Evangelization and Pastoral Ministry

    The main apostolate of the founding fathers of CMI congregation is closely related with the field of pastoral ministry. The members of Devamatha Province made their presence felt among the migrants in Malabar area from the very first years of the migration process, sharing their miseries and sufferings and rendering them both material and spiritual help. The prime objective of CMI mission in Coimbatore was conceived as rendering pastoral care to the migrant Syro-Malabar Catholics. From the time when the area became a region of Devamatha Province till the early years of the formation of the province, a number of fathers were actively involved in the pastoral ministry in the Diocese of Palakkad.

    In fact, all the members of Coimbatore province are directly or indirectly involved in the pastoral activities in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and abroad. There are five parishes entrusted to us: Little Flower Church, Saibaba Colony, Little Flower Church, Karimba, Sacred Heart Church, Perinthalmanna, St. Thomas Church, Kozhinjampara and St. Thomas Parish, Pondichery. St Thomas parish at Pondichery was officially inaugurated by His Grace Dr A. Antony Anandarayer, archbishop of Pondicherry, on Sunday 9 March 2008. The parish is the first personal parish in Tamil Nadu for Syro-Malabar Catholics in the civil district of Pondicherry. Fr. Sebastian Chittilappilly has put in much hardwork and selfless efforts to get the new parish established. In May 2009 Fr. Davis Thattil, the director of Deepaham, was appointed Most Rev. Peter Fernando, the archbishop of Madurai as the Chaplain of Syro Malabar Catholics in and around the city of Madurai for five years. This privilege was given to provide the Syro Malabar Catholics an opportunity to attend liturgical functions in their own Rite.

    Little Flower Parish at Saibaba Colony formerly included the present parishes of St. Joseph’s Church Poomarket, St. Joseph’s Church, Kaundampalayam and Infant Jesus Church, Edayapalayam. It was the initiation of Fr. John Payyappilly, the first assistant vicar, that Kudumbasammelanam on Sundays was started in the parish. The elders of the parish witness that they have never heard of such programme in their life time. In 1971, Bishop Joseph Kundukulam, during his pastoral visit in the parish, highly appreciated the initiative of Fr. John and commented, “What a wonderfull contribution! I will implement this innovative programme in my own diocese.” Fr. Thomas Prakash Palathingal had served as an assistant vicar as well as the vicar of the parish for many years. The parishners still gratefully remember his selfless service coupled with the pastoral care and attention on social wellbeing.

    The members of the province have served the parishes at Chakkanthara, Kollangode, Otappalam, Palappuram, Ramanathapuram, Gandipuram, kuniyamuthur, valppara, Thiruppur, Karur, Sasthri Nagar, Kanjirappuzha, Irumpakachola, karakkurissy, vimalgiry, Arappara, Pomra, Mannarkad, Kottappuram, Thiruvizhamkunnu, Mezhukupara, Putanikkad, Elavampadam, Ponkantam, Olippara, Chitady, Alathur, Vadakkanchery, Pazhampalakkod, Padur, Thavalam, Jallippara, Thrithvamala, Chitur, Santhithadam, Karara, Salem and Bangalore as parish priests or assistant vicars. The fathers who were appointed vicars of the parishes dedicated themselves for pastoral wellbeing of the Eucharistic communities. They have initiated to buy the land, build the parish churches, renovated the existing churches and chapels at Mariapuram, Malapparambu, Pulakkundu, Thazhekode, Padrippadam, Padrikkode, Urakam, Malappuram, Manimooly, Thalanjy, Palankara, Chulliankulam, Kalladikode, Sreekrishnapuram, Kozhinjampara, Poomarket, Amminikkadu, Pollachi, Sulesvarampatty and Erode. Pastoral services were also rendered at centres like St Joseph’s Ashram at Shoranur, Little Flower Mission Centre at Maruthamalai, Carmel Monastery at Erode, Arutcholai at Salem, Santhome Home at Chennai, Preshitharam at Mannuthy, Arul Malar Illam at Saravanampatty and Arul Illam at Velanthavalam. Our Fathers are appointed as chaplains of convents and look after the spiritual needs. Some of the members of the province render their services at the retreat centres in Jerusalem, Muringoor, Sinai, Mundoor, Sehion Thavalam etc. as confessors and counselors. In general, the members of the province make themselves available whenever they are called to help in the parishes for the development of the Diocese of Palakkad.

    As we have already mentioned above, we have taken a few practical steps to launch our mission to Tamil people: From 1993 we began to send our scholastics to Madurai for college studies. While staying in Deepaham they get involved in the services of Deepaham and in pastoral ministry in the surrounding parishes. Some of our scholastics did their college studies in Salem. Staying at Santhome Home, Chennai, a few of our scholastics are doing their theology course at Sacred Heart Seminary, Poonamalee. Some of our deacons and newly ordained priests have started doing their ministry in Tamil parishes.

