His Excellency immediately started His valuable spiritual services. He reorganized the Diesis’ financial situation, assisting Catholic Monastery of Mercy and charity groups to continue helping needy and elderly people.  Also by establishing and reorganizing new and existing groups such as, choir group, Ladies of St Mary the Mother of Mercy group, Rosary Group, Adolescence and Faith and Light group.

His main goal to assist those who chose to follow Lord’s call and decided to sacrifices their life for Jesus was achieved, resulting in the ordinance of three Priests and seven Deacons.

His hard working efforts in publishing books and translating valuable liturgical and historical notes, inherited from previous Church leaders and intellectuals, added to His Excellencies great achievements.

His other great achievements were major renovations on Church of St Mary The Mother of God in Urmia in 1994, Church of St Mary in Sangar village, Church of St Mary in Dizaj Tekieh village, Social Hall for Salamas Christians community in 1994, a large social Hall for Christian community in Urmia, commercial and residential center with 24 shops and 20 apartments in Urmia, elderly residence for Christians of Urmia, building a camp site for Church members in Tekieh Urdoshahi village and rebuilding the Archdiocese of Urmia in 2007.

His Excellency established an interfaith commission to unite all Churches with different denominations in Urmia based on the “Vatican’s Interfaith Document”.

The 25th anniversary and celebration.

To appreciate and commemorate His Excellency’s devotion, hardworking and sacrifices for His faithful Diesis and His community at large, we decided to plan a celebration party in which originally was organized by all Priests, Nuns and other active Church groups. Noteworthy other parishioners immediately offered their time to volunteer for this event.

Finally after two months of preparation and great excitement, on March 12th of 2009 the celebration started with a Mass by His Excellency at St Mary Church of Urmia including honourable guests His Excellency Ramzi Garmou Archbishop of Tehran and Monsignor Petrus, Fr Vania Sarges from city of Hamedan, a group of Nuns from city of Tabriz also honourable guests from other denominations Fr Elia Yadgar, Fr Elosh Azizian, Fr Robert Sawra, President of Assyrian Association of Urmia Mr. Levy sayad Sangar, Assyrian-Chaldean Member of Parliament of Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Younathan Betcolia, Dr. Peera and a large gathering of Catholic parishioners.

After Mass, the crowd continued the celebration at the main social hall of Catholic Church of Urmia.  

The main hall’s decoration was exquisite. A large banner with His Excellency’s image of the Good Shepherd facing His Church and a symbolized image of St Mary guarding it’s Shepherd and parishioners.

Leading up to the scene were 25 steps, each decorated with a candle, grape leaves and wheat symbolizing each year of His blessings. The other side of the hall, another banner posted on the wall was profiling His activities during the last twenty five years of His service.

The opening speech started with a prayer. Guests and audience were greeted by the speaker followed by a beautiful song performed by the Church’s choir, praising His blessing.

The hall was filled with emotions during a letter of appreciation read by one of the first elderly house residents, praising for His Excellency’s love, care giving and attention towards the elderly who were left alone and forgotten.

A bouquet of flowers was offered to His Excellency honouring His fatherhood, His love and blessings while the Group of Adolescence was performing their choir lead by Sister Rozita. 

It was time for the Light and Faith group performance, a theatrical play reflecting their gratitude for leading and supporting them towards God’s way.

Fr Thomas gave a brief history of the Church for the last century. He also continued His biography during His last 25 years of service in Urmia with slide shows.

The president of Ladies Group Miss Roza Bet Mirza cut the cake of 25th anniversary and members of the Rosary Group distributed the cake among honourable guests and parishioners followed by a comedy theatrical play performed by Adolescence group, which brought smile to audiences face.

The celebration continued with speeches from other denomination representatives, offering their gratitude and honouring His Excellency’s spirituality and community services in their prayers, wishing for a long life from Jesus, followed by Assyrian association president Mr.  Levy sayad Sangar, Assyrian-Chaldean Member of Parliament of Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Younathan Betcolia.

The Choir group performed another beautiful song congratulating His Excellency’s 25th anniversary as Bishop.

His Excellency Ramzi Garmou, Archbishop of Tehran, presented His gratitude and congratulations from behalf of Tehran Archdiocese to Bishop Thomas Meram and reminded us to cherish our faith and hope for life, since the Lord will lead His Shepherds to the end and will never leave them alone, followed by a letter of congratulation and gratitude read by the Rosary Group.

His Excellency’s speech referring to Luke (17:10) , So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty. He continued, the Church’s asset is it’s faithful parishioners at the end he expressed His thanks and gratitude to all parishioners for unforgettable night.

The celebration ended by a last choir song in praise of St Mary.

                                                    Truly our Good Shepherds have been Jesus’ servants.  

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