Mor Gregorios Jacobite Students' Movement

MGJSM Mor Gregorios Jacobite Students' Movement
Mor Gregorious Jacobite Students' Movement (MGJSM)
Location
India
Information
Motto	To Serve and Bear Witness
Religious affiliation(s)	Oriental Orthodox Church
Denomination	Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church
Patron saint(s)	Saint Gregorios Of Malankara
Established	6 May 1922
Founders	St Paulose Mor Athanasiaus
President of MGJSM	H G Dr. Kuriakose Mor Theophilos
Vice Presidents	Rev Fr Thomas Pothicote
General Secretary	Rev Fr Tijo Markose
Joint Secretary	Ebin Eldho Ria Susan Sabu
Headquarters	M S O T Seminary, Vettickal, Mulanthuruthy, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
Website	MGJSM

Mor Gregorios Jacobite Students' Movement (MGJSM) is the student wing of Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church. It is the oldest Christian student organization in India. The Headquarter of MGJSM is located at Malankara Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary of Ernakulam District in Kerala.

Aims

Though being a spiritual organisation this gives emphasis to social activities of its members and doesn't have Cate or religious boundaries

1. To foster the universal brotherhood of the mankind.
2. To equip the students to face the challenges of the modern world and to overcome difficulties of campus life.
3. To uphold the ethical and moral values of human life.
4. To enhance the social commitment among students.
5. To encourage students to work as a team and spread the feeling of oneness.
6. To impart leadership qualities.
7. To promote the talents and abilities of the students
8. To imbibe in Christian values,faith,and traditions, provide spiritual insight and strengthen faith in God.

History

Founded in 1907 as "Syrian Students Conference", it is the first Student Christian Movement in India.It conducted annual conferences till 1912 on a regular basis. After the church split in 1912, the annual conferences were abandoned.

Later on 6 May 1922, a special convention of the Students of the Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church was convened at the Cheruthottukunnel St. George Church of Angamaly diocese (in Pallikkara Region), under the initiative of St Paulose Mor Athanasius of Aluva (Valiya Thirumeni). In that meeting Thirumeni proposal of naming the organization after his spiritual mentor, St. Gregorios Geevarghese of Parumala was accepted. Thus 'Mar Gregorios Syrian Vidhyarthi Sangam' (also called Mar Gregorios Syrian Students Association - M.G.S.S.A) came into existence as the student wing of Jacobite Church. This was the first ever student's organization that adopted the name of St. Gregorios of Parumala.The movement gained momentum after this conference and started conducting conferences annually. Units were established in every parish and educational institution with a minimum of 10 Jacobite students. Valiya Thirumeni nourished the organization into becoming the 'back bone' of Jacobite Church. By 1950 the movement had nearly 500 units and a total of nearly 20000 members.During this period most of the church leaders were alumni of MGSSA.

In 1958, the churches united as Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. In 1960 MGSSA and St Thomas Syrian Student Movement of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church merged to form Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement MGOCSM. During this period the Students Movement showed exponential growth and is said to have nearly 700 units and more than 25000 members.But this 'Golden Era' was short lived and soon in 1972 both the churches split apart. MGOCSM split forming SOSMI (Syrian Orthodox Students Movement of India), the Student wing of Jacobite Church which was later renamed as JASSMI (Jacobite Syrian Students Movement of India) in 2002 when the church adopted a new constitution.

In the century year of Metropolitan Consecration of St Athanasius, the Holy Episcopal Synod of Jacobite Syrian Christian Church held at Puthencruz in the Month of June 2009 decided to the change the name of the Organisation as MGJSM ( Mor Gregorios Jacobite Syrian Students Movement),in the name of St Gregorios of Parumala in whose name St Athanasiaus started the students movement in the church. The renaming gave an unbelievable enthusiasm and has led to a rapid growth in the organization which now has more than 250 units and 25000 members. Annual Leadership Camp named LUMINA is conducted every year from 2011.The first Regional Office was inaugurated at St Mary's Jacobite Cathedral, Morakkala for Pallikkara Region. H G Kuriakose Theophilose Metropolitan has been leading this rapid Growth of MGJSM from 2009 onwards. Spiritual leaders like Fr Bobby, Fr George, Fr Elias, Fr Tijo, Dn Anish, Fr Thomas have made their contributions through the years. Student leaders like Shinil Thuruthummel, Akhil Peediyakkan, Biju N Raju, Joseph Renjith, Rukma George, Princy Jose, Thomas Elias, Akhil Pallikkara etc. have been instrumental in this rapid growth.

Leadership

MGJSM Officebearers from 2009

Wings

Regions

Student centers

Student Centers are established in places with numerous Jacobite Students living away from home. Each center has separate boys and girls hostel,a chapel, an auditorium,mess etc.Student Centers are going to be established in the following places

1. Mysore
2. Coimbatore
3. Manglore
4. Kothamangalam

Coaching centers

MGJSM is striding forward to establish coaching centers that can help its members attain a successful career. The proposed centers are as follows:

1. Civil Service Academy
2. Entrance Coaching Center
3. PSC Coaching Center
4. English Coaching Center

Activities

Committee

President: H G Kuriakose Mor Theophilos

Vice President: Rev Fr Thomas Pothicote (Seniors Wing)

General Secretary: Rev Fr Tijo Markose

Joint Secretary: Biju N Raju

Joint Secretary: Ria Susan Sabu (Kollam & Trivandrum Regions)

Treasurer: Basil C Eldhose

MEMBERS:

1. Shinil Paul Mathews Thuruthummel (Ex-Oficio, Bangalore Region)
2. Akhil Peediyakkan (Charity Wing)
3. Alias Paul Urumath (Pallikkara Region)
4. Jithu George (Kolenchery Region)
5. Arun (Kottayam Region)
6. Syno Paul (Koothattukulam Region)
7. Ebin Eldho (Kothamangalam Region, Media Wing)
8. Eldhose T K (Kochi Region)
9. Mintu P Eldhose (Perumbavoor Region)
10. Ankith Sabu (Muvattupuzha Region, Campus Wing)
11. Godly (Angamaly Region)
12. Basil Chako (Malabar Region)
13. Jerin Jacob Paul (Program wing)