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Pastoral Leadership

Rev. Pratesh Oommen

Shepherd and spiritual guide of the Mar Thoma Church of New Jersey since 2025.

Rev. Pratesh Oommen
Rev. Pratesh Oommen
Vicar
Email vicar@njmarthoma.org
Phone (973) 328-7386
Vicar Since May 2025

The Vicar

Rev. Pratesh Oommen

Rev. Pratesh Oommen is the 17th Vicar of the Mar Thoma Church of New Jersey, serving since 2025. He was ordained as a Deacon (Semmash) on June 5, 2013, and as a Priest (Kaseesha) on July 12, 2013, in the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. He belongs to the Kalathoor Thekkethil Family of the Vechoochira St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church.

Education: Bachelor of Arts — St. Thomas College, Ranny, Kerala • Divinity — Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

Formative Ministry: Nagercoil Mar Thoma Students' Ministry • Ranny Prathyasa Bhavan Halfway Home.

Ministerial Service in India — churches served prior to MTCNJ: Elanthoor Mar Thoma Valiyapally • Valiyavetom St. Paul's Mar Thoma Church • Arthat Kunnamkulam Mar Thoma Church • Ranny Christos Mar Thoma Church • Ezholy Salem Mar Thoma Church • Thumpamon Sehion Mar Thoma Church • Pallikkala St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church.

Additional Responsibilities: Vice President, Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam • Director, Ponnani Mar Thoma English Medium School • President, Local Advisory Committee — Guruvayoor Mar Thoma Mission • President, Mar Thoma Sunday School — South East Region, Diocese of North America • President, Mar Thoma Voluntary Evangelistic Association (South-East Centre) • President, Mar Thoma Senior Fellowship (South-East Centre A).

Family: He is married to Mariamma Abraham (Bincy Pratesh), and they are blessed with two children — Ethan Varghese Oommen and Eza Maria Pratesh.

"The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

John 10:11
Rev. Pratesh Oommen with family

The Oommen Family

Family & Personal Life

Rev. Pratesh Oommen is married to Mariamma Abraham (Bincy Pratesh), and they are blessed with two children — Ethan Varghese Oommen and Eza Maria Pratesh.

The Oommen family belongs to the Kalathoor Thekkethil Family of the Vechoochira St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Kerala.

The Pastoral Role

The Work of a Vicar

A Mar Thoma vicar is at once priest, preacher, pastor, and leader — serving the whole person and the whole community in all seasons of life.

Sacraments
Priestly Ministry

Administering the Holy Qurbana, Baptism, Holy Matrimony, Confession, and Last Rites — the sacred milestones of the Christian life.

Preaching
Ministry of the Word

Proclaiming the Word of God through Sunday sermons, special services, Bible studies, and retreats throughout the year.

Pastoral Care
Shepherding the Flock

Visiting the sick, counselling the distressed, comforting the grieving, and shepherding every member through every season of life.

Parish Oversight
Administrative Leadership

Leading the Executive Committee, guiding ministry heads, and stewarding the parish vision in partnership with the diocese and congregation.

A Word from the Vicar

From the Shepherd's Heart

"

Dearly Beloved in Christ, Greetings in the matchless name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!

As autumn settles in, we give thanks for God's faithfulness through the months behind us. "I rejoiced with those who said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord" (Psalm 122:1) — may this joy fill every family and every generation of our parish.

I am deeply grateful for your prayers, love, and support during my recovery. Your calls, messages, and the help extended to me and my family were a true blessing, and I thank God for such a caring parish family.

Our Church Picnic on August 22nd was a joyful day of fellowship, and we sincerely thank Grace Church for graciously offering us their space. We also thank the Sevika Sanghom for the successful Bake Sale and for their continued generous contribution to our church. We praise God for the success of our Diocesan Conferences, and we thank all our members who participated and represented our parish. Our Family Night on September 26th was a lovely evening that brought our families closer together.

Looking ahead: October 15th — Sight & Sound, organised jointly by the MTVEA and Sevika Sanghom; October 23rd–25th — our Parish Convention; October 25th — Family Sunday, when we will collect our One Day Income; November 1st — World Sunday School Sunday; and November 7th — the Regional Talent Fest. I warmly encourage all our members, along with their families, to join and actively participate in these programmes, and to make them truly blessed occasions.

Our Christmas Rounds will begin in the first weeks of December, and we warmly request families to open their homes for the Christmas prayers and carols.

As we enter the last three months of our financial year, our expenses are increasing. I kindly request every family to clear any outstanding dues and to consider a special donation so that we can close our accounts on time. I also encourage every family to bring our younger generation to church — at the very least on their birthdays and special occasions — and they are warmly welcomed every Sunday. A church that is rich in youth is rich in hope.

I am looking forward to seeing you and your families at the Lord's house in the coming weeks, as we grow together in faith, fellowship, and service. May the peace and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with each of you and your families.

Rev. Pratesh Oommen
Vicar, Mar Thoma Church of New Jersey

A Long Line of Shepherds

Seventeen Vicars Since 1981

Since the parish was founded in January 1981, seventeen ordained ministers of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church have served as Vicar of this congregation. Each has left a lasting mark on the spiritual life of our parish — through preaching, sacramental ministry, and devoted pastoral care.

Their collective service spans over four decades of God's faithfulness to this congregation, through seasons of growth, challenge, and joyful celebration.

View Former Vicars
  • May 2025 – Present
    Rev. Pratesh Oommen

    Current Vicar. Serving the parish with faithful pastoral leadership and vision.

  • Earlier Vicars
    Sixteen Predecessors

    Since 1981, sixteen ordained pastors preceded Rev. Oommen, each contributing to the spiritual formation of this parish community.

  • 1981
    Parish Founded

    The first Vicar was appointed when the parish was elevated to full parish status in January 1981.

Reach Out

Contact the Vicar

No pastoral need is too small. Rev. Oommen is available for home visits, hospital visits, prayer, and counselling.

Parish
790 State Route 10 West, Randolph NJ

Need Pastoral Support?

Rev. Oommen is available for pastoral visits, prayer, and counselling. Reach out — we are here for you.

Contact the Vicar Email Directly