Mandya district, a part of the diocese of Mananthavady was entrusted to the MST for the missionary apostolate in 1978 by His Excellency Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy, the then bishop of Mananthavady. The mission work was formally started on 22 September 1978 with a formal agreement between the bishop and the superiors of the Society. When Mission was entrusted to the MST there was no house or any infrastrecture. To start with missionries stayed in a rented house. It was in 1980 missionaries got shifted to own house built in Kalehanahally.
In 1981 a second mission station was opened in Guthalu near Mandya. Within 32 years MST missionaries developed 21 mission stations. Mandya mission took the policy of not having big institutions but going out to the villages and start developmental programmes. Therefore missionaries started non formal education centers, SHGs etc. for the development of the villages.
In 2008 Mandya region was renamed St Thomas Region and its area was extended to the syro Malabar eparchies in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhrapradesh.
On 18th January 2010 Mandya diocese was erected comprising districts of Mandya, Hassen, Mysore and Chamarajnagar. Once the diocese was erected MST handed over 12 out of 21 mission stations to the diocese.
MST Mandya region has taken up mission in Adilabad diocese in Andra pradesh comprising of Boath and Nyeredigunda mandals.
In 2013, a new MST centre was started in Sathyamangalam in the diocese of Ramanathapuram, TN.
Originally limited to the civil district of Mandya in Karnataka, the area of St Thomas Region today is extended to seven districts in Andhra Pradesh, viz. Kurnool, Anantpur, Cuddapah, Chittoor, Prakasam, Nellore and Guntur of the eparchy of Shamshabad, and is co-extensive with all other existing Syro-Malabar eparchies in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Regional Administration Team
Regional Director
:
Rev Fr Sojan Aikkarakunnel
I Coucillor
:
Rev Fr Jibi Thekkemuriyil
II Councillor and Procurator
:
Rev Fr Shijo Thettalickal
Email
:
santhomemdy@rediffmail.com
Phone
:
08232-224073
Address
:
Santhome, P.B. 42, Engineering College Road, Mandya, 571 401, Karnataka
CENTRES IN THE DELEGATION
1.Mandya: Santhome Regional House
Established
:
22-Sep-78
Patron
:
St Thomas the Apostle
Priests at the Centre
:
Frs Thekkekarott, Karikandathil, M. Maliekal and Puthusseril
Institution
:
Santhome Agarbathi Packing Unit, Santhome Mass Centre
Apostolates
:
Loan Distribution with the help of Bridge Foundation, Bangalore and South Indian Bank; Village activities; Self-Help Groups
Address
:
Santhome, P.B. No. 42, PES Engineering College Road, Mandya-571401, Karnataka,
Phone
:
08232-224073
Email
:
santhomemdy@gmail.com
2.Koppa: Preethi Nilaya
Established
:
1987
Patron
:
St Sebastian
Priests at the Centre
:
Frs Mundackal Sunny & Punnakuzhy Pradeepan
Institution
:
Divya Jyothi School (State Board), Preethi Special School
Apostolates
:
Special School ministry with hostel facilities, Educational ministry in view of normal children
