- St. Vincent de Paul
Popular Mission, the soul of the Congregation of the Mission, has a
special and cherished place in the twenty-five-year history of the Southern Indian Province.
Though it has not been the primary focus of the mission in the province, confreres have been keeping this aspect of
the charism alive till today. The popular mission team in Kerala has been consistent over the years in organizing these
missions. So far twenty nine missions are preached in nine dioceses of Kerala with the involvement of 67 confreres.
These popular missions are organized by a team of confreres with the involvement of seminarians,
Daughters of Charity and lay associates. The experience of popular missions has inspired many seminarians to
pursue this vital aspect of our charism later on in their priestly ministry. The involvement of Daughters of
Charity has helped the mission in organizing the liturgical and counselling aspects. The lay associates
have greatly supported in the music ministry and other aspects of the organizing part.
During the provincial administration between 2014 and 2016, separate Directors of Popular Mission were appointed for Kerala,
Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. This was intended to revitalize and reorganize this ministry based on language.
During this period, the house at Vengavila was planned to be the centre of the Popular Mission for Kerala region.
Similarly, a land was purchased in Eluru Diocese to establish a Popular Mission centre for the Andhra Pradesh region.
Further, during the provincial administration between 2019 and 2022, the Popular Mission was added to the responsibility
of the Councilor in-Charge of Parish Ministry to provide the mission preaching greater thrust and importance.
Popular mission brings about the holistic faith formation of the parish through a specific thrust on the individual
and family transformation. To this effect, the popular mission retreats focus on reenergizing the pious associations,
Basic Christian Communities, children, youth, elderly, married couples, workers and widows through family visits, preaching,
catechesis, Biblical teachings, Bible quiz, dispute resolution, counselling sessions, sacraments of the Eucharist and
confession, Eucharistic adoration, holy rosary, faith rallies and agape. The popular missions that the SIP has organized
over these years have resulted in greater sacramental life and unity among Christians and fuller life in people.
The Popular Mission is dear and central to the heart of St. Vincent and to the Vincentian charism.
Proper prioritizing of this ministry at the provincial and regional levels and its consistent promotion will
resultin better response from the confreres and a revamped service to the local Church.
The confreres of the Province of South India honored our holy founder by rejuvenating the transforming power of the popular mission retreat launched by
St. Vincent. The retreat took place at St. Antony’s Forane Church, Kanjirakodu, in the diocese of Kollam.
The parish has the long-standing tradition of around four centuries catholic faith. It was therefore providential that
as we celebrate the fourth centenary of our Vincentian charism, we are chosen by God to preach to His people having more or
less same spiritual legacy of four hundred years of faith life.
The parish has got the strength of one thousand Catholic families. The present Bishop of Kollam diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Antony Mullassery
hails from this parish. Besides, there are many priests and several sisters serving the diocese and other Congregations from this parish.
As a distant preparation Fr. GerogeMachukuzhy CM, the Director of the popular mission visited the parish twice and prepared the people,
taking different committees to coordinate and animate the preparations for the retreat. Prayer cards were distributed to each family to pray for
the success of the retreat. The charismatic group of the parish was also inspired to spend time in intercessory prayers for the success of the retreat.
Prior to the popular mission retreat our confreres visited all the families in the parish and blessed all the houses and prepared the people
for the retreat. From March 23 to 28, 2025, twelve Priests committed themselves blessing every home in the parish and motivated the people to
participate in the retreat.
The Popular mission retreat took place from March 30 to April 3, 2025, lasting five days. For the active participation of all the families and maximum people,
the retreat was conducted in five centers. The retreat began in the parish church on the first day and at the end of the service the faithful moved to
respective centers in procession carrying flags to be hoisted in each Centre accompanied by priests. The concluding day all the faithful moved to the church in procession
by praying the Way of the Cross. The daily Rosary procession, Holy Eucharistic celebration, song service, preaching the Word of God, Eucharistic adoration,
counselling and confession were the integral parts of the retreat. The retreat service started with procession to the respective centers by 5.30 in the evening
and concluded by 9 pm. A separate retreat session was organized for the youth during day time. Eleven Priests were involved in the animation of the retreat including
a diocesan Priest and a Kerala Vincentian Priest. The vibrant presence and co-operation of the Daughters of Charity
who are working in the parish was a great support to the retreat.
The people attended the retreat with great enthusiasm and listened to the Word of God with great thirst. The faithful made genuine confession and many flocked for counselling. Miracles, healings and blessings reported by people during the retreat. The participants were increasing day by day and many experienced the intervention of God in their lives. The retreat came to a close on the final day by the Eucharistic adoration and blessing. At the end of the retreat two candidates expressed their willingness to join the Congregation of the Mission
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