THE BIRTH OF THE MCST

THE FOUNDER'S VISION
A Catechist is not always easy to find, much less to keep. After schooling and formation in this line of work, there is no guarantee that she/he will persevere. A more lucrative job attracts her/him to go away or marriage will her/him a family way of life. Hence, there was lack of permanent body of catechists in almost every parish.

The MOST REV. ALFREDO MA. OBVIAR in his entire life as parish priest of Malvar and Lipa City and as Bishop of Lucena, Quezon, Philippines has this pastoral obsession - teaching of catechism. This obsession had been part of his life at all.

He went about to solve the problem by founding a religious institute which will work on catechetical apostolate.

At the dawn of August 12, 1958, five sisters, namely, Mercy A. Medenilla, Taciana Gandia, Crisanta Realo, Marcela dela Pena and Auilina Mendoza marched to the Church and had their solemn and memorable investiture at San Narciso, Quezon, the native province of Mother Mercy A. Medenilla. In the midst of a bewildered vastness a new institute was born, the MISSIONARY CATECHISTS OF SAINT THERESE OF THE INFANT JESUSN (MCST).

The main apostolate of the new institute is catechism in the public schools where faith is most neglected due to lack of committed people who will catechize the children.

On January 15, 1959, the very young institute was weaned from its cradle and transferred to a new ground that witnessed its graceful growth and remarkable development. Tayabas, Quezon then became the permanent abode of the Institute. The transfer was aimed at the gaining better exposure to a wider group of people who needed the services of the sisters, aside from the fact that they had to be near to their guiding Father, Bishop Alfredo Ma. Obviar, who at that time was the Apostolic Administrator of the new Diocese of Lucena.

On March 16, 1663, the Decree of Nihil Obstat (Diocesan Rite) by the Congregation for Religious declaring pious union a canonically erected institute. The decree of canonical erection was announced by Bishop Obviar on April 20, 1663. June 01, 1974 marked the day of triumphant. Pope Paul VI granted the coveted Decretum Laudis or Decree of Praise.

Bishop Obviar entrusted the Institute he founded to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, all Missionary Catechists of Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus (MCST) cultivate a Marian devotion, since it is through her that they become united with the Lord. They give special veneration to Saint Joseph, the guardian of the Lord Jesus. Saint Therese's life of simplicity and childlike abandonment into God's love and mercy is an inspiration to their pursuit of holiness. Her love for the Church and for the mission is their constant guide and the source of their apostolic zeal. She is the Patroness of the Institute.