Sunday School

Headmaster: Stephen Kuruvilla

Sunday school is the place to teach the vital importance of the Orthodox Faith to our children and teens. Sunday school remains one of our church's most powerful ways to affirm our faith as the foundation for living the Orthodox Christian life.

Our Sunday school program uses the official curriculum of the Indian Orthodox Church. It is structured in such a way that children who graduate will have a basic understanding of the Holy Bible, the faith and beliefs of the Orthodox Church and the history of our church in the context of history of Christianity. In addition the children are also exposed to the hymns of the Holy Eucharist and important prayers.

The Sunday school year runs from September to June. We hold Classes every Sunday, after the Holy Qurbana Service. We start our Sunday school every Sunday with an assembly of the students where our students sing spiritual songs and pray. All the students will split up into the respectable classes. The text books and workbooks prepared for the American Diocese are used as the class materials.

We have about 100 students in about 11 classes based on age. Rev Fr. Philip Jacob’s guidance and leadership is one of the reasons of the success of our Sunday school program. Mr. Stephen Kuruvilla serves as the headmaster. Our teachers come from many different backgrounds and levels of education. Our teacher’s level of education and dedication make them qualified to teach our students.

If you would like more information about the Sunday school program please contact our Vicar or Mr. Stephen Kuruvilla.

MGOCSM

President: Rev. Fr. Philip Jacob
Secretary: Tina Zachariah
Joint-Secretary: Janice Alias
Treasurer: Jitty Chandy
National Council: Robby Mathew
Coordinator: Sunil Mathews

The MGOCSM (Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement) is an organization formed by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in order to deepen the spiritual life of College and High School students as well as to create in youth a livelier sense of fellowship. The Church, along with many of its leaders, realized that the youth was the future of the church and needed to keep the youngsters connected to their church.

The Detroit MGOCSM chapter was inaugurated in 2000 by His Grace Mar Severios The main activities of the MGOCSM include monthly meetings, bible study, conferences, annual picnics and annual volunteer activities. Besides helping out with the church activities, the chapter also lends a hand to the community in partnership with the Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross Society and Detroit Mayor’s Office. The 2003 National Leadership Camp was organized by the Detroit chapter at Michigan State University. Delegates from various chapters throughout the United States participated in the camp. The chapter also publishes a quarterly newsletter, MGOCSM Spirit, which includes articles from its’ members and various church dignitaries.<\p>

Martha Mariam Samajam

President: Rev. Fr. Philip Jacob
Secretary: Mrs. Achamma Lukose
Joint-Secretary: Mrs. Rachel Alexander

Martha Mariam Samajam is the association of women in the Malankara Orthodox Church with Blessed Virgin Saint Mary as the patron Saint. 'Martha' is the feminine form of 'Mar' which means Saint in Syriac language. So Martha Mariam Samajam association named after St. Mary.

The Samajam mainly aims at spiritual growth of women. The Holy Mother, St. Mary showed us a good example of supporting the Christian Ministry. By reading the Bible, we can see that St. Mary followed Jesus throughout His ministry, even to His death at the cross. The motto of the Samajam is "Pray, Act and Shine." Jesus taught us to pray, asked us to help the needy and called us to be the "light of the world". As Samajam members try to follow that in their daily life.

The first Sunday of every month, after the celebration of the Holy Qurbana, MMS members gather at the church and worship God by reading the Bible, singing devoional songs and sharing messages. They also support charitable organizations here and in India. Martha Mariam Samajam has an integral role in the growth of St. Thomas Orthodox Church. May the intercession of St. Mary be a stronghold for all of us.

Youth League

President: Rev. Fr. Philip Jacob
Secretary: Nina Raju
Treasurer: Mark Parayil
Coordinator: Paul Jacob

The Youth Group is the oldest group associated with St. Thomas Orthodox Church. It is morphed over the years from adolescent hang out to the strong voice of representation that it is today. When the group was conceived back in 1987, it was brought as an idea in keeping our youth together, something outside Sunday School, with a more open charter. Under the guise of its early leadership the group was responsible for the Church winning awards in cultural shows, to bringing in a large portion to the Churches early building funds with cultural shows and fund raisers.

Today the group continues to be a prominent figure in our Church, with membership exceeding 50 members the group is strong and poised to offer its members the opportunities past generations did not have. The charity collections the group’s leadership puts together is boon for our community and the surrounding non-Indian community. Some of these past years, collections included a can food drive and collecting children’s books for the needy.