merry christmas and happy new year - tamilcatholicsusatamilcatholicsusa.org › wp-content ›...

8/6/2019 Tamil Catholics Association of USA - Wishing Merry Christmas

www.tamilcatholicsusa.org/newsletter/December2016/index.html 1/13

Tamil Catholics Association of USADecember 2016 Newsletter

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year2017

PRIEST MESSAGE

அ�ட்பணி. �பஸ்.

கட�ள் மனித உ��ல் ! நம் ந��ல் ! ேகடக்ேவ அவ்வள�ஆனந்தம் !

வ�டம் ேதா�ம் �சம்பர் மாதம் என்றாேல அவ்வள� சந்ேதாஷம் !காரணம் ��ஸ்� �றப்� �ழா !

ச�ப காலமாக �சம்பர் மாதம் ேவ�பல காரணங்களால்அச�்�த்தைல�ம் அவநம்�க்ைகைய�ம் த��ற�.

2015 �சம்பர் மாதம் ! த�ழகத்�ன் ெப�ம்ப�� ெவள்ளத்தால்பா�ப்�. ��ப்பாக ெசன்ைன ெப�நகரம் ெநா�த்� ேபான�!எவ்வளேவா �யரம் ெசால்� மாளா�!

2016 �சம்பர் மாதம் ! த�ழக �தல்வரின் மரணம், மற்�ம் இந்�யந�த்தர, ஏைழ மக்களின் பணத்தட�்ப்பா� �ரச�்ைன இன்�ம்�ள�ல்ைல!

இந்நிைல�ல், இேய� மனித உ��ல் ! கட�ள் நம்ேமா� !நம்�க்ைக�ன் ெசய்� !

ஒ� பைழய கைத.

ெபர்�ய நாட�் அரசன் ஒ�வன் ஏைழ மக்களின் நிைல அ�யமா�ேவடம் �ண்� அவரக்ேளா� தங்�, உண்� அவரக்ளின்�ன்பங்கைள ேபாக்�வந்தான். ஒ�நாள் ஓர் ஏைழ ��யவர்�ட்�ல் உணவ�ந்�ம்ேபா� ��யவர் அரசைன அைடயாளம்கண்�ெகாண்டார். அரசன் ��யவரிடம் "என்னபரி�ப்ெபா�டக்ளா�ம் ேக�ம், த��ேறன்" என்றான்.��யவர்"அரேச, உம� அரண்மைனைய �ட�் ஏைழ என்ேனா� இந்த



��ைச�ல் தங்�னீர். எளியவனின் உணைவ உண்�ர். உம�ம�ைமயான நிைல��ந்� ��றங்� என்ைன ேத� வந்�ர்.மற்றவரக்�க்� நீர் எவ்வளேவா பரி�ெபா�டக்ள் தந்��க்கலாம்,ஆனால் நீர் எனக்� உம்ைமேய தந்�ர், எனக்� அ� ேபா�ம். என�எஞ்��ள்ள வாழ்நாள் பயணம் இனிதாய் அைம�ம்" என்றார்.

இ�தான் ��ஸ்� �றப்� !

ம�ைம�ன் கட�ள் மனிதனான கைத! எவ்வள� ெகா�ப்�ைனநமக்�!

நமக்� அ�கமான அ�� ேதைவப்பட்��ந்தால் கட�ள்�கப்ெபரிய கல்�யாளைர அ�ப்��ப்பார். நமக்� அ�கமானெதா�ல்�ட்பம் ேதைவப்பட்��ந்தால் �கப்ெபரிய ெதா�ல்�ட்பவல்�னைர அ�ப்��ப்பார். நமக்� அ�கமான பணம்ேதைவப்பட்��ந்தால் �கப்ெபரிய ெபா�ளாதார நி�ணைரஅ�ப்��ப்பார்.

ஆனால் மனித�லத்�ன் உயர் ேதைவ பாவத்��ந்� �ட்�அைடவதாக இ�ந்ததால், கட�ள் தன� மகைன �ட்பராகஅ�ப்�னார்.

