Vocation

Mission Retreat

In the Catholic circles in Kerala, Capuchins are best known for their popular preaching, especially the Capuchin Mission Retreats. From early 1940s as soon as the Capuchins entered the spiritual arena of Catholics in Kerala, they endeared themselves with their popular preaching with house visiting. That has been taken over by the successive generations of Capuchins. There were no rivals to the Capuchins in the field of popular retreats in parishes and institutions till the last quarter of the last century. But from mid 1980s other forms of retreats gained the central stage along with the Charismatic movement. In spite of the heavy impact of these movements we Capuchins are able to keep up the popular appeal for Capuchin Mission Retreats to date. To keep abreast with the times our preachers are keen on updating the mode of conducting the retreat as well as the content of preaching.

Renewal Centres

It was in 1976 the Catholic Charismatic movement reached Kerala and in the very same year we Capuchins began to conduct residential Charismatic retreats at Bharananganam. It gained momentum in a short period and the Assisi Renewal Centre as it was named, became a counselling and retreat centre well known all over Kerala. Within a short time Assisi Renewal Centre became a grooming centre for charismatic preachers as well. All modes of retreats like inner healing retreats, Christeen retreats, youth retreats, couples retreats and varieties of other renewal programs for priests, religious and all and sundry are being conducted here throughout the year. Almost all these programs are being conducted by our own friars. Even after 4 decades, Assisi Renewal Centre remains one of the most sought after retreat centres in Kerala. Counselling and Family apostolate was a new venture launched by Capuchins, as early as 1970 attached to our friaries and was warmly welcomed by the laity. We have now successfully incorporated these ministries in our Mission Retreats and also couples’ retreats in our renewal centres. We have also other renewal centres like Portiumcula Ashram, Kattappana and Laverna Ashram, Vagamon where many arrive for spiritual renewal.

‘Echo-Spiritual-Tourism’

We have launched a new project ‘Echo-Spiritual-Tourism’ at Shola Woods in Nadukani, Kulamavu; a new venture combining echo-friendly stay with exercises for spiritual enlightenment, physical rejuvenation and psychological relaxation. Shola Woods provides a rare combination of fascinating ambiance and conducive atmosphere to those who seek for a holistic revamping.

Social Media – Assisi Magazine, Jeevan Books and Visual Media

Once upon a time, when social media meant only press and stage, that is reading and drama, we were proud that we were abreast with both, by staging dramas and by our publication ‘Assisi Magazine’. Assisi magazine had the reputation as a family magazine and enjoyed wide circulation and popular appeal for many years. Here too, we lost the prime position first of all due to the onslaught of numerous periodicals with charismatic overtone. Of late, Assisi Magazine is gaining ground as it is uploaded also ‘on line’.

In mid-eighties ‘Jeevan Books’, the publication wing of the province was launched and it flourished by and by and is vibrant now in the book publication sphere, bringing out books on various topics especially on spirituality. Jeevan Books has taken up publishing the works of good many budding writers. Jeevan Books also has the credit of bringing out in Malayalam a number of bestselling works from other languages.

Reading the signs of the times and revolutionising the traditional concepts of our ministry it was a daring venture in the field of visual media, taking into account the influence of social media, that we have pioneered recently in the cinema field by releasing successfully a movie upholding family values, which might turn out to be an incentive to many others.

Youth Retreat

For animating the youth, mainly targeting High Schools and Colleges we have a well-trained band of scholastics who are ready to lend their services with prior booking. We have also well-equipped team and resource persons moving around conducting renewal programs to youths in parishes or institutions.