served from July 1, 2001 to April 30, 2006
The late Rev. Mathew Thomas was the first ‘Vicar-in-charge’ of the parish from the time of its formation in July 2001 till April 2006. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. M. Thomas, Kooppil House, Punnala, Pathanapuram, born on 5th Nov 1966. He obtained his B.Sc. degree from Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam, M.Sc. from Calicut University, and Bachelor of Divinity (BD) from Serampore University in Calcutta where he was the first-rank holder, and received the Senate prize from the University when he completed his B.D. program. He obtained his Master’s in Theology from the University of Toronto where he was also a Junior Fellow in the Faculty of Divinity at Trinity College, while in charge of the parish here. After this he pursued his theological studies starting on a Doctorate program for PhD.
Achen joined the ordained ministry of the Mar Thoma Church in 1993. After that, he served the Mar Thoma Church in various capacities including Vicar in the parishes of Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kattodu Bethel, and Thumpamon Bethel. He taught at the Episcopal Jubilee Institute of Evangelism for four years, where he was also the institute warden for two years.
After his tenure in Canada, Achen was transferred back to India where he served parishes in Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune. Tragically, on 19th April 2013 in Pune at age 46, Achen succumbed to a serious head injury he suffered in a road accident a few days before that, and was called to eternal glory.
Achen is survived by his two children and wife Maya Rachel Mathew, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Varghese, Edavaparampil House, Anjilithanam, Thiruvalla. She has obtained a B.Ed. degree and also has a Master’s Degree in Social Work. She served World Vision of India as a Programme Officer before coming to Canada, and now continues to work for World Vision in Toronto, Canada where she resides with her children — daughter Christeena Elizabeth Mathew and son Edwin Mathew Thomas.