Meeting of the New Pastoral Council of the Exarchate of USA

The newly elected Pastoral Council of the Exarchate had its first meeting on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at the Exarchate Chancery. The meeting started with a session of prayer and reflection. Rev. Fr. Johny Mendonca, Associate Pastor at the Parish of St. Catherine of Sienna gave an introductory reflection. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Peter Kochery made the opening prayer. After the prayer service, the new Pastoral Council members took the oath before His Excellency the Most Rev. Thomas Mar Eusebius. His Excellency officially welcomed all the members to this important ministry of the Church. That was followed by the election of the new Secretary of the Pastoral Council. Mr. John P. Varghese from the St. Thomas Malankara Catholic Parish in New Jersey was elected the Secretary for the next three years. The main item in the meeting’s agenda was the forthcoming Malankara Catholic Convention to be held from August 6 to 9 at Virginia. Various committees were constituted for the conduct of the Convention. The audited account of the Exarchate of the year 2014 was presented by Very Rev. Fr. Augustine Mangalath, the Finance Officer of the Exarchate. The meeting was concluded with the noon prayers and lunch. 45 members from all our parishes participated in the meeting.