The association of MST with the eparchy of Kalyan may be traced to the appointment of Fr Thuruthel Sebastian as chaplain of KCA in 1976 and then to the MST mission among Syro-Malabar migrants in the diocese of Pune since 1984. In June 1984, commissioned by SMBC Fr George Kavukatt MST and Fr Lonappan Arangassery MST were sent for the pastoral care of Syro- Malabar migrants in the Diocese of Pune, comprising of 11 districts of Maharashtra. In the wake of the erection of the eparchy of Kalyan on April 30, 1998, the MST offered generously its members to share the pastoral and missionary responsibilities with the Bishop of Kalyan. The team of MST priests as chaplains was working in the diocese of Pune from 1984.
In view of taking up missionary apostolate in the districts with very few Christians under Kalyan jurisdiction, Frs. Mathew Moothasseril and John Kudiyiruppil were sent to Miraj to study the possibilities for mission ‘ad gentes’. Staying in a rented room, owned by Mr Jose Mavely they organized the Catholics in Miraj. Frs Moothasseril and Kudiyiruppil conducted a survey of the southern districts of Maharashtra coming under the diocese of Kalyan and in their report to the Bishop of Kalyan and the Director General of MST, Frs. Moothasseril and Kudiyiruppil recommended the Society to take up the civil districts, Sangli, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg for mission work. Mar Paul Chittilappilly (Bishop of Kalyan) entrusted these districts to the Society through a mutual agreement signed by the Bishop of Kalyan and the Director General of MST Very Rev. Fr. Sebastian Thuruthel on 1st May 1990. Rev. Fr. George Kavukatt was appointed the first Regional Director to represent the Director General of MST in the mission and Episcopal Vicar (Syncellus) of the Eparchy of Kalyan to represent the bishop in the mission. When the four districts were entrusted to MST more priests were ascribed to the region.
The Sangli Mission, spread over four districts, measures 29675 sq. km. The civil districts Sindhudug and Ratnagiri are in the Konkan area where Marathi and Konkani are spoken and the Kolhapur and Sangli, where Marathi and Kannada are spoken, form part of South Maharashtra (also known as the Deccan area). The first Regional Director functioned from Miraj during his entire term of office from 1990 to 1993 May. During the tenure of Fr Peter Kavumpuram, the Regional House was shifted to Kolhapur, first to a rented house in Rajarampuri and later to Sant Thoma Bhavan at Raman Mala.
Area – 29678 km2
Population – 91, 60,878
Language used – Marathi, Konkani, Hindi, Kannada, & English
Districts – 04
Talukas – 38
Catholics – 2000
Priests – 40
Religious Sisters – 60
Brothers – 05
Parishes – 08
Convents – 19
Nursery – 05
Higher Secondary – 01
Hostel for HIV infected boys and girls – 01
Hostel for HIV affected girls – 01
Health Care – 01
Center for the children in need of care & protection –Child line – 01
Vocational Training – 02
Working Women’s Hostel – 01
Center for Agriculture Promotion – 01
Rehabilitation & Settlement of Migrants – 01
Printing Press – 01
Organized Ecclesial Communities – 10
Mission Stations – 32
Counseling Centers – 04
Retreat Centers – 01
English Medium Schools – 09
Special Schools – 07
Healthcare Centers – 04
Old Age Home – 01
Home for Physically & Severely Handicapped – 01
Rehabilitation Center for Special adults – 01
Hostel for School Children – 01
Rehabilitation center for HIV affected girls – 01
Mission Animation and Language Center – 01
Care Home for HIV patients – 01
Center for Social and Development Action – 01
Vocational Training Center – 02
Center for Mentally ill – 02
Hostel For Special Children -02