இ�ளில் நடந்த மக்கள் ேபெராளிைய கண்ட�ேபால, நம�வாழ்��ம் ச�கத்��ம் ேபெராளி �சட�்ம். �ன்னாள்��த்தந்ைத ெபன�க்ட் ��ப்��வ�ேபால, இேய��ன் �றப்�நம� �தன்ைமகைள வரிைசப்ப�த்த சவால் ��ற�.இேய��ன் �றப்� ம�ழ்ைவ த�வதாக இ�ந்தா�ம், நம்ைமஆத்ம பரிேசாதைன ெசய்ய அைழக்�ன்ற�.

அைனவ�க்�ம் ��ஸ்� �றப்� வாழ்த்�க்கள் !

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE James Rethinam, President, TCA USA

Dear TCA Members,

On behalf of the executive committee, I welcome you all to the TCA USA's annualChristmas celebrations 2016. My heartfelt thank you to all of you for thewonderful opportunity to serve in TCA Office for the past two years. We've hadan awesome two years and achieved many great things together. Without EC andGB support we couldn't have come this far. Our priests are our backbone as ourorganization is based on our catholic faith. Without our priests our organizationwouldn't exist. I thank our beloved priests specifically, Fr. Albin Roby ourcounselor, Fr. Theesmas Pankiraj and Fr. John Berchmans.

I can't thank enough our outgoing two officers Mr. Clement Antonysamy who isour Secretary and Mr.Ilangoraja Rethinam our Joint Secretary. Both has served inTCA in many years and worked hard to grow our organization. Both has given



their time and talents to our organization in many ways. Every photograph ofTCA will speak Mr. Clement and every cultural event will speak Mr.Ilango.

I welcome our incoming new EC which has many new faces with talents and readyto take TCA to next level. Mr. Agnel Bestus is transitioning from Treasurer toPresident and Mr.Benno is also transitioning from Financial Secretary toSecretary. Mrs. Immaculate Sagayaraj will serve as Joint Secretary, Mr. AntonFernando will serve as Treasurer and Mr. Peter Rajesh Selvaraj will serve asFinancial Secretary. I also welcome incoming new Trustees Mr. Joseph Ernest, Mr.Eskalin Joe and Mr. John Peter. Congratulations to all new Officers and Trustees.Our new 2017 EC will be as below.

Officers

Mr. Agnel Bestus - PresidentMr. Xavier Rajesh Vincent - Vice PresidentMr.Benno A Francis - SecretaryMrs. Immaculate Sagayaraj - Joint SecretaryMr. Anton Fernando - TreasurerMr. Peter Rajesh Selvaraj - Financial SecretaryRev. Albin Roby - Counselor

Trustees

Mr. Joseph ArulananthamMrs. Roseline JosephMrs. Shanthi ThangarajMr. Anantha SoosairajMr. Joseph ErnestMr. Eskalin JoeMr. John Peter

Wishing you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !

TCA YOUTH GROUP

TCA Youth Group has been very active this year by doing many volunteer worksin TCA and outside. Our Youth Group is being coordinated and guided by RachelAnantha, Shanthi Thangaraj, Immaculate Sahayaraj, Benno Anthuvan andClement Antonysamy. TCA would like to extend a thank you to all thecoordinators who are encouraging our youth to make them aware of theimportance of giving.

Newsletter: You must've noticed that our newsletters are being contributed andedited by our Youth Group for the past two years. The newsletter team includesAnusha Mathias, Avina Mathias, Athalya Joseph and Angelin James.Congratulations and thank you team for such wonderful work!

Kids Program: During our TCA general body meetings, our Youth Group has been



running a program for small kids by actively engaging them using the newsletterKids Page and other activities.

TCA Picnic: Our annual summer picnic was also coordinated by our youths forregistration and collecting small donation from participants. They collected thedonation of $200 for the cause of charity which was donated to Five Loaves FoodPantry in New Brunswick.

$5 Offertory Bags: Our Youth group wasgiven a wonderful idea of preparing $5offertory bags for every TCA mass. Withthis effort they were able to collect manytypes of supplies for charity and addvalue to the mass that we celebrate. Thiseffort is very successful and collectedfood items, school supplies etc. whichwere donated to Five Loaves Food Pantryin New Brunswick. Please don't forget toparticipate in this noble cause by buyinga bag during our Christmas mass.

