About usFriends of Bijnor is an organization that supports the humanitarian and spiritual developmental activities of the Catholic Diocese of Bijnor in Uttarakhand, India.
Sharing the joy of Christ
While the development of a state-of-the-art Addiction Rehabilitation Center is the current emphasis for the FOB Team, past support has included work that is considered missionary in both nature and purpose. The Diocese of Bijnor services a community that lacks employment and is not adequately equipped from a health care perspective. In addition, being close to the Himalayan mountains, the Diocese of Bijnor has not benefited from government funds that have been historically allocated to the large urban areas. As such, previous FOB engagements included pastoral care, health care initiatives, vocational training and educational programs aimed at serving all sectors of the Diocese population.
Early on, after the formation of the Diocese of Bijnor, the Bishop Gratian Mundadan CMI began sharing the suffering of the people in this region with small prayer communities in the United States. The prayer groups began a campaign to offer financial assistance to help build wells to make clean water available to drink, bathe, water crops, and take care of the animals in the district of Uttar Pradesh. In 1991 under the bishop’s guidance Friends of Bijnor, Inc., a US 501 c (3) nonprofit and public charity, was established. FOB’s next project was to help build Asha Deep, a facility to house differently abled children. As the Diocesan humanitarian and social efforts expanded, the areas of impact also included education of the youth, pastoral care, and vocational training such as Prendham Ashram, Pavlana Bhvan, and Maria Ashram. Each of these endeavors addressed urgent struggles of the destitute.
Our Impact42
years of working experience
6
Civil Districts Served
3,071,000
People served in the Diocese of Bijnor
We’re on a Mission
In response to the pressing need for addressing severe alcohol and drug addiction disorders in the community, the Mission Diocese of Bijnor is establishingof a fully-equipped Addiction Rehabilitation Center. And we need your support.
Board of Directors
PresidentBishop Vincent Nellaiparambil
Bishop Vincent entered the eparchy of Bijnor as a minor seminarian, attending Saint Joseph’s Minor Seminary in Kotdwar until 1990. He secured a degree in art from the University of Allahabad in 1994, studied theology at the Saint Joseph Regional Seminary, and was awarded a bachelor’s degree in theology in 1999. He was ordained priest on April 8, 1999, and after holding various pastoral offices, obtained a master’s degree from the H.N. Bahuguna University in 2005 and a licentiate in systematic theology from the Dharmaram Vidyakshetram, Bangalore, in 2008.
Bishop Vincent was head priest in two mission stations for six years. From 2008 to 2012 he was rector of the diocesan minor seminary, coordinator of formation of the eparchy of Bijnor and non-resident member of staff of Saint Joseph’s Regional Seminary in Allahabad since 2008, and resident member from 2012 to 2017. Pope Francis appointed him bishop of Bijnor on August 30, 2019, and was on elevated to the episcopal seat on November 1, 2019.
SecretaryEstelle Ryan Clavelli
Estelle Ryan Clavelli, PhD, is an educator and community activist who has an extensive background in the areas of globalization, implications of language and cultural dynamics in communication, and the development of multi-ethnic and international collaborations. During her professional travels she experienced firsthand the importance of education in breaking the chains of poverty and reducing economic and social disparities around the globe.
From the beginning, Estelle was a member of one of the original prayer groups that began the US relationship with the Diocese of Bijnor under Bishop Gratian Mundadan, CMI. Her visit to the Diocese of Bijnor in October 2008 for the installation of Bishop John Vadakel, CMI to the episcopal seat as second Bishop of Bijnor, remains an unforgettable experience that reenforces the meaning behind the words “love of neighbor”. Estelle is married and has three adult children.
DirectorDave Duehren
Dave Duehren is lifelong Catholic and graduate of MIT with a degree in Engineering. His career has taken him into cutting edge technology, new product development and innovation. He co-founded a tech company, Brooktrout Technology, a publicly traded technology (NASDAQ:BRKT) and took it public (100M) and served as its CTO. Dave firmly believes in giving back to the community. He has been a volunteer his whole adult life and now semi-retired he sits on several boards, among them the Kiwanis in Sisters, OR and as treasurer of the Tech Catholic Community board at MIT. Recently, he joined the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) Board of Directors to give back in a recreational nonprofit leading an effort that enables STA to provide more and better detailed maps for safety and environmental protection for all trail users on the three Sisters mountains. Dave enjoys hiking as one of his main activities.
In February 2024, Dave joined three other men from St Edward’s Parish to journey with Fr. Sibi on Father’s return to India where the group visited several of the diocesan outposts. He is committed to the humanitarian work of the Diocese
DirectorMike Amsberry
Mike Amsberry was born the seventh of eight sons to a strong Catholic family in Oregon. He spent most of his life in the small, rural towns of this beautiful state. It was here that he grew to appreciate the wonders of the mountainous landscape. He loves just about everything out in God ‘s creation—hiking, fishing, skiing, mountain biking, and photography. Professionally, Mike went on to secure a doctorate in veterinary medicine. He established an educational nonprofit to teach best practices for care of animals. After 35 years, Mike recently retired from his full-time practice taking care of the creatures of God’s world.
While Fr Sibi was in residence in St. Edward’s parish, Mike befriended Father and helped him get to know the splendor of the town of Sisters, OR. He now devotes time to a Catholic men’s ministry and supports the missionary and humanitarian outreaches of the Diocese of Bijnor. Mike visited the Diocese of Bijnor with a group of parishioners from St Edward’s Church in spring 2024. Mike is married and has two children.
DirectorDony Antony
As a dedicated software engineer, Dony Antony knows the world of numbers and appreciates the mathematical design of the universe. Daily, he uses his knowledge and experience to constantly improve web applications, utilize tools and infrastructure to maximize productivity, minimize system downtime and quickly respond to the changing needs of the business world at LexisNexis. He’s the “go to guy” to solve tough problems. He completed his education at the National Institute of Technology in Calicut, earning a master’s degree in computer applications, in 1997. As a team player, he communicates well, provides appropriate consultation to issues and has a relentless pursuit of excellence.
Dony has a demeanor provides a hopeful effect that allows a team to address issues at hand believing that together, they will eventually solve the problem. His compassion reaches out to community as well as the workplace especially in the areas of disaster and humanitarian relief as well as social services. Dony is dedicated to supporting the humanitarian and spiritual assistance programming offered to the people served by the Diocese of Bijnor.
Priest RepresentativeFr. Joshy Thomas
Fr Joshy Thomas Pulickal presently serves at both Our Lady of the Valley and Saint Raphael Roman Catholic Churches in the diocese of Phoenix, Arizona. He was appointed Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of the Valley and St. Raphael Parishes, effective July 1, 2023. Father participates in many spiritual activities throughout the week. He has been especially moved by his ministry to the aged and disabled members of his church communities residing in senior living homes where he visits bringing the sacraments.
Fr Joshy was ordained a priest on April 9, 2005, in Kerala, South India where he grew up. His patron saint is Saint John the Baptist whose feast day is on June 24th. Before his assignment to the USA, Father Joshy served in the Diocese of Bijnor as Secretary to Bishop Vincent Nellaiparambil and fulfilled missionary duties throughout the six civil regions covered by the Diocese.
DirectorFrank Lo Preste
Frank Lo Preste was born in 1943 in Riverside, California. Growing up on the west coast of the US, he was surrounded by the beauty of nature. Drawn to the splendor of God’s water world, Frank became an advocate of sport fishing. At 14 years of age, he made his first trip on the open Pacific. As if predestined to spend his life on the high seas and lead others to fall in love with the same, Frank had the opportunity to go to the wheelhouse and drive and steer that ship. At that moment, the mystical relationship that develops between the fisherman and the sea, touched him. He never forgot that gesture. During his early years, Frank attended and graduated from Notre Dame high school. Thereafter, he pursued a Bachelor of Finance at St. Mary’s College in Moraga CA completing his studies in 1965.
All the while, the call of the sea continued to attract him. A legend in long range fishing, Frank, a true gentleman, when on to become a captain of adventure. Managing five sportfishing landings and marina under the flag of the Royal Polari, he chose to live a life of adventure and brought others along on the journey. Frank has held a captain’s license since he was 21.
DirectorSr. Sarla
Sister Sarala belongs to the Congregation of the Holy Family (CHF). In her youth, she realized that she had a vocation to the religious life. Her greatest desire was to become a missionary. After exploring the religious institutions for women, she joined the Congregation of the Holy Family where she completed the novitiate and took final vows. The CHF was founded in 1914 by Saint Mariam Thresia, in a remote village called Puthenchira in Thrissur Dt, Kerala. Saint Mariam Thresia who witnessed familial love and communion in her personal life tried to make the families of the world holy after the model of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
Drawn to this model of familial love, Sister Sarala expressed the wish to serve in the missions. She came to Northern India to work in the Diocese of Bijnor. After learning Hindi, Sister began her service to the Lord in the apostolate of education: teaching, counseling, and working with young students often from homes where the parents are unable to assist with their studies.
