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 thirty-five active MGOCSM members, with the following elected office bearers:

Advisor: Stephen John

Parish Representative: Jaya John

Secretary: Sophia George

Joint-Secretary: Alisha Daniel

Treasurer: Johnathan Mathew

Joint-Treasurer: Joshua Manu

In 2024, our MGOCSM was able to participate in various fellowship, volunteering, and spiritual events. During 2024, the Saint Stephen’s Midland Park MGOCSM was blessed with the opportunity to host a variety of events at church, area, and diocesan levels. Several of our church MGOCSM members were able to join for the following events:

At the church level, the Saint Stephen’s MGOCSM family hosted events such as OBVS, an Easter egg hunt, and provided Halloween candy for the children at SSMP. The youth also organized games during church camp and the Christmas Eve program, participated in caroling, and took part in a Men’s Fellowship Night that included sports, food, movies, and group prayer. These events provided many of our youth with opportunities to connect and have fun together.

• At the area level, our church was blessed to host the New Jersey Staten Island Area Back to School Retreat in September 2024. Sub Dn. Daniel Girgis spoke on Orthodox liturgy and healing, emphasizing how to incorporate a spiritual mindset into daily life as the school year approaches. The youth created prayer bracelets, learning their significance and how to use them daily while repeating the Jesus Prayer. We were able to journey together through prayer, fellowship, and learning.
• Our MGOCSM members had the opportunity to attend a variety of area events in 2024, including a January Bible study with Mr. Aadarsh Paul Varghese, volunteering at the Trinity Lutheran Church soup kitchen in February, a Lenten retreat with Rev. Dn. Royce Mathew in March, Summer Field Day in July, a nature hike and virtual Bible study with Sub Dn. Zachariah (Predeep) Chacko in October, and both a monastery visit to Holy Protection Monastery and volunteering at the Radiant Church food pantry in November. The year concluded with a Christmas movie night in December 2024.
• Additionally, at the diocesan level, our MGOCSM members were able to attend multiple camps and conferences across the Northeast throughout 2024. From June 26th–29th, Summer Summit was held at the Holy Transfiguration Retreat Center (HTRC), with Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas as the main speaker. Summer Summit is a diocesan event for graduating high school seniors, college students, and postgraduates. Each day included sessions, workshops, and fellowship activities like team challenges.
• Similarly, Camp Sabro took place from August 7th–10th, 2024, at HTRC, offering an opportunity for diocesan high school students to gather. Rev. Dn. Toby John and Semmassen led impactful sessions that equipped our youth with tools to strengthen their faith. The camp also featured group workshops on enhancing communication and embracing our faith in a secular world, led by Ms. Kripaya Varughese, Rev. Dn. Roby Anthony, and Mrs. Aimee Thomson. In the fall, our diocese was blessed to host the annual Thanksgiving One-Day Conference on November 30th, 2024, led by Rev. Fr. Sujit Thomas, who spoke on “Confidence in Christ: Responding to Secularism.” MGOCSM members from across the Northeast American diocese attended the conference.
• Overall, the camps and conferences were enriching experiences, and we gained valuable knowledge from our speakers while building connections with our fellow MGOCSM members. Diocesan Metropolitan His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos was able to be present at all three events and shared many insights from his personal journey of faith, inspiring us all. It was truly a great success!
• The Diocesan MGOCSM has continued an initiative for Campus Ministry, to empower and support college students while they pursue their studies. The purpose of these ministries is to equip students with the tools they need to strengthen their relationship with Christ as they navigate the challenges of college life. Many of our members have been fortunate to participate in this initiative and have been joined by various spiritual leaders from MGOCSM, including Sub Dn. Abraham (Shojil) Abraham. He has specifically visited members of our church at Binghamton University, Northeastern University, and Rutgers University.

We have much in store for the upcoming new year, including inviting seminarians and deacons to visit and speak at our church, organizing fellowship and sporting events, volunteering, and more. We ask for your prayers so we can fulfill our duties as students while maintaining the Orthodox 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 goals:

1. To Deepen The Spiritual Life Of Its Members.
2. To Prepare Them To Be Responsible Citizens In The Church And Society.
3. To Encourage Them To Commit Themselves For Sacrificial Service In The Church AndSociety.

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 founding 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.

Present Diocesan Office Bearers:

Present Diocesan Spiritual Advisors:

1. Reverend Father Laby George [Spiritual Advisor for Washington D.C./Maryland/Virginia/North Carolina Area]
2. Reverend Deacon Zachariah (Predeep) Chacko [Spiritual Advisor for Philadelphia Area]
3. Reverend Father Daniel (Dennis) Mathai [Spiritual Advisor for Brooklyn/Queens/Long Island]
4. Reverend Father Blessen Varghese [Spiritual Advisor for Toronto/Montreal Area]
5. Reverend Father Geevarghese (Bobby) Varghese [Spiritual Advisor For New Jersey/Staten Island Area]
6. Reverend Deacon Alexander (Pradeep) Hatcher [Spiritual Advisor For Northern New York/Boston/Connecticut Area]

Present Area Office Bearers:

NJSI Spiritual Advisor: Rev. Fr. Geevarghese (Bobby) Varghese
Council Member: Justin John
Secretary: Neha Nibu
Joint-Secretary: Melvin Biju
Treasurer: Sophia Thomas
Joint-Treasurer: Joshua Thomas

For more information on the MGOCSM of North American please view their website: https://www.neamericandiocese.org/menu/main-menu/mgocsm/33
Saint Stephen’s MGOCSM Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/ssmpmgocsm/