their journey together and make their home a place where faith, love, and fellowship flourish.

We are also grateful for the gift of new life and new beginnings through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. Leah Mary Easo, daughter of Mr. Easo George and Mrs. Ramya Mary Abraham, and Samuel Lucas George, son of Mr. Robin George and Mrs. Cheryl George, were received into the membership of the Church through Holy Baptism.

We give thanks to God for these precious children and pray that they may grow in His love and grace, guided by His Word and nurtured by their families and the wider Church community. May they always know the joy and blessing of belonging to Christ and His Church.

Another significant milestone was the launch of our Parish App. The app brings together many important resources and services, including the lectionary, family information, contacts, contributions, parish directory, and other useful parish resources.

I would like to place on record our sincere appreciation for Parish Secretary Mr. Monish John and everyone who worked with him for the tremendous effort that went into developing and launching the app. We encourage every family to download the app and make full use of it. May this become another meaningful way of strengthening communication, participation, and connection within our parish family.

We were also delighted to launch the CMTC Psalter, our new parish songbook containing a wide collection of English and Malayalam hymns and songs. It will be a valuable resource for our worship services, prayer meetings, and other gatherings.

I especially appreciate the dedicated efforts of our choir members who worked diligently, often day and night, to review, correct, and finalize the texts and lyrics. Their commitment and love for worship are deeply appreciated. May our singing always lead us beyond music itself into deeper praise and worship of God.

Our parish continues to seek opportunities to serve the wider community. We are grateful for the generous contribution made toward scholarships at Oakton Community College, helping students pursue their education and future aspirations.

Our members also participated in the Fall Fest cleanup at the Des Plaines grounds, demonstrating that our calling as a Church extends beyond our own walls. These acts of service remind us that the Church is called not only to worship God but also to become a blessing to the community around us.

One of the special joys of Parish Day was the opportunity to honor our seniors and those who have faithfully built and sustained this parish over the decades. We celebrated those who have reached significant milestones, including 50 years of marriage and 80 years of life.

We give thanks for the generations who planted the seeds of faith, worship, fellowship, and service from which we continue to benefit today. Their lives and sacrifices are part of our parish story and legacy. As we honor them, may we also ask ourselves what kind of legacy we are preparing to leave for those who will come after us.

Another long-cherished dream of our parish has become a reality through our cooperation with Maryhill Cemetery. We thank God for the opportunity to establish this provision for our parish families and appreciate everyone who contributed to making it possible.

We encourage our families to learn more about the services available and to make use of this provision as needed. We give thanks to God for His guidance in bringing this long-held vision to fulfillment.

We also praise God for the blessed Clergy and Sevika Sangham Conference held in Philadelphia. Such gatherings provide valuable opportunities for fellowship, spiritual renewal, learning, and strengthening our shared ministry. We thank all those who worked behind the scenes and participated in making the conference a meaningful occasion.

Our Space for the Future – Worship Center and Multipurpose Building continues to move forward with encouraging support from our parish family. We are deeply grateful for the generous contributions made by many families, particularly around Parish Day. We are also encouraged to see several families coming forward to sponsor various items and aspects of the project.

This project is much more than the construction of a building. It is an investment in the future of our Church. It is about creating spaces where our children can grow in faith, our young people can find community, our seniors can remain connected, families can fellowship and serve together, and generations can worship, learn, and grow together.

The generations before us planted trees whose shade we enjoy today. We may not always be the ones who enjoy the full fruit of what we build, but we are called to prepare the way for those who come after us.

Therefore, I encourage every family to prayerfully consider how we can participate in this important endeavor. Let us continue to move forward together, trusting that what we build today, in faith and generosity, will become a blessing for generations to come.

As we enter the final months of 2026, let us continue to walk together as one parish family. Let us remain grateful for the past, faithful in the present, and hopeful about the future.