Lourdes convent is located at Pachalam, in Kochi, Kerala. There is a story how the name "Pachalam" came to be. In the 16th century there was Portuguese Viceroy D. Francisco de Almeida who camped in this area. "Thavalam" is the Malayalam word for camp. So the word "Francisco thavalam" was shortened to "Pachalam". The railway line passing through it.
It is a thickly populated area with many schools, shops, and churches. Lourdes Hospital is situated here. It is one of the major super specialty Hi-tech hospitals of the city, with 650 beds, owned and managed by the Archdiocese of Verapoly. It is 2 KM from the heart of the city with a direct road from Marine Drive. There is an alternate Sea-front road reaching the hospital via Chathiath. The services are made highly affordable and hence middle/lower-middle/lower classes benefit a lot.
Lourdes convent, situated within Lourdes hospital campus, belongs to Mount Carmel parish Chathiath, which has 2500 Catholic families and 9256 Catholics forming into 98 BCCs.
The pioneers of the convent include both Italian and Indian sisters who came away from the General hospital after 40 years of commendable service. They had been invited there by the Cochin Maharaja through the Archbishop of Verapoly. Their heroic charity and smiling presence in the General hospital, caring for the neediest, is remembered to this day.
Archbishop Joseph Attipetti of Verapoly requested their service for Lourdes which began as a clinic on 11 October 1964. The sisters administered and took care of the sick as an expression of Christian charity – Works of Mercy.
From 1965-1979, nursing, paramedical and supportive services at Lourdes were rendered by the Sisters of Charity. They provided also Sister Doctors to this mission Hospital. From 1969, the nursing staff trained by them at the Lourdes School of Nursing started assisting them in nursing care. On 10 August 1975, the Sisters handed over the administration of the hospital to the Archdiocese. Lourdes Convent is the quarters provided by the hospital and the sisters continue to supervise the nursing services, the paramedical staff, library and the pharmacy in the hospital. They also assist in the pastoral care of the sick and look after the Lourdes chapel.
The community silently witnesses to the merciful love and care of the Good Samaritan amidst the sick and suffering. The heroic sacrifices of those who went ahead still continue to inspire them. Each sister has two family units to animate. They also help in the parish church as well as in Lourdu Matha Church nearby for catechesis and other pastoral services. The community is ever available to the beck and call of sisters from different Provinces who call on them for help.
Paravoor belongs to the district of Ernakulam and is surrounded by many historical places -- St. Thomas Church, Kottakavu and a number of famous temples. It is thickly populated, with many well educated and employed families. Social problems like the involvement of the disoriented youth, broken families, Illegal marriages and lack of faith prevail. Addictions of all types are common among the youth and wrong politics influence them. Paravoor belongs to the Kottapuram diocese which has 54 Parishes and 26 substations.
Bishop Francis Kallarakkal of Kottapuram diocese invited the Sisters of Charity to render health services at Diocese owned Don Bosco hospital at North Paravoor. The pioneers were sisters Catherine Chacko and Anice Joseph. They put up first in the hospital, later in a rented house and after 4 months in a house belonging to the "Cottelengo" Fathers.
As the hospital developed, more sisters came in. On April 1998, they began to live in a house built for them, nearer to the hospital. Now the community is constituted by 8 sisters and it belongs to Don Bosco parish, Paravoor. It is a famous pilgrim centre in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In 2000 as the Don Bosco hospital started a School of Nursing. During this year sisters also extended their help to Don Bosco Parish involving in its many activities. The service of the sisters in Don Bosco hospital has boosted its growth and it is fast growing professionally. 33 sisters have so far rendered their service here. Theirs is a service of charity to reach the compassionate love of Jesus the Good Samaritan to the sick and suffering humanity.
House of Providence is situated at Kacheripadi, in Kochi. It is 1 km from the Town Railway Station (North) and 1˝ km from the KSRTC bus station. This is a very thickly populated and multicultural area with people of different religions and castes. The place has many educational Institutions – schools and colleges of good repute. The High Court also is nearby.
‘House of Providence’ was started by the saintly Archbishop Joseph Attipetty of Verapoly. He was inspired by the Piccola Casa of Tourin which cared for the elderly. Modelled on that, he started this house for the elderly which is considered the oldest of the kind in South India. It was his desire that the Institution should thrive only on the providence of God. He commended the institution to the generosity of the public. The House was inaugurated on 4th May 1938 with five elderly and infirm people.
The Archbishop invited the Sisters of Charity to render free service to the elderly in this newly formed Institution. The pioneers were Sisters Erminia Sanadri (superior), Sophie Pathrao, Clara Pakalomattam and Lydia Vallikattil. The land and the buildings belongs to the Arch diocese of Verapoly. The sisters stayed with the inmates for a year until the convent was built in 1938. Ever since its foundation, House of Providence has been a serene abode for the elderly who seek peace, security and homely care, until they welcome the end with dignity.
The first sisters were helped by some generous ladies who dedicated their life for this service. In 1955 they obtained the certificate of recognition for this destitute home. As the number of inmates kept increasing the needs also multiplied. In the first years, the sisters had to struggle a lot even to find enough food to sustain all the inmates. In those days they used to go out asking for arms to feed the inmates. Besides the inmates, a number of beggars also knocked at their door for food and help.
In 1964, a chapel dedicated to St.Joseph was built for the inmates to come together for prayer and worship. Archbishop Attippetty blessed it and granted the special permission to conduct all liturgical celebrations in this chapel for the sake of the old and the infirm.
