Popular Mission Retreats

Preaching Popular Mission is the specific and distinctive charism of the Vincentians. Through this specific form of preaching the Word of God, they are trying to enkindle faith in the hearts of the people and help them towards their renewal and building up of a true Christian community. St. Vincent De Paul, the Heavenly Patron of the Congregation, started it for the spiritual enhancement and nourishment of the sacramental life of the poor village folk in France in the 17th Century.

Mar Augustine Kandathil, the late Archbishop of Ernakulum Archdiocese, a great supporter of Vincentian Congregation instructed the pioneer members that the purpose of the Vincentian Congregation is to preach Popular Mission in the parishes, and it should be done free of charge. Because of the ardent desire to preach a Popular Mission in the Vincentian style and method the pioneer members planned a retreat based on the directory of the Popular Mission of the Congregation of Mission. The first Popular Mission in Kerala in its full form was conducted in 1952 in St. George Forane parish, Angamaly. The team members were well trained for it by Fr. Fernando CM, the then Novice Master of the Congregation. In 1972 the appointment of Fr. Xavier Elambassery as the first formal Director of the Popular Mission gave a new impetus to Popular Mission.

Popular Mission continues to be the most effective form of Retreat for the renewal of the Parish and families. Even though so many retreat teams and centres have emerged in the recent years, and Bible Conventions are wide spread, the priests and faithful unanimously agree that none of these make a lasting effect in the parishes as the popular missions. The spiritual renewal of the parishes was greatly appreciated and admired by the Bishops and the parish priests. Always we can see a great enthusiasm from the part of the members to preach Popular Mission retreats. Now the Congregation has popular mission teams and a director for its coordination in Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, North India and in East Africa.

The following are the Popular Mission Centres of the Congregation:

01. Adichira - Popular Mission Center, Adichira, Perumbaikadu P.O., 686 028, Kottayam, Kerala

02. Potta - Popular Mission Center, Potta, 680 722, Chalakkudy, Thrissur Dt., Kerala

03. Jamshedpur - Divya Jyoti Renewal Centre, Patel Bagan, Sundernagar P.O., Jamshedpur, 832107, Jharkhand

04. Trichy - Popular Mission Center, Choriyampatti, Muthalwarpatti P.O., Madhurai Main Road, Opp. N.H. Office, Marungapuri (TK), Trichy Dist., 621305, Tamilnadu

05. Mangalagiri - Popular Mission Center, Divine (Babuji) Nagar, Nidamarru P.O., 522503, Mangalagiri (Mandal), Guntur Dt., Andhra Pradesh

06. Vikindu - Vincentian Fathers, Jesus Town, Vikindu, P.O. Box 14918, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa

POPULAR MISSION SHEDULE FOR JANUARY-MAY 2017

Marymatha Province

01. January 15-20, Cheloor (Irinjalakuda Diocese)

02. February 05-10, Pallippuram (Kottappuram Diocese)

03. March 05-10, Manjummel (Varappuzha Diocese)

04. March 19-24, Mannuthy (Thrissur Diocese)

05. April 02-07, Aloor (Irinjalakuda Diocese)

06. April 30-May 05, Elamkulam (Ernakulam Diocese)

St. Joseph Province

01. January 08-13, St Thomas’s Church Kurichithanam (Pala Diocese)

02. January 22-27, St Mary’s Church (Lalem Old) Pala (Pala Diocese)

03. February 05-10, St Sebastian’s Church Pallipuram (Kottappuram Diocese)

04. February 19-24, Holy Family Church Pollethai (Alappuuzha Diocese)

05. March 05-10, Lourd Matha Church Chennad (Pala Diocese)

06. March 19-24, St Joseph Church Kizhathadiyoor (Pala Diocese)

07. April 02-07, St George’s Church Vadamattam (Kothamangalam Diocese)

08. April 30-May 05, Fathima Matha Church Chettuthodu (Pala Diocese)

09. May 14-19, St Joseph Church Punnappra (Alappuzha Diocese)

Good Shepherd Region

01. January 15-19, Nuthaki (Guntur Diocese)

02. January 29 -February 02, Z. Charla (Nalgonda Diocese)

03. February 19-22, Thoredu (Vizag Diocese)

04. March 5-9, Kothalingala (Khammam Diocese)

05. March 19-23, Perecharla (Guntur Diocese)

06. March 26-30, Srikakulam (Srikakulam Diocese)

07. April 2-6, Hyderabad (Hyderabad Diocese)

08. June 25-29, Chandravely (Adilabad Diocese)

St. Xaviers Region

01. January 08-13, Vengaivaasal (Chengalpet Diocese)

02. January 22-27, Sithalapaakkam (Chengalpet Diocese)

03. February 12-17, Amsam (Trichy Diocese)

04. February 19-24, Koothavaakkam (Chengalpet Diocese)

05. March 12-17, Nemillicheerry (Chengalpet Diocese)

06. March 26-31, Sidco (Coimbatore Diocese)

07. April 02-07, Karur (Coimbatore Diocese)

08. May 14-19, Periakulam (Madurai Diocese)

09. May 28-June 02, Connore (Ooty Diocese)

10. June 11-16, Jyothipuram (Coimbatore Diocese)

Sacred Heart Region

01. January 15-20, Maili Sita Parish ( Moshi Diocese), Tanzania

02. February 11-18, Korongoni (Moshi Diocese), Tanzania

03. March 12-17, Kisumu, Kenya

04. April 09-14, Masaka, Uganda