Food Pantry Visit: Our youth group visited Five Loaves Food Pantry in NewBrunswick thrice this year for volunteering such as packing food and to donatingthe collected supplies. This has been a very successful mission and thanks to allthose who participated. Thanks to the parents who brought their children toparticipate. TCA would like to extend big thanks to Rachel Anantha forcoordinating many outside volunteer activities this year.

CHRISTMAS CULTURES ALL AROUND THE GLOBE By Athalya Joseph

Sometimes people forget that Christmas is not only a time of joy within ourcommunities, but global celebration. So here are some Christmas traditionsvarious cultures follow around the world.

ARGENTINA: In contrast to our climate here in the states, weather during theholiday season is very warm in the summer. Homes are decorated with red andgreen, very much like what we do here in America. On Christmas Eve, a largedinner is served, usually consisting of turkey or pork, stuffed tomatoes andpuddings called “Pan Dulce.” At midnight, fireworks go off, and midnight servicesare conducted.

ETHIOPIA: The Ethiopian Orthodox Church still follows the old Julian calendar, soChristians in this country celebrate Christmas on January 7th. Christmascelebration is also called “Ganna.” Many people fast on Christmas eve, and wakeup early on the morning of “Ganna” to get ready for church (it starts at 4:00 a.m!)A traditional garment called a sharma is worn (thin, white cotton toga withbrightly colored stripes on the ends.) It is also believed that one of the wise men



that visited Jesus, was from Ethiopia. The people of Ethiopia give littleimportance to gift giving. Children may receive some new clothes from familymembers, but nothing extravagant, like what most Americans are used to.Ethiopians stress the time spent in church as more important, and love to eatand play games.

CHINA: Christmas is only celebrated in major cities because only one percent ofthe Chinese are Christians. Department stores are lined with decorations andchristmas trees. When it comes to individual celebration of Christmas, very littlefestivities are conducted. A family may have a plastic tree decorated with paperchains and flowers. One tradition unique to China, is the act of giving apples.People give apples in China because it is a symbol of Christmas Eve and how itwas a “Silent Night,” derived from the actual carol.

GERMANY: Advent is a crucial part of the Christmas season to many Germans.Families follow variations of advent calendars and light candles every week ofadvent. Another major tradition, is putting up a Christmas trees. The mother ofthe family will usually decorate the tree, and the family will sing songsafterwards. In some parts of Germany, children will write what they want forChristmas, from baby Jesus. Some families will sing carols and walk around theneighborhood, collecting money to give to charity.

MEXICO: From December 16th to Christmas Eve, children will act out theChristmas story, commonly known as the “Posadas.” Nativity scenes,“nascimento,” are very important in Mexican culture, whereas Christmas treesare just starting to become popular. Christmas Eve is reserved for family. Peoplecome together in an extravagant meal which is followed by a midnight churchservice, and a lots of fireworks.

2017 Events

Date Event Theme Location2/12/2017 Couples Mass St. Cecilia Church, Monmouth Jn, NJ

