Shimoga Mission

The civil district of Shimoga in Karnataka State spreads over an area of 10,548 sq.kms with a population of 19,00,429 according to 1991 census. It comprises 5 Thaluks with 1734 villages.

Shimoga came under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Mananthavady in 1973. With a view to make the missionary efforts in the region more effective and to speed up the apostolic activities, and eventually to enable the erection of a new diocese, the district was entrusted to Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament for independent missionary work.

An agreement to this effect was made on 24th June 1978, and Shimoga mission was inaugurated on 3rd July 1978. When the MCBS took charge of the district, Iduvally was the only mission station for the whole district and it was quite insufficient to look after the pastoral and spiritual needs of the Syro-Malabar Catholics living in distant places.

The MCBS started to work concentrating mainly on the pastoral care of the migrant Catholics who were scattered all over the region and gradually turned its attention to the local people through various social and development activities. Intense and concerted efforts during the last 26 years have enabled us to establish both credibility and rapport with the local people and to explore the possibilities of evangelization. With the approval of the Bishop of Karvar we were able to extend our activities to the Uttara Kannada district also.

At present 25 priest one brother and 70 sisters from different congregations, namely, Sacred Heart, Franciscan Clarist, Deena Sevana Sabha, Daughters of the Sacred Heart, Missionary Sisters of the Mary Immaculate and Congregation of Mother Carmel are actively engaged in apostolic work in the region. There are at present 21 residential Mission Centres, 16 Mission Stations with Sunday Mass and 12 convents. 

The main activities in the region are pastoral ministry, heralding of Good News and social activities. Of the various social activities education, health care, and community service take prominent place.

In the field of education there are 3 L.P. Schools, 3 U.P Schools, and 2 High Schools recognised by the Government of Karnataka. Besides, there are 93 nursery and supplementary schools and 7 homes for the going children. San Jos. ITI, is a promise for the dropped-out youths to get themselves trained in some trades and secure there future. San Jos Press provides an opportunity for girls to get training in composing, printing and bookbinding. 

In order to represent the healing power of Jesus And His mercy, we provide basic health care to all the needy within our reach through 52 dispensaries and 4 mobile clinics. The poor and the needy are also helped through a number of developmental projects such as housing programme, agricultural development, cattle improvement, vocational training, literacy programme, self-employment and saving schemes. St. Alfred's Home for the Aged can provide accommodation for 20 men and 20 women, which is a blessing for the forlorn and forsaken old people.

There are about 8400 Syro Malabar Catholics in the region. To look after their spiritual needs in 20 places, parish communities are built up; a few more parishes would be established in the nearest future.

Shimoga Mission comes under MCBS Zion Province.

Satara-Solapur Mission

The civil districts of Satara and Solapur in Maharashtra State come under this mission. Satara with an area of 10,484 sq.km and a population of 24,44,857 in 1417 villages of the 11 Thaluks has a 64.83% literacy as per 1998 census. Solapur has a population of 32,24,034 in 1104 villages of 11 Thaluks spread out in 15,017-sq.km area:its literacy rate is only 54.58%.

These two districts came to have separate jurisdiction for the Syro-Malabar Catholics with the historic establishment of the diocese of Kalyan in 1988.

With a view to make the pastoral ministry and evangelization of the region more effective and , eventually to enable the erection of a new ecclesiastical unit, these districts were entrusted to the MCBS in 1992. An agreement to this effect was made between the Bishop of Kalyan and Superior General of MCBS on 7th May 1992. The Satara-Solapur Mission was formally inaugurated on 4th October 1992 by Mar Paul Chittilappilly, Bishop of Kalyan

The first missionaries started their living at Karad and organising the Christians and inspiring them to be a fervent community.Soon their ministry was extended to Satara, Mhaswad, Solapur, Lonand, Panchagani, Wai, Sadepur, Velapur etc. The enthusiasm and co-operation of the people were very encouraging.

At present there are 15 priest and 25 sisters from 6 different congregation of Mother Carmel (CMC), Sisters of the Destitute(SD), Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen(OSF), Sisters of the Holy Family (CHF) and Missionaries of Charity(MC) are actively engaged in apostolic work in the region. There are 10 residential mission Centres, 5 convents and a number of visiting Mission Stations.

The Maharashtra branch of Indian Red Cross Society has entrusted the administration of its Bell Air Hospital at Panchagani to the Mission. The Sisters of Destitute are working with us in the Hospital.

The devastating earthquake that hit Latur in 1993 forced us to involved in the rehabilitation process. Thus we started San Thome Bhalabhavan at Sadepur and are taking care of a number of children. We have also the Mary Matha School at Mhaswad, St. Ann's School at Lonand and Deva Matha High School at Sadepur.

During the three years the head quarters of the Mission was at Karad. At present the head quarters of the Mission functions at Satara. All our activities in this mission are carried out on behalf of Param Prasad Charitable Society duly registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act.

Ajmer mission

The extension of Missionary activities to the Diocese of Ajmer-Jaipur was a new phase in the history of MCBS. An agreement to this effect was made within the Bishop of Ajmer-Jaipur on 15th June 1989. The first batch of missionaries arrived in Rajasthan on 20th August 1989. They were entrusted with the pastoral care of Abu Road Parish. In 1992 steps were taken to erect a house of the congregation at Sirohi started a school and a dispensary later on.

Sencottai Mission

Sengottai Mission is the pioneering venture of missionary activity of MCBS in the state of Tamil Nadu. The first house of the mission was blessed and inaugurated on 21st August 1996. At present the mission is under the jurisdiction of Thakkala Diocese.

Anpu Illam, a home for the destitute, looks after above 50 people who are abandoned and mentally depressed. In 2004, we started St. Joseph’s Metriculation School for giving education to the poor children in the area.

Adilabad Mission

Adilabad Mission in Andrapradesh is the latest missionary field of the Congregation and it’s first in Andrapradesh. This mission was started on 28th July 2007, on the feast of blessed Alphonsa. Rev. Fr. George Karintholil, Superior General of the Congregation inaugurated the mission in the presence of Mar Joseph Kunnoth, Bishop of Adilabad. The evangelization includes organizing Self Help Groups, taking care of the orphans and giving good education to all.