IMS priest to head CHAI

(March 17, 2011) Indian Missionary Society Father Tomi Thomas has been appointed to the top post of the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI). He will take over as the director general of the institution on May 1. Father Thomas holds a Bachelor’s degree in theology, arts and philosophy and a Master’s in social work. He did his doctorate in social work in 2009 from the US. The priest has worked in the villages of Haryana as a social worker and taught at the IMS Philosophate. He worked as an associate pastor for 8 years at St Mathew Roman Catholic Church at Norwalk in the US. Father Thomas was the associate director of CHAI from 2000-2002. He led the relief work during the devastating 2001 earthquake in Gujarat. Formed in 1943, CHAI is one of the world’s largest non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Its head office is located in Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh.