The Department of the Family Apostolate of the Eparchy conducted a Pre-Cana (Marriage Preparation) Course on Saturday, February 23 at the Bishop Molloy Retreat House (86-45 Edgerton Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11432). 20 people participated in the course.
Our Eparchial Bishop, His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Philipos Mar Stephanos, ordained Br. Jobin Thomas to the Order of Diaconate on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Peter Vaccari, Rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary, New York, was the homilist, and around 10 priests were present in the liturgy.
The New Bishops’ Orientation Program (NBOP) was held on February 12th at the USCCB Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The USCCB President Daniel Cardinal DiNardo inaugurated the program via teleconference. The program presented the new bishops about the USCCB operations, strategic planning, the functioning of various committees, along with fraternal discussions on issues pertinent to the newly ordained Bishops. His Excellency Mar Stephanos attended the meeting.
The feast of our Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Philipos Mar Stephanos was celebrated on January 9, 2019. The Holy Qurbono began at 6:30 PM with Bishop Philipos Mar Stephanos as the main celebrant. Rev. Rijo Puthenparambil, Rev. Liju Thundiyil, and Rev. Noby Ayyaneth were concelebrants. After the Holy Qurbono a brief felicitation and cutting of the festal cake were done. Several sisters, and a good number of faithful were present and exchanged the festal greetings to loving Pithaav.
The MCYM National Board members along with their Director Rev.Fr. Michael Edathil and President Mr. Christopher Thomas felicitated His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Philipos Mar Stephanos on the Bishop’s Day and shared their plans and dreams with him in conducting the Youth Retreat in 2019 in the state of Texas.