2024-10-29
Galilee Girls @ Kalasandhya FEASTA 2K24 - Parish Feast of St Jude Syro Malabar Church Ameenpur
2021-01-19
We have been through this many times before, but when it comes down to that last moment - a moment to say goodbye, we are unable to handle it as well as we thought we would. Our much loved parish priest, Fr. Jacob Athikalam is moving back to Kerala.
King Solomon made a profound statement in Ecclesiastes 3: 1 that there’s a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. He goes on to say that there’s a time to be born and to die. That verse reminds us of your pastoral work.
Time really flies so fast!
It seems like just yesterday that you came to our parish. All too soon you have to say goodbye once again to people who truly love, honor, and respect you.
Well, we thank God for your life because you’ve been a tremendous blessing to God’s children.
We accept this move to the new parish as a common and regular practice in our Catholic Church that priests move within their diocese to serve another parish after a set amount of time. A little change, a little pain, but eventually a transition considered beneficial for the priest and parish alike. It is a thoughtful and orderly process that is classic for Catholics. Yet, we must confess that Jacob Achan’s impending departure is very painful for us. However, we are consoled by the fact that he has laid a very good foundation for us to build upon.
Father's departure is not completely unexpected. He has been with our Church for four years. He will leave behind a legacy - spiritual thoughtfulness rooted in deep Catholic faith. The renewal of our Church speaks a lot about his mission, hard work and vision.
Jacob Achan is able to relate to all of the parishioners. His homilies were so powerful, he was able to relate the Scriptures to everyday life. We can vouch for his preparation, they come straight from his heart. The atmosphere of Holy Qurbana is filled with deep reverence. He is passionate in all he does within the parish. and this is reflected in his homilies. In Jacob Achan, we found a model of someone sincerely and profoundly tapped into the richness of the Catholic faith, which in turn, made us want to deepen our relationship with Christ. He knows what life is about, its joys and struggles. Because he is a religious man of prayer, he knows what God's love is about, full of mercy and hope, healing and filled with joy. It is a great combination for preaching - knowing God and knowing people.
His leadership stems from his love for God and for his parishioners. We thank you Jacob Acha. You stood like a rock on matters of principle. This is called integrity. Leadership has never been about popularity. Under Jacob Achan, the Church is a Church, not a business. It lives and breathes the Grace of God to all its wounded and imperfect parishioners. We shall never forget the love, kindness and support which Jacob Achan has shown us and of course his tolerance and forgiveness of our many imperfections.
I am sure that Jacob Achan’s good work will still live on even after he leaves our parish. We shall always remember his faithfulness, constancy, zeal and dedication to his priesthood and his love for our Church. Today, we have an opportunity to celebrate his good work and to remember the great bonds of friendship and love that he inspires throughout the community. I am proud to say that Jacob Achan is our priest and our friend. Many of our parishioners will miss him, no doubt at all. We ask God to bless him abundantly as he begins his new mission.
Please continue to grow and glow in love and beauty, graciously and gracefully.
Thank you and God bless.
King Solomon made a profound statement in Ecclesiastes 3: 1 that there’s a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. He goes on to say that there’s a time to be born and to die. That verse reminds us of your pastoral work.
Time really flies so fast!
It seems like just yesterday that you came to our parish. All too soon you have to say goodbye once again to people who truly love, honor, and respect you.
Well, we thank God for your life because you’ve been a tremendous blessing to God’s children.
We accept this move to the new parish as a common and regular practice in our Catholic Church that priests move within their diocese to serve another parish after a set amount of time. A little change, a little pain, but eventually a transition considered beneficial for the priest and parish alike. It is a thoughtful and orderly process that is classic for Catholics. Yet, we must confess that Jacob Achan’s impending departure is very painful for us. However, we are consoled by the fact that he has laid a very good foundation for us to build upon.
Father's departure is not completely unexpected. He has been with our Church for four years. He will leave behind a legacy - spiritual thoughtfulness rooted in deep Catholic faith. The renewal of our Church speaks a lot about his mission, hard work and vision.
Jacob Achan is able to relate to all of the parishioners. His homilies were so powerful, he was able to relate the Scriptures to everyday life. We can vouch for his preparation, they come straight from his heart. The atmosphere of Holy Qurbana is filled with deep reverence. He is passionate in all he does within the parish. and this is reflected in his homilies. In Jacob Achan, we found a model of someone sincerely and profoundly tapped into the richness of the Catholic faith, which in turn, made us want to deepen our relationship with Christ. He knows what life is about, its joys and struggles. Because he is a religious man of prayer, he knows what God's love is about, full of mercy and hope, healing and filled with joy. It is a great combination for preaching - knowing God and knowing people.
His leadership stems from his love for God and for his parishioners. We thank you Jacob Acha. You stood like a rock on matters of principle. This is called integrity. Leadership has never been about popularity. Under Jacob Achan, the Church is a Church, not a business. It lives and breathes the Grace of God to all its wounded and imperfect parishioners. We shall never forget the love, kindness and support which Jacob Achan has shown us and of course his tolerance and forgiveness of our many imperfections.
I am sure that Jacob Achan’s good work will still live on even after he leaves our parish. We shall always remember his faithfulness, constancy, zeal and dedication to his priesthood and his love for our Church. Today, we have an opportunity to celebrate his good work and to remember the great bonds of friendship and love that he inspires throughout the community. I am proud to say that Jacob Achan is our priest and our friend. Many of our parishioners will miss him, no doubt at all. We ask God to bless him abundantly as he begins his new mission.
Please continue to grow and glow in love and beauty, graciously and gracefully.
Thank you and God bless.