Navachethana Mission Station- Pandithahalli

The name ‘NAVACHETHANA’ comes from the root word in Sanskrit (नव चेतना– Nav cetanā) which means new that is having life and it could be translated in our local languages in India as “New Life”. It is one of the twelve mission stations under the Jurisdiction of Mandya- Syro- Malabar Eparchy which was established mainly to cater the pastoral concerns of the Syro-Malabar migrants from kerala (one of the states in India) to Karnataka (another state) and for the mission in 2010. It is one of the three Syro Malabar Eparchies in the state of Karnataka. Navachetana mission station had existed even before Mandya became a diocese. It was started by Missionaries of St. Thomas (MST) in 1996.  When the diocese was created they donated this place to the diocese for the further mission. The mission station is situated in a village called Pandithahalli which is almost 45 kms away from the diocesan headquarters (Mandya) and 50 kms from a historical city in the southern India, Mysore.

The priest-residence exists in the midst of 28 villages but none of them has a catholic family.  A vast majority consists of Hindus (95%) and a few Muslim families. At the time of the inception of the centre the social- scenario was a bit conducive for the mission but as the years passed by the ministry in the villages especially visiting houses and talking to the villagers by going to them created tension and hostility because they thought  that the missionaries came to convert them to Christianity.  By the time Mission concept had been developed into a collaborative movement and sisters were invited to see the various possibilities of the mission here. It was a congregation (MSMI- Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate) from Kerala. The priests and they lived in rented houses and slowly both communities bought properties and built houses for themselves. As the sisters came two of them were nurses in the first batch. They eventually thought of entering the mission of health care and started a dispensary on the presbytery campus.  This has been continuing since 1998. The pioneers for mission in this area thought of different activities to get connected to the people and gradually they worked out a few programs which could be operated on the presbytery campus. (eg: Tailoring classes and social awareness programs). As the time passed by priests and sisters were welcomed by many villagers to visit their houses and start some women empowerment programs.

Thus they started Self-Help-Groups (SHGs). Now there are 35 SHGs but this program does not cover 28 villages because entry to some of the villages are not that easy since the Hindu fanatics are very strong in those villages. We are able to visit 16 villages through this program. It functions under the social service wing of the Eparchy and the director of the social service department is the incharge of this program.

One of the sisters from our place is the coordinator of this program along with the supervision of the mission station incharge priest. At present we work mainly through these SHGs in the villages and conduct awareness programs and help them to come together for supporting one another especially by creating a banking system among themselves which can be registered under a government scheme after functioning for a period of time. It would help them to get national and local government funding for cottage industries or small scale industries to look after their families and support the education of the children.

A Missionary of the Sacred Heart was appointed to look after the station and to find out new ways and means to expand the mission on 20-05-2022. We form a small community of 6 members. A priest (Fr. Lal MSC), Four sisters (Sr. Beena MSMI, Sr. Grace Manuel MSMI, Sr. Daniya MSMI and Sr. Seema MSMI) and A doctor (Dr. Reji Jose MBBS). We begin our day with the Morning Prayer which is followed by the Eucharistic celebration and Divine mercy chaplet. Our prayers and meals are common. The priest is the over-all incharge for the mission programs. The bishop of the Eparchy (His Excellency Sebastian Adyantharth) suggests communion and collaboration are necessary for the growth of the mission. So we have day of recollections, adoration, prayers, meals and outings are common. We go to the villages to organize the functioning of SHGs and to conduct social awareness programs and medical camps.  At times bed-ridden patients are given care by going to their own houses. We have re-started the tailoring class to help poor women who are struggling for a job in order to look after their families. The bishop is very supportive and encouraging to venture into new areas of ministry for the growth of the mission station.

I thank Fr. Thatheus Darwin MSC (Superior of the MSC Indian Union) and his council members for allowing me to be part of this mission as the invitation was extended by the bishop. Their constant prayers, support and encouragement are my key motivating elements in trying to be the Heart Christ on Earth. 

I also thank Fr. Abzalon MSC for your kind words and encouragement. It was a great inspiration for me when you told me that you were very much interested in a mission like this and a big salute to all the members in the general administration team for your constant support and encouragement to the Indian Union.

Fr. Lal Thomas Karappilly MSC

(Indian Union)