The seed of the movement was sowed in the heart of a young catholic teacher, P. V.Marykutty, way back in 1979. She had in her heart a burden for the cause of children. On one side, she was moved by the purity and innocence of children; through her many experiences she was convinced that a prayer uttered by these young ones went straight to the heart of God. The painful reality of how these little ones were sometimes tragically forced from their paths of goodness by superfluous elements of this often cruel world pained her much. It was also clear to her, that this world could become better only if the childlike innocence of our children are preserved and their childhood returned to them, in order to enable them to grow up and become spiritually fully integrated persons. Marykutty was then joined by Biju and Santhosh, two brothers and their families, rooted in the charismatic spirituality, who were equally passionate about the cause for children. It all began as sporadic retreats, one-day seminars, leadership trainings etc. Soon a more organized way of functioning became necessary and a large gathering of  children was organised in 1989 under the aegis of CHRISTEEN, the first of its kind in Kerala. The ministry retained the name, which was inspired by the Holy Spirit and the movement grew and became popular as, CHRISTEEN - Teenagers for Christ.

Head quartered in Kalathipady in Kottayam, from a very modest beginning the good Lord has let the movement evolve and grow to its present stage. With help from generous people and some very grateful parents and most of all God’s loving mercy, the movement continues to grow helping children, not just in India but around the world. Through it all, both tumultuous and good times, the one thing that sustains the movement is God’s providence and the prayers of little children who experienced the saving love of Jesus, through Christeen.
 

Our Foster Father

Monsignor Peter Uralil has been a father to Christeen. Since the day he realised the relevance of a Ministry like Christeen, he had been leading us. He had a special gift in discerning a person and a society. Christeen with all its haves and have-nots became a heart-throb to Monsignor, when he was the director of Chitanya Pastoral Centre, Kottayam. As a patron of Christeen, he took over the leadership of the first Christeen convention in 1989. For a decade since, he eagerly participated in Christeen programmes rendering pastoral services like the Holy Mass, Confession, Counselling and Preaching. 

In our moments of desolation and despair, he boosted our morale and encouraged us to go ahead in our service to children. When problems engulfed us, we used to run to him, who would console us and give us pieces of advices that were of great help to us.

It is Monsignor Uralil who inspired us in putting up a retreat centre in our office premises at Kottayam. He himself initiated the process by donating for the construction of a temporary shed, where retreats could be held. In fact it was a 'Great Jubilee Gift' for us. He eagerly waited for news from Christeen and good tidings from us gave him much solace amist the painful physical conditions, which he had to endure. In windy climates, he would ring up to enquire whether the temporary shed was intact. His parental concern was a physical manifestation of the loving father in Heaven.

That loving father is now a fond memory to the world. To us, he is still the leading light, interceding for us from Heaven.