A Brief History of the Beginning of the Missionary Society of St Thomas the Apostle
The Missionary Society of St Thomas the Apostle (MST) is a Missionary Institute of Apostolic Life in the Syro-Malabar Church. Founded by His Excellency Mar Sebastian Vayalil, the first Bishop of Palai, with the support of the Syro-Malabar bishops and the approval of the Holy See, the MST was officially established on 22 February 1968 at Melampara in the Eparchy of Palai. The Society was envisioned by its founder as a distinctly missionary institute, serving as a collective endeavour of the Syro-Malabar Church.
The MST began with 21 diocesan priests from the Syro-Malabar Church as its pioneering members. As of 2024, the Society has grown to include two bishops, 391 priests, and 140 seminarians in various stages of formation. The Central House of the MST, Deepti Bhavan, is located at Deepti Mount, Melampara, Bharananganam, Kerala, within the Eparchy of Palai, and near the tomb of St Alphonsa.
Nature and Purpose of the MST
The MST is recognized under Major Archiepiscopal rights and is classified juridically as a ‘Society of Apostolic Life,’ governed by its Constitutions and Directives (C&D) duly approved by ecclesiastical authorities. The primary purpose of the Society is mission ad gentes both within India and abroad. This mission is carried out through witness, proclamation of the Gospel, and the formation of Christian communities, in alignment with the teachings of Ad Gentes 6 and Redemptoris Missio 48.
Additionally, the MST engages in various apostolates, including works of charity, interreligious dialogue, inculturation, preferential option for the poor, the marginalized, and other subaltern groups, apostolates among migrants, human promotion, and actions on behalf of justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. Through these diverse apostolates, the MST aims to transform society and contribute to building the Kingdom of God, as outlined in Evangelii Nuntiandi 18 and the Mission Policy of the Syro-Malabar Church 1.7. The MST is also dedicated to instilling a missionary spirit within the Mother Church and extending pastoral care to migrants, with a focus on mission ad gentes.
Rooted in the ecclesial heritage—spiritual, liturgical, theological and disciplinary—and the cultural traditions of the Syro-Malabar Church, the MST envisions embodying the values of Jesus and sharing them with people of all faiths and cultures worldwide, in line with its mission ad gentes. The strength of the Society lies in the apostolic zeal, holiness of its members, and the fellowship among them.
Supreme Authority of the MST
The General Assembly of the MST, comprising ex-officio and elected members, serves as the supreme representative body and collegiate authority within the Society. Ordinarily, authority is exercised by the Director General, who is assisted by the General Council in accordance with the Society’s C&D.
MST Missions and Apostolates
For the effective execution of its missionary apostolate and administration, the MST is organized into administrative units known as Mission Regions, Delegations and Coordinations. Mission Regions are territories where MST members collectively engage in long-term missionary work under the leadership of a Regional Director, following agreements with the respective local hierarchs. The Regional Director, representing the Director General in the region, oversees regional administration with the assistance of regional councillors.
Currently, the MST has now four Mission Regions:
1. St Paul Mission Region, Ujjain: Covers all existing Syro-Malabar eparchies in North India.
2. St Thomas Mission Region, Mandya: Encompasses all existing Syro-Malabar eparchies in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
3. St Alphonsa Mission Region, Sangli: Includes all existing Syro-Malabar eparchies in Maharashtra, Goa, and Gujarat.
4. St Mary Queen of Missions Region, Delhi: Coextensive with the Eparchy of Faridabad.
Following the provision of national jurisdiction for the Syro-Malabar Church in 2017, the tenth ordinary General Assembly in 2018 recommended expanding the MST missions into new territories. This led to the establishment of formal agreements with the Eparchy of Shamshabad, expanding the territories of all the first three mission regions, and the creation of St Joseph Mission Coordination, Odisha, in 2019, which covers the entire state of Odisha.
As a Missionary Society of Apostolic Life, MST members undertake the apostolates of kerygma (proclamation) and diakonia (service), following the model set forth in Acts 3:32-35, and considering the needs of the time and place. Through these diverse apostolates, the members reach out to all strata of society, fulfilling their mission ad gentes.
MST members also serve in other sui iuris churches, contributing creatively to the Church’s mission ad gentes and supporting the MST’s various apostolates.
Formation of the Missionaries
The MST has its own formation houses for all stages of priestly formation. The minor seminary named Deepti College was established in 1969 at Melampara in Kerala. The Missionary Orientation Centre (MOC), known as Jeevan Jyoti, was started in 1977 in the Eparchy of Ujjain and has been situated at Srirangapatna in the Eparchy of Mandya, Karnataka, since 1988. The philosophy section of the Ruhalaya Major Seminary was initiated in 1986, and the theology section followed in 1997, both within the Eparchy of Ujjain. Various ongoing formation programs are conducted at different levels to keep members abreast of changing circumstances.
For more details on the MST, kindly visit: www.mstworld.org
