The Missionary Society of St Thomas the Apostle (MST)
The Missionary Society of St Thomas the Apostle (MST) is a missionary venture of the Syro-Malabar Church. MST is a Society of Apostolic Life with an exclusively missionary charism, whose sole goal is to spread the Kingdom of God through witness and apostolic involvement. Drawing spiritual enthusiasm from St Thomas, the Apostle of India and her patron, MST is committed to take up missionary responsibilities anywhere in the world through collective apostolate. Established in Kerala, it does not seek to establish itself in Kerala, but aims to work only in mission regions. It was begun with just 18 diocesan priests who took promise of incorporation in the Society for full time mission work. After 50 years the number of active members grew into 349. Twenty one of its members have already gone to receive their eternal reward. MST has its presence in 15 countries in the world. It has three large mission regions and one mission delegation. Its missionaries have established more than hundred mission centers in the mission regions and have co-operated with almost all Syro-Malabar dioceses and a few Latin dioceses in India in carrying out their pastoral and missionary responsibilities. MSTs call themselves as trailblazers as they prefer to reach places and people where nobody had reached and prepare paths for those who follow later. It has been the missionary style the MST missionaries have been following.
Nature
MST does not have the nature of a religious congregation. Nor does it have the nature of a diocesan clergy. Canonically it is included among the societies of apostolic life of Major Archiepiscopal right. It is a society of priests who seeks to reach spiritual perfection through the apostolic deeds that they do in the mission regions. As Cardinal Sylverstini, the Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches wrote, “The Missionary Society is called upon to offer exemplary witnesses as an ‘organized missionary effort of the diocesan clergy of the Syro-Malabar Church, fully committed to the cause of the Gospel and striving after the perfection of charity, leading in common a life of true brotherhood, in accordance with the specific rule of life.
MST is a missionary society of the Syro-Malabar Church. Therefore these two elements form its basic nature. It is missionary and it is of the Syro-Malabar Church. C2 of MST Constitution reads thus, “MST is a missionary institute of the Syro-Malabar Church. The purpose of the society is mission ad gentes, in India and outside”. In fact MST is exclusively missionary in nature. It exists solely for the mission. That is why the society has not made any attempt to start institutions in Kerala. The first statutes of the Society before it underwent revision read like this: “The special purpose of the society shall be to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the less Christian regions of India and outside, to establish, organize and administer the Church until it is entrusted to the local clergy”. Thus from the very beginning the basic nature of the society remains the same. All missionary activities finally must lead to the founding of Christian communities. MST fulfils its missionary responsibility remaining faithful to the ecclesial heritage of the Syro-Malabar Church.
Vision
The vision of MST as it is defined by the constitution reads thus: “MST, rooted in the ecclesial (spiritual, liturgical, theological and canonical) and cultural heritage of the Syro- Malabar Church, envisions living the values of Jesus and sharing the same with people of all faiths and cultures, anywhere in the world, in line with mission ad gentes, for establishing a more harmonious society.”
Mission
The mission of MST as it is envisioned in the constitution reads thus: “Drawing inspiration from the apostolic experience of St Thomas ‘My Lord and My God’ and imbibing the values of Jesus by individual and societal ways of communion with Him, MST live and develop the diverse dimensions of the spiritual, cultural and social heritage of St Thomas Christians and share the Gospel values in view of transforming individuals and the society, reaching out to people of all faiths and communities, in a spirit of friendly relations and service.”
Brief History
MST was founded by the first Bishop of the diocese of Pala Mar Sebastian Vayalil on behalf of the whole Syro-Malabar Hierarchy as a common venture of the Syro-Malabar Church. It was inaugurated and its statutes were promulgated on 22 February 1968 in the gracious presence of the Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches His Eminence Maximillian Cardinal Furstenberg on a small hillock at Ampara near Bharananganam in the diocese of Pala. 18 diocesan priests took the promise of incorporation into the Society on 16 July 1968 and became its first members. On the same day first General Council, Director General and four Councillors and Treasurer General, was constituted by His Excellency Sebastian Vayalil by the special faculty received from Rome.
Mission ad Gentes
Ujjain: First Mission Region
Ujjain Exarchate in Madhya Pradesh became the first mission region of MST. The Exarchate was created by Vatican on 28 July 1968 by Pope Paul VI. But the first MST missionaries had taken over the Ujjain mission from Indore diocese on 5 May 1968 itself. When the exarchate was created there were only two institutions in the three districts which formed part of it. They were the Holy Trinity church and St Mary’s School in Ujjain. The Society approached the mission with apostolic zeal and began to establish mission stations in various parts of the Exarchate, both cities and in villages. Within three years eight mission centers were developed. When the Exarchate was declared a diocese in 1977 the numbers of mission stations grew into thirteen. In 1998 when the first Bishop mar John Perumattam retired and Mar Sebastian Vadakel was consecrated the number of mission stations increased into 37. Today the diocese has 42 mission centres most of which were developed by MST missionaries. Yet the Society has retained only the Regional House and Ruhalaya Major Seminary for itself. Now two schools and a prayer center are established by MST in the diocese.
Mandya: Second Mission Region
The district of Mandya in Karnataka state which belonged to Mananthavady diocese was taken over by MST for mission work in 1980 and it became its second Mission region. No mission work was done in this district when MST missionaries started to work here. The missionaries concentrated their attention in the villages and within ten years they established 16 mission stations in interior villages, most of them in the villages among the people. They followed a non-institutional approach, concentrating on the social and economic upliftment of the people. In 2010 when Mandya became diocese there were 21 mission centres in the region, all developed by MST. Of these 10 were handed over to the diocese freely and willingly.
Sangli: Third Mission Region
Four districts, Sangli, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri, in Maharashtra state which were part of Kalyan Syro-Malabar diocese were taken over by MST in 1990 for full time evangelisation. These four districts formed the third mission region of MST. The missionaries of MST started from scratches, buying a small plot of land including an abandoned small poultry farm building, and within no time established several mission stations. The growth of Sangli mission was fabulous. Today Sangli Mission has 32 mission centers, all self-sufficient. The pro-poor and pro-people activities of Sangli Mission have been well appreciated in both civil and Ecclesiastical circles.
Mary, Queen of the Mission Delegation
With a view to establishing the fourth region of MST, a delegation under the patronage of Mary, Queen of the Mission, was established by MST on 3 July 2014. Within a short period missionaries have spread out to various parts of the delegation which include the states of Punjab, Hariyana, Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. Mission stations have already been established at Delhi, Chandigarh, Bathinda, Deon, Simla and Mohali.
Mission among Syro-Malabar Migrants
As a common missionary institute of the Syro-Malabar Church, MST regarded as its responsibility to give pastoral care for the Syro-Malabar migrant Catholics both in India and outside. The Society is actively involved in this ministry from 1984 onwards. Its missionaries could be termed as the pioneers in this field. In India the following MST was involved and is still involved in the Indian cities of Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Sylvasa, Surat, Baroda, Goa, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Indore, Devas, Ahammadabad. They were also active in foreign cities of Qatar, Chicago, London, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden
Pastoral and Missionary collaboration with Syro-Malabar Dioceses
MST rendered a helping hand to all Syro-Malabar dioceses in and outside Kerala in their pastoral and missionary needs. MST fathers have worked in all dioceses in all mission dioceses except Gorakpur and Bijnor.
Collaboration with Latin Church in India
MST was and is ready to help the Latin Church also in particular occasions. The Ladak mission of MST will be always remembered in the history of the diocese of Jammu and Srinagar. The missionaries of the Society climbed the snow-capped mountains of Leh-Ladak and within four years established a mission station with all necessary infrastructures. MST missionaries have rendered from time to time their services in the Latin dioceses of Guwahati, Agarthala, Indore, Ranchi, Jhabua, and Bhopal. They continue their services in Ittanagar diocese in Arunachal Pradesh. Jammu-Srinagar, Ranchi and Bhopal dioceses have availed of the services of MST priests in their Minor Seminaries. In the Minor Seminary of the Missionaries of Africa at Bangalore there was a MST priest from the very beginning.
Foreign Mission
Today MST had made its presence felt in all continents. They have reached Tanzania in Africa, Stockholm in Sweden, Brazil in Latin America, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Australia, a few dioceses in USA, in Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago, Canada, in countries like Germany, Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland in Europe.
Institutions and Centres of Ministry
Deepti Bhavan
MST Generalate, Deepti Bhavan is situated at Melampara near Bharananganam in Kottayam district of Kerala. It is the headquarters of the Missionary society. The Director General and his Councillors and the Treasurer General have their offices here. The first building was built in 1968 and the present one was completed in 2013.
Aram
Aram is the Priests’ Home of the Society. It is located in the Deepti Campus itself, known as Deepti Mount. The first building was constructed in 1992. The present building was completed in 2011.
IMPACT
IMPACT is the Mission animation and communication wing of MST. It is situated at Thevaka, Ernakulam. MST started its communication wing in 1996. Katukumani, mission magazine for children, was its contribution. In the beginning it was based in Deepti Compound. Later in 2007 it was shifted to the present location. All activities of MST for Mission Animation and Communication are now co-ordinated from here. The center tries to instil and develop mission awareness in the mother Church.
Viswadeepti
Viswadeepti is the missiological Research center of MST. It is situated at Kolhapur in Maharashtra. The center conducts symposiums, seminars and classes on missiological subjects. It conducts also Marathi language course for new missionaries.
Formation Houses
Deepti College
Deepti College is the first Minor Seminary of MST. Established on 31 August 1969 it accepts Syro-Malabar students from all over India. Deepti College is situated in Deepti Mount close to the Deepti Bhavan, the Generalate of MST. In the past 49 years about 2000 students have gone through the portals of Deepti College. At present Deepti College has a strength of 61 students.
Santhome Minor Seminary
Santhome Minor Seminary at Thmarassery is the second Minor Seminary of MST. Established in 2017 it is the Golden Jubilee Memorial of MST. The seminary has a strength of 60 students hailing from all parts of Kerala.
Jeevan Jyoti
Situated at Srirangapatbna in Karnataka in St Thomas region of MST, Jeevan Jyoti is the Missionary Orientation center of MST. Students get here one year training missionary life. They are taught mission languages and culture. It is also a year for intensive spiritual, emotional and psychological development. After three years of Minor Seminary life, the students reach here for this one year training in the mission land.
Ruhalaya Major Seminary
Ruhalaya, the major Seminary of MST is situated at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. Philosophy and Theology sections have separate buildings in two separate campuses at a distance of five hundred meters on the Ujjain-Agar Road, seven kilometres from the city. The Philosophy Seminary was established on 3 July 1986. Students get formation here for three years. Besides the students of MST, Ruhalaya philosophy Seminary accepts students from all Syro-Malabar mission dioceses.
The Theology Section of Ruhalaya was inaugurated on 8 July 1997. The exquisitely beautiful chapel of Ruhalaya Theology Seminary is a real attraction to all. There is a common rector to both seminaries while there is vice-Rector each for each seminary. Students from all Syro-Malabar mission dioceses are given admission in theology section too.
Ministries and Apostolates
To the marginalized
MST missionaries are trailblazers. They are pathfinders in missionary methods and missionary outreach. They reach places and people nobody else had ever care for.
Among the Rag pickers of Delhi
MST missionaries by their dedicated service and committed love lifted to the heights of freedom and empowerment hundreds of children from the smoke-filled dumping yard at Balaswa in Delhi, the capital city of India.
In collaboration with Holistic Child Development India, Deepti foundation is implementing a programme to ensure dignified, empowered and sustainable living conditions to all the rag picking children in three colonies of Bhalswa dumping yard, Delhi. The project aims at restoring the self-dignity and respect of children engaged in waste collection along with creating opportunities for their families to improve their socio-economic situation. 332 children are attending the non-formal education programme at Gyan Sarovar Bhalswa diary. The have regular health checks up, medication, midday meal, psycho social support and advocacy. Their families are also involved in the programme. A lot of children and their families are empowered to have a dignified life in the society.
Among the child prostitutes of Bachara tribe in Mandsaur
There are a few tribes in India whose women even now consider prostitution as a family profession. The Bachara tribe in Mandsaur district in Madhya Pradesh is such a one. The girls of this tribe when they attain the age of 13 are forced into prostitution. The girls become the bread winners of the family whereas men become pimps for the girls. They do no work at all, but enjoy the hard-earned money. These girls have no chance to get educated. They cannot marry. They are not allowed to go out of their villages. If any young mean in the village wants to love a girl, he is forced to give a large amount of dowry to the girl’s family. No government agencies so far have tried to abolish this evil social system of exploitation of the girls.
