The Congregation of the Rosarians
Our Ashrams
Our Ashrams
Devamatha Ashram
The Rosarians wished to have at least one Ashram in Kerala in this fecund cradle of vocations. The superiors and communities prayed for guidance and inspirations.
Rev. Fr. Zuchol, S.J. the great missionary in Malabar, wished to have a house of contemplation in his mission. Rev. Fr. Wilfried Pietrick of Germany encouraged Fr. Zuchol to achieve his desire.
On April 15, 1978 Fr. Zuchol SJ informed Fr. Bernard, the Prior General that the Calicut diocese was ready to donate to the ccontemplatives 100 acres of land at Mathamangalam. On February 4, 1979, Bishop Patroni of Calicut diocese invited the Rosarians to his diocese.
The Prior General Rev. Fr. C. Bernard CR accepted the offer and on the feast of St Joseph, on March 19, 1981 celebrated Holy Mass in the chapel of St. Mary’s estate for the Rosarian community of two brothers, Brothers Paul and Jerome with Fr. Zuchol SJ and Fr. Valantian SJ. But Mathamangalam was not suited for a small community as they had no proper house or chapel. There was no water and electricity. To convert that place into a Rosarian Ashram would entail much labour, expense and demand for more personnel. Fr. Zuchol too realized the difficulties. He was searching for a better place, and was praying with the Rosarians.
Divine providence was operating Fr. Zuchol who learnt that the Canossian sisters were planning to dispose of their small neatly furnished house with lands and fields. They would prefer to give them all to a religious community. The Prior General and his Council decided to secure this small house with pump and pipes, furniture and electricity.
On May 28, 1981 the local Canossian Superior handed over the keys of their house to Bro. Paul CR with all its furniture, vessels etc., The sisters wanted the contemplatives to pray for them and for the success of their work. This was bought from the sisters for a less price.
By July 1981, Fr. Ephraem took charge of the Ashram as Superior. The community consisted of the Prior, Bros. Paul, Jerome, the Regent Bro. Xavier and a quasi associate Mathew.
Officially, the Devamatha Ashram was formally inaugurated on December 8, 1981 with a concelebrated Mass, presided over by Bishop Most Rev. Maxwell Noronha, the Bishop of Calicut, with a number of priests and religious, and people from the local parish. On July 1982, Fr. Bernard CR took charge of the Ashram, as superior. A large spacious house was gradually built. The fields were cultivated. After a short term of superiorship of Fr. Peter and Fr. V.J. Augustine, Fr. Ephraem took charge again. He built a new chapel, as the existing one was weak and leaking. Being contemplatives, the members of the community spend a life of ceaseless-prayer and penance, in the silence and seclusion of chapel, before the Eucharistic Lord. As Marian contemplatives, like the Virgin Mary, we too hear the word of God and ponder over the life of Jesus.
Small groups of priests and sisters of different dioceses and religious congregations come here and make their spiritual retreat, or days of recollection. