The Mar Gregorious Christian Students Movement, or MGOCSM in short, is a spiritual organization that supports and provides spiritual resources to students in high school and college. Our church currently has over 35 active MGOCSM members, with the following elected office bearers:

Vice President- Timothy Mathew
Secretary- Stephen John
Treasurer- Bernice Biju
Parish Representative- Alina Tharian

Additionally, our very own Alisha Thomas is the New Jersey Staten Island (NJSI) Area Council Member.

This past year, our youth has been active both within our church and throughout the diocese. We hosted numerous MGOCSM events, ranging from the area’s game night to the diocesan Thanksgiving Conference. Moreover, many of our members attended various events hosted by the Area, including the Lenten Retreat, Back to School Retreat, Bible Study & Fellowship Event, and other smaller events. Two of our members attended the North East Leadership Conference (NELC) as delegates, 3 attended the annual dioceasan Winter Summit, and a plethora attend this year’s area camp, all of which were held at the Holy Transfiguration Retreat Center (HTRC) owned by our diocese. Furthermore, we took part in the OVBS conducted by the church Sunday School by decorating, teaching, and organizing activities for the child attendees. We decorated the hall on several occasions on behalf of the church, performed during the Christmas Eve program, and helped facilitate numerous programs during the Family and Youth Camp’s entertainment night; including but not limited to emceeing, performing, and arranging a tribute for the late Titus Mathew and other church members who passed away this past year. Lastly, we worked towards and finally implemented the new service book for our English Qurbana services, in which our youth has been active in helping to lead the service.

We have much in store for the upcoming new year. We ask for your prayers so we can fulfill our duties as students while maintaining our faith.

"A Church without Youth is a Church without a future. Moreover, Youth without a Church is Youth without a future." ~ Pope Shenouda III, Pope & Patriarch of Alexandria

About MGOCSM

MGOCSM is the oldest Christian Student Organization in Asia. It is the student wing of the Indian Orthodox Church, officially known as the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church with headquarters at Devalokam, Kottayam, Kerala, India.

Worship, Study and Service are the main objectives of MGOCSM

The Movement has three main objectives:

• to deepen the spiritual life of its members.
• to prepare them to be responsible citizens in the Church and Society.
• to encourage them to commit themselves for sacrificial service in the Church and Society.

The students and senior leaders of the Church who were residing in Madras in the early part of the last century felt the need for an organization to bring together Christian students in various colleges and high schools with a view to deepening their spiritual life and to create in them a lively sense of fellowship. The Syrian Student Conference, the parent organization was formed in 1907 and the first conference was convened on January 1-3, 1908, at Balikamadom School, Tiruvalla, Kerala. Annual Conferences have been a regular feature since 1908.

The Movement assumed the present name MGOCSM in 1960, with its motto Worship, Study & Service. The strength of the Movement is the wide network of its units centered in educational institutions and major parishes spread all over India and outside. MGOCSM has been maintaining inter-disciplinary contacts in the academic field for a long time by the formation of its wings. They include the High School, Higher Secondary, College students’ wings, University, Higher Secondary, High School teachers’ associations, Medical Auxiliary, Technical Auxiliary, Missionary Forum, Literary Forum, and the Publication wing.

The high ideals behind finding of the Movement included bringing together the Orthodox Christian students of different educational institutions into one body in order to get them rooted in Orthodox faith and traditions and to strengthen them in spiritual life and Christian fellowship. The Movement has grown as an international one with about 1500 units all over the world.

The MGOCSM has grown beyond the borders of India and has been rooted in the Church in North America since the 1980s. The MGOCSM of North America has expanded its ministry by offering annual Mission Trips to India and other places in America, Leadership Camps, the celebration of MGOCSM Day, observance of MGOCSM Service Day, and so much more.

The MGOCSM of the Northeast American Diocese continues to grow with diocesan and area wide events. Such events include, retreats, seminars, bible studies, vocation seminars, services events to name a few.

Under the prayerful leadership of our Diocese's Hierarchs, Vice President, and MGOCSM Council members, the MGOCSM of Northeast America continues to seek ways of reaching out and ministering to the vibrant MGOCSM members of the Northeast American Diocese.

Reverend Father Blessen Varughese is appointed as spiritual advisor for the MGOCSM of Toronto/Montreal Area.
Reverend Father Thomas (Anoop) Thomas is appointed as spiritual advisor for the MGOCSM of Washington D. C./Maryland/Virginia/North Carolina area.

President His Grace Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
Vice President Rev. Fr. Thomas (Anoop) Thomas
General Secretary Rev. Deacon Alexander (Pradeep) Hatcher
General Treasurer Ms. Manju Abraham
Joint Secretary Ms. Marina Mathew

For more information on the MGOCSM of North American please view their website : www.mgocsmamerica.com