MST missionaries working at Mandsaur came to know about this evil system and decided to do something to liberate these girls. They employed a young man with an MSW degree and through him began to contact the villagers. Self-help groups were formed to empower the women. Non-formal education centers were started and children were brought into them and were educated. Girls were made conscious of their dignity and freedom. Thus slowly all these efforts have begun to show results.
Among the nomadic Hakkipikkis of Sikaripura in Mandya Mission
MST missionaries composed a saga of missionary success among the nomadic Hakkipikiki tribal people of Sikaripura in Mandya Mission. When the MST priests met them first in 1986 they did not have a fixed domicile. They were just wanderers. They lied on hunting birds and small animals. None of them were educated. No outsider would go to them for any help. They practised their own customs and rituals without being members of any established religion. Men would go for hunting. Women would go for selling the things men brought after the hunting.
Now after 30 years, the whole village is educated. All families shave beautiful houses. Many of them are owners of vehicles. Several youth have government jobs. All their children study in various schools. Most importantly all have become Christians. The village has a very vibrant catholic community.
Formal and Non-formal Education
MST missionaries have established dozens of big schools in all three mission regions. In all these schools value based quality education is imparted and catholic values are upheld. The schools have given employment to hundreds of young people. Because of these schools the living standards in various cities and villages have improved a lot.
The missionaries have also founded hundreds of non-formal education centers in all the mission areas without any motive of profit. These centers try to give basic literacy to people who would otherwise get any opportunity to study basics of language and culture. These centers are mainly meant for the marginalized and downtrodden sections of the society.
Hospitals and Health care centers
Missionaries wherever they became settled took particular care in starting health care centers, both formal and informal, hospitals and small dispensaries to cater to the needs of the people who were devoid any means of medical facilities in remote villages. In some places they started mobile clinics, in some places small dispensaries, in a few cities hospitals of moderate size. In many cases treatment and medicine were free of cost.
Centers of treatment for snake poison
In villages of India, snake bites are a regular phenomenon and people had no treatment for the poison. People were simply succumbing to it. The missionaries helped them with the cheapest of treatment with great efficacy. With the help of the medicinal stones form Kerala thousands of people in villages have been saved from sure death.
Special Schools and Rehabilitation Centers
MST missionaries always cared for the least wanted of the society. In all the mission regions they have started special schools for the differently abled children. These children who are abandoned both by families and society are enabled to find their place in the society. In some places rehabilitation centers are established. In some other places schools are founded for them. There are also a few vocational training centers. Through these schools and training centres several of such children have become breadwinners for the family.
Study and rehabilitation centers for AIDS patients and their Children
MST missionaries found their way into the lives of people affected and infected by HIV. Houses to rehabilitate them and to educate their infected children have been launched in several places. Medical facilities also have been made available. Together with it awareness cams and seminars are conducted regularly.
Social Development Activities
Special attention is given in all mission centers of MST to the activities of social development. The missionaries in general work among the least developed regions. The growth and change that has come over the people in the areas the missionaries live and work are tremendous. The way of life and outlook of the people has been positively affected. In villages, missionaries have given all kinds of assistance to the poor people. House have been built, wells have been dug, water tanks are constructed, roads are laid. Thousands of SHGs are being run in the mission regions and through them women in rural areas are empowered.
Proclamation through Direct Preaching
MST has full time retreat preachers. Special prayer and retreat centers are founded in all the three mission regions. Society has effective preachers who preach day and night in Kerala too. In the centers of prayer and retreat in Sangli and Ujjain missions several people, both Christians and non-Christians come seeking spiritual healing and interior peace.
Missionary Awakening in Mother Church
As the missionary society of the Syro-Malabar Church, MST considers its duty to organize programs which would help in growing missionary consciousness and zeal in the mother Church. The Mission Animation and Communication department of the Society, IMPACT, arranges varied programs to this effect. On particular occasions MST takes initiatives to organise exhibitions and seminars on Mission.
Inter-religious Dialogue
In mission regions where missionaries live and work among people different religions, special care is given in organizing inter religious meetings and dialogues. On different occasions representatives of various religions come together for joint prayer sessions.
Publications
MST has a few missionary periodicals and magazines. Santhome Mission Magazine, Santhome fellowship, Katukumani (mission magazine for children), True Blaze (monthly magazine for school children) are a few of these publications. Books are published don a regular basis from Santhome and Ruhalaya Publications.
Visit our official website : www.mstworld.org