    Department of evangelization has adopted effective ways of presenting the Word of God in the multi-religious context through dialogue-interreligious and ecumenical, charismatic retreat, correspondence course, ashram life-style and courses on Indian Spirituality. Frs. Eymard Uruvath, Zachaeus Edakkalahur, Martin Kidangan and Reginald Alappatt were some of the eminent retreat preachers in the province. Fr. Eymard was the pioneer in the field of charismatic retreat. The tradition of preaching retreat is enthusiastically followed by the younger members of the province. Fr. Raphael Kanjirathingal in this regard deserves special mention. Under the leadership of Fr. Winson Moyalan the charismatic retreat was conducted at St. Joseph’s Bhavan, Pakulam for a short period. We have one active charismatic retreat centre at Dharmapuri under the leadership of Fr. Stephen Thachil. The retreat centre at Ponniamkurissy is in its beginning stage. Fr. Francis Vineeth is a pioneer of Ashram movement. The members of Vidyavanam Ashram, Bangalore are involved in conducting retreat, spiritual renewal and animation programmes. The Ashram ideal pioneered by Vidyavanam inspired many spiritual forms is a distinctive aspect of our mission. The department of pastoral ministry gathers from time to time those involved in pastoral ministry and retreat preaching to animate and to plan for the future

    Several members of our province are engaged in pastoral service abroad: Germany, Kenya, Canada and USA:

    Our mission abroad started when Fr. Thomas Payappan was sent to the Diocese of Augsburg, Germany in 1989. Fr. Davis Chackalamattath was sent to the same diocese in 1995. Now with ample experience and pastoral acumen Frs. Thomas (from 1991) and Davis (from 2005) are serving the people of God as full-fledged vicars. Frs. Savy Madappilly (from 2003, Diocese of Colone), Jaison Kavalakkatt (from 2004, Diocese of Colone), Martin Payyappilly (from 2005, Diocese of Munich), Fr. John Peter Muringathery (from 2006, Diocese of Munich and from 2008 in the Diocese of Osnabruck) and Anto Akkarapattiyeckal (from 2008, Diocese of Munich) are serving the Eucharistic community at Germany in different parishes.

    Our foray into the African mission was way back in 1995. Fr. Paulson Kannanaickal went to work in Kenya in collaboration with the Devamatha Province. In 2004 the Preshitha Province was entrusted with the dioceses under Nyeri Archdiocese as its extended territory. Now, four of our fathers – Sebastian Parayil, George Puthenchira, John Eluvathingal and Rupert Panikulam - of the province are in Kenya.

    Two Preshithaites, Frs. Maria Doss Panthananickal (from 2005) and Francis Thaivalappil (from 2006) are serving Covington and Victoria Diocese in USA, respectively. It was in Nov

    Considering the petition of Fr. B. Maria Aloysius, the Vicar of St. John Britto Church, R. S. Puram, for Tamil Mass in Latin Rite on Sundays and obligatory days in the Little Flower Church, Mar Joseph Kundukulam and Rt. Rev. Dr. Visvasam, the Bishops of Thrissur and Coimbatore respectively, granted him the permission for the same. Till 2006 this practice was continued as a well accepted symbol of inter-rite collaboration. In 2009 Fr. Jose Kuttikeril directed by Mar Abraham Julios, the bishop of Muvattupuzha Syro-Malankara Diocese came to Coimbatore for the pastoral care of the faithful of Syro-Malankara Church in five districts of Tamil Nadu. He began his pastoral work among the Syro-Malankarites in Coimbatore staying in a hotel. He started to celebrate the Holy Mass at St. Sebastian Church, Ukkadam, for the faithful of his own Rite. It is from 29 May 2009 onwards that he has been staying at Divyodaya for his ministry. Fr. Jose and his floak were welcomed by Preshitha Nilayam, Kaundamplayam, for their regular Sunday Mass from 30 May 2009. A special liturgical function was officiated by Mar Abraham Julios at Little Flower Minor Seminary Kaundampalayam on 5 July 2009. During the function, Fr. Jose praised the concern that Blessed Chavara took for the Reunion Movement. Mar Abraham Julios mentioned the role played by CMI in this movement in 1930. He gratefully remembered Frs. Placid Podipara and Sabas Kuruvithadam for their valuable service in the establishment of the Syro-Malankara Church. The Bishop remarked with gratitude that the members of the same Congregation have come forward to welcome them to the region of Coimbatore as a rejuvenated beginning of their Church after long period of 79 years. He also mentioned of the continual help from the part of CMI Congregation.

    In the field of evangelization, the correspondence course on Christ’s message and Bible studies started by Fr. Callistus Maliekal in 1980 at Preshitha Nilayam, is being conducted to the interested non-Christians. Through this direct evangelization more than two lakh people from other religions received opportunity to get acquainted with Christ and his message. In 2007, Letter Ministry was started at Christ Message Centre at the initiative of Fr. Poly Payyappilly. It is a timely means to reach out to people affected by the tragic death of their dear ones through accident, suicide, etc. The mission to promote religious harmony, Divyodaya was started by Fr. John Peter Muringathery, in Coimabtore in 1980. The general public and the religious leaders have recognized this mission as very relevant to our times.

    In 1979, CMI Bhavan situated in T.B. Road, Palakkad was established for rendering service mainly in the spiritual and pastoral fields. Under the new name of Samagra Fr. Jose Paul Edakkalathur is trying to revive the activities of the centre.

    The Coimbatore Christian Ecumenical Fellowship stated in 2002 through the initiative of Fr. George Ambooken, director of Christ Message Centre brings together the pastors and the communities of the different Christian denominations in Coimbatore.

    A new mission of the province has been realized when the new ministry, namely Home Mission was launched in 2006. Under the leadership of Fr. Sunny Ukken, the Home Mission Programme, titled Navajeevan-2006 was organized with the help of our fathers and scholastics. Fr. John Peter initiated to translate the sapra to Tamil and the work was published in 1986. To spread the knowledge and devotion to Blessed Chavara among the Tamil people Chavara Shrine was started at our Novitiate Arul Malar Illam, Saravanampatty, in 1994 with Tamil Mass and weekly novena. This is being continued in Arul Illam, Velanthanvalam.