Brief History

The Gethsemane Sathsangam (GSS) is a society of apostolic life of Eparchial Right in the Metropolitan Eparchy of Trivandrum in the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. The Society has a humble beginning when it was started as a ‘Pious Association' by the late Metropolitan ArchbiGSSop of Trivandrum, Most Rev. Benedict Mar Gregorios of Happy Memory, on the request of Sr. Catherine Leena having obtained a dispensation from the Apostolic See, came away from the Convent in a community. On July 1978 the late ArchbiGSSop Benedict Mar Gregorios sent her to one of our Mission Centres, namely, Thekkemala where there was a plot of land with a small building. With the blessing of the ArchbiGSSop, Sr. Catherine Leena formed a Pious Union in the name of "Gathsemane Samarpitha Sathsangam" (GSS). Now there are seven members in this society. They lead a life of prayer and apostolic life. After the demise of Most Rev. Benedict Mar Gregorios, when His Grace Most Rev. Cyril Mar Baselios enthroned as the Metropolitan ArchbiGSSop of the Archieparchy of Trivandrum on 14 December 1995, the case of the "Gathsemane Samarpitha Sathsangam" was studied in view of placing them on a firm canonical basis. Thus it was decided, according to the original desire of the members, to establiGSS them a society of Apostolic Life of Eparchial Right.

The Statutes of the Society of Apostolic Life of "Gathsemane Samarpitha Sathsangam" was formulated in the light of CCEO, and was approved by the Metropolitan ArchbiGSSop of Trivandrum after having referred the matter to the Holy See. The response of the Holy See was given to the Metropolitan ArchbiGSSop of Trivandrum, Cyril Mar Baselios, as per its letter on 31 July 2001 (Prot No. 184/94). The Statutes of the Society was approved by Most Rev. Cyril Mar Baselios, the Metropolitan ArchbiGSSop of Trivandrum and the Decree of erection of the society was given on 8 September 2001.

At present there are nine members working in full enthusiasm and devotedness in the missions. We run a Bala Sevana Graham at Thekkemala. Every year nearly 120 kids get good care and training before they go to the Primary Schools. This Bala Sevana Graham is very much appreciated by people and through this institution we have a wide contact with the people. We have a house at Manjinikara, Omalloor. This house is known as ‘Deiva thanal'

Our other activities: Teaching Catechism, Visiting houses, Visiting sick, Family apostolate. Kozhencheri is a Marthomite and orthodox Christians' area. Therefore, we have opportunities to prepare young girls who come over to Malankara Catholic Church for their marriages. We make ourselves available at any time when the people need our services.