From 1980 Help Age India associated with this Institution and the collaboration strengthened the professionalism of service. They also helped to put up a new block and assisted in health care. Sisters collaborate in their outreach programme (community development programme), meeting the elderly in their homes.
In 1998 the Archdiocese rebuilt the sister’s quarters, adding a new chapel as well. Besides serving the inmates, the sisters also engaged in the care of elderly priests who were accommodated in HOP until 2000, Diocesan Family Apostolate, Jesus Fraternity, and Socio-pastoral service. Sr. Margaret Aldega who lived with the inmates for 52 years and Fr.Michel Panakal who stayed here for 40 years, contributed greatly to the spiritual, cultural, and physical needs of the inmates.
As of now the inmates have all the necessary facilities – water tanks, generator, invertors, solar heater, sound system, recreational facilities, dispensary, etc. – thanks to the generosity of the many benefactors who hold the elderly close to their heart. Now the Institution is full to capacity (105) and the sisters strive to give them the best care possible. A Committee of local people and professionals is always at the beck and call of the sisters for any help. At present 10 sisters engage in the Institution and ESSS is a close collaborator. For more information click here.
Kongorpilly is a thickly populated and developing area. Most of the people depend on daily wages. The majority is Catholic and a few Hindus and Pulayas too are settled here. Faith formation and unity are weak in families. The people are simple and open. Drug addiction and alcoholism are prevalent among men.
Archbishop Cornelius Elanjikal of Verapoly wanted the Sisters of Charity to open a community at Kongorpilly to collaborate in the socio pastoral services. As a result, Nirmala Bhavan was opened on 31 May 1992. The pioneers were sisters Emiliana Chinganthara, Jessy Raphael, Thersa Paul, Alice Joseph and Sophie Jacob (Superior).
The apostolic service the sisters render in this locality is the involvement in the various needs of the parish to help the people in their faith formation. From the very start the sisters have taken keen interest in the most needy. They visited families, listened to the people, and imparted faith and morals. The people needed a renewal and restoration from many factors.
Seeing the poverty and unemployment the sisters began some job oriented training for the young girls to earn their livelihood. They taught them to prepare soap, umbrella and specs. The rice mill they started named after Maria Bambina continues to function even now. They also accommodated the girls and taught them tailoring and embroidery. Very many persons have gone through this institution and learned to earn a living on their own. The Nursery School began by the sisters was later shifted to the parish management. They also work earnestly for the eradication of drugs and alcohol. Poor children are offered sponsorship for education. Now the little village already shows a lot of development. The people have better jobs and improved standard of living.
The number of families in the parish is on the increase. At present there are 680 families with 29 family units. The sisters are the animators of these units. The various responsibilities of the units are entrusted to lay leaders. Each sister is attentive and alert to work for the welfare of the people and to take extra steps to settle any problem occurring in the families or in the unit.
Our people are endowed with talents and gifts and they contribute for the parish and its different activities. The sisters engage in laity empowerment initiatives. The youth are also well integrated. One sister renders her service in the Diocesan school.
Pratheeksha Bhavan, as the word signifies is a ‘house of hope’ for the province of Calicut. This community is a haven for our elderly sisters who need more professional and better health care than available in single communities. It also provides an atmosphere of quiet and peace, enriched by silence and prayer which helps them to feel closer to God.
The sisters who render their service at Sidhi Sadan -- Lourdes College of nursing -- also form part of this community and provide medical support to the elderly sisters.
It was started on 30th March, 2005, blessed by the Late Dr. Daniel Acharuparambil, the Archbishop of Verapoly who gave us the permission to put up this convent.
The community is pledged to the holistic health care and spiritual accompaniment to the elderly sisters. Through General Nursing, BSc nuring, Post basic, and MSc nursing courses the sisters strive to offer value rich education and training to nursing students, about 700 of them. Partheekasha Bhavan is engaged in socio-pastoral service becoming simple neighbours to the people of the locality.
It is situated at Attipetty Nagar; a stretch of land belonging to the Archdiocease of Verapoly at Chembumukku, Kakkanad, towards the eastern side of Ernakulam Dist. It belongs to St. Michael’s Parish Church, Chembumukhu.
The community also serves the retired priests of the diocese at Avila Bhavan.
Vypin is one of Asia’s densely populated islands. The majority of the people are fisher folk. Lack of drinking water, poor transportation facilities, unemployment, high mortality rate among pregnant women due to poor Medicare, malnutrition and ignorance, health problem like diabetes, hypertension, asthma and heart disease were all problems faced by the people. They suffer from all the negativities associated with poverty and ignorance.
Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil of Verapauzha Archdiocese invited the sisters of Charity to offer holistic health care to the islanders. ‘Christujayanti Hospital’ has 60-bed facilities with the departments of Medicine, Surgery, OBG & Paediatircs and all the other supportive services. It also has an ayurvedic unit.
The pioneers were sisters Leonarda Alapatt, Carmen Cherian, Jessy Joseph, Sr. Mable John, Anette Devasia, Prisca Kallur and Mansueta Thomas.
In the hospital the sisters assist in Administration, nursing supervision, pastoral care of the sick, community out reach programmes, and are responsible for dialysis, operation theatre and labour room, general store, and the hostel.
They also engage in socio-pastoral services – youth animation (KCYM), catechesis, BCCs, anti drug and anti alcoholic service, house visits etc.