Priest RepresentativeFr. Sibi Poulouse
Father Sibi Poulouse was born and raised in Perumbavoor City in the Ernakulam District of Kerala, India. He was ordained on April 23, 2009, and has served in many places in India as a missionary. Some of his ministries include organizing meetings, seminars, workshops and training programs for students and teachers, as well as teaching catechism for youths. During the years of 2019-2024, Father served as the pastor of St. Edward the Martyr parish in Sisters, Oregon. During this time, he also completed a PhD in Behavioral Health Administration through Grand Canyon University.
Father Sibi returned to India in February 2024 to begin the hard, invigorating, and joyous work—alongside many others—of building and staffing the Addiction Rehabilitation Center in Najibabad, Uttar Pradesh. Father and his team of religious and health care professionals have begun the task of building a facility for essential health care for those addicted to drugs and an educational retraining program in Najibabad that will give them a new set of skills and a chance at a better life. Father Sibi serves as the Executive Director for the new Addiction Rehabilitation Center launching in 2025.
Vice President & TreasurerCyriac Kottoor
A retired insurance actuary, Cyriac Kottoor lives in San Antonio, Texas. Over the course of his career, he worked for several insurance companies assessing and managing risks for each agency by using financial and statistical models. He was responsible for developing the mathematical, analytical, computer and research analysis used to ascertain the economic costs of risk and uncertainty. These assessments produced up-to-date modeling for day-to-day changes in domestic and global risk patterns. He retired in 2017 from General Re Life Corporation as an actuarial vice president.
Originally from Kerala, South India, Cyriac came to the US in 1972 for higher studies. After meeting Bishop Gratian Mundadan, CMI, first Bishop of the Diocese of Bijnor, during the bishop’s USA mission trip in 2009, he became a ‘friend’ of the organization of Friends of Bijnor, Inc. Over the years, he has served in various project-based roles and as a board member and an officer. Cyriac is married and has three adult children.
DirectorMarc Lacoste
Marc Lacoste was born in Bowie, Maryland. He relocated to Eastern Shore of the state after completing College. The Eastern Shore is a patchwork of small rural towns draped across the pristine beauty of Maryland’s Shore. This rural area offers centuries-old traditions of hospitality. Professionally, Marc has worked there in the hospitality industry for over 25 years. Marc maintains a strong appreciation for the work of his staff and develops a sense of community among the members of his team.
As a youth Marc’s family was involved in Friends of Bijnor, Inc. He attended one of the US prayer groups and followed the growth of the Diocese through the annual Christmas newsletters from Bishop Gratian Mundadan, CMI. Following in the footsteps of his parents Rene and Jackie Lacoste, Marc has remained faithful to supporting the humanitarian efforts of the Diocese and has stayed involved in outreach activities. Marc enjoys the great outdoors and is a cantor in his local parish.
DirectorTom Kilroy
Tom Kilroy is an accomplished Fortune 100 corporate executive and board director. He brings more than 25 years of experience leading mature global lines of business, launching new startup technologies in new territories, and guiding small companies from inception through their initial public offerings (IPO). As an ExCo Group Mentor, he works with C-suite executives and senior leaders in the insurance, aerospace and defense industries. Previously, he served as executive vice president, co-president of Intel Americas, and general manager of Intel’s global sales and marketing group, where he led a 5,000 employee base responsible for more than $50B in worldwide revenue sales and marketing across the enterprise. Under his leadership, he oversaw the launch of highly successful product lines, acquisitions, and divestments, and entrance into the emerging markets of Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.
Now retired, Tom continues to work as Executive Mentor at The ExCo Group. He is a board member of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, an international leader in research and cancer treatment. He also served on the advisory board of Jive Software (from the startup days through its IPO), as well as, on the board of Acronis. Tom supports the action-oriented efforts of the Diocese of Bijnor to alleviate poverty and suffering. He is married with three adult children.
You can be assured, that your financial assistance will go directly to support the creation of a state-of-the-art Addiction & Rehabilitation Center in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The project will be implemented under the Patronage of Diocese of Bijnor and will be overseen by Bishop Vincent Nellaiparambil and the Executive Director, Fr. Sibi Poulose. An Executive Committee consisting of auditors, local government authorities and social workers will monitor and report on the project’s progress.
Give With Confidence
Our team is happy to help answer any questions you may have at friendsofbijnor@gmail.com