Director General and by Fr Benny Kuliraniyil, the
present parish priest of Sagalee.
the connection between new evangelization and
mission ad gentes in his erudite article.
“Silver Echoes from Sangli” by Fr Jose
Cheriampanatt, the present Regional Director
of Sangli Mission gives us a glimpse of Sangli
Mission, which is celebrating the silver Jubilee of
its existence and mission. Fr Sojan Aikarakunnel,
one of the pioneers in Care and Empowerment
programs for the differently-abled children
of Mandya, brings to us the success story of
“Deepti Nivas, A Ray of Hope to the Intellectually
Challenged”.
A few small items add beauty and flavor to this
issue: A hymn on St. Thomas to recollect the life
and death of St. Thomas, a small excerpt from “The
Joy of the Gospel” by Pope Francis and a tribute
to Fr Sebastian Pottanany, one of the founding
Fathers who passed away last month.
MST is devoted to mission ad gentes, the
pioneering work of evangelization among peoples
who have never heard about Christ. However, the
unprecedented secularization of the traditionally
Christian lands has urged the recent Popes to
dedicate Church’s energies to New Evangelization
or re-evangelization of Christians who estranged
themselves from faith. Fr Justin Vettukallel explores
JULY 3
“These Things Did Thomas Count as Real”
by Thomas H. Troeger (1983)
Santhome Mission comes to you in a new
format this time. It is published in both print and
electronic formats. The new Avatar is an attempt
to make it more attractive and appealing to all
levels of readers worldwide, who wants to have a
close look at the pioneering missionary vision and
engagements of MST. We also have a new editorial
team. We want to thank all former editors and
members of the editorial board.
May St Thomas, our Father in Faith, bless us all.
Fr. Jose Palakeel MST
The Feast of St. Thomas
the Apostle of India and
the Patron of MST
“These things did Thomas count as real:
The warmth of blood, the chill of steel,
The grain of wood, the heft of stone,
The last frail twitch of flesh and bone.
The vision of his skeptic mind
Was keen enough to make him blind
To any unexpected act
Too large for his small world of fact.
His reasoned certainties denied
That one could live when one had died,
Until his fingers read like Braille
The marking of the spear and nail.
May we