4/9/2017 Palm Sunday St. Bernard Clairvaux Church, Bridgewater, NJ

4/23/2017 April Mass Mary Mother of God Church, Hillsborough, NJ

6/17/2017 Pilgrimage Blue Army Shrine, Washington, NJ

7/15/2017 Picnic TBD

9/10/2017 Children Mass Mary Mother of God Church, Hillsborough, NJ

10/15/2017 October Mass St. Cecilia Church, Monmouth Jn

12/17/2017 Christmas Mass St Philip the Apostle Church, Saddle Brook, NJ

TCA 2016 AT A GLANCE



TCA SPONSORS



BIRTHDAYS

Siphina Peter 11/1 Jennifer Francis 11/12Arul Savarimuthu 11/15 Saharikah Sahay 11/15Nirmala Robert 11/16 Jenniston Francis 11/17Alastair Ryan Andrew 11/18 Anton Antony Arockiasamy 11/18Antony Sudharsan Gnanaraj 11/19 Rithvikka Prakash 11/2Duke Harrison 11/21 Rev. Bala Belavendiram Rathinam 11/21Cecil Deepika Britto 11/22 Ryan Pius 11/22Blessy Christa 11/23 Arun Joseph 11/24Gopal Sriramadoss 11/24 Kevin Gerald 11/25Steve Charles 11/25 Anantha Susairaj 11/27Antonica Rowona Rajan 11/28 Stephen D Alex 11/28Ruban 11/29 Esther Jayakumar 11/30Catherine Juana Leo 11/4 Nancy Mathias 11/5Sharvanand Thirunavukkarasu 11/6 Jessica James 11/8Jennifer Gerald 11/9 Julianne 11/9Veniesha Majella Arockiasamy 11/9 Dreamy Samuel James 12/1Simpson Joseph 12/1 Francis Rathinapandian 12/3Robert Navin 12/3 Melvin Joseph 12/4



Anto Piustin Peter 12/4 Naomy Ignatius 12/5Kevin Joseph 12/6 Juliana Britto 12/8Vijay Arockiasamy 12/8 Arockiasamy 12/8Anton Vijayakumar 12/8 Anitha Bethusamy 12/8Shoba Davadasan 12/9 Arockiasamy Diraviam 12/9Joanna Xavier 12/9 Adlin Savio 12/9Gregory Sellam 12/11 Roseline Joseph 12/12Sekar Chidambaram 12/12 Arokia Rajan Devaraj Sundaram 12/12Niteesh Thangaraj 12/13 Prakash Raj 12/13Nickson Benjamin 12/16 Christopher 12/25Nancy Infanta 12/25 Joanna Romauld 12/16Mary Perin 12/17 Vincent Raj 12/19James Rethinam 12/19 Romauld Maria Antony 12/22Jonathan Ligo 12/25 Shahira Innocent 12/27Praveen Francis 12/30 Noel John 12/31Sherin Fernando 12/30 Agnel Bestus 12/15Andrew Pillai 12/18 Azreena Mariadassou 12/20Mathias Arokiaraj 12/26 MaryPreetha Frank 12/28Flora Lavanya Vincent 12/10 Kingslee Rethinam 12/20Sheeba Abraham 12/14 Antony Manoj Gnanaraj 12/9Chris Gerald 12/20 Bridget Joseph 12/31Janez James 12/31 Saverina Anthony 12/12Steven Paul 12/13 Jovitha James 12/13Allen Thevarajah 12/22 Jason Cross 12/13Christian Mahipan 12/28 Janelle Cross 12/19Joanna Jesudas 12/10 Rhea Princy 12/19Maathini Martin 12/15 Ethan Lazer 12/27Thami 12/25

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

Thomas Amutharasu Mathias & Anita Jayasingh Mathias 11/3John L. Jesurajan & Daphne Christine Joseph 11/13Patrick GabrielPillai & Raji GabrielPillai 11/21Christian Mahipan & Tresa Mahipan 11/28Harriet Michael & Michael Manoj 11/29Antony Sagayaraj & Immaculate Sagayaraj 11/30



Kingslee Rethinam & Usha Maria Selvam 12/1Raymonds Vijay Edmund & Jerine Arputha Peter 12/9Joseph Cruz Durai & Roseline Joseph 12/14Anbu Benziger & Jenis Anbu 12/27Michael Antonyraj & Deepthi Baskar 12/27Maria Antony Pius & Femila Nayagam 12/28Terryne Edwardraj & Shahira Innocent 12/29Francis Xavier Francis & Mary Grace Francis 12/30Robert Ligo & Thilagam Ligo 12/30

If you are interested to contribute articles in TCA newsletter OR to work inEditorial committee. Please contact Anton Fernando : [email protected] OR any of TCAExecutive committee member.

KIDS PAGE By Angelin James

mailto:[email protected]



Kids - Please stay tuned for next newsletter for the answers.



© 2016 Tamil Catholics Association of USA.

https://www.facebook.com/tamil.catholics

https://twitter.com/tcausatweets

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChDwJfjK78V8XDRU37B-Q6A

merry christmas and happy new year - tamilcatholicsusatamilcatholicsusa.org › wp-content ›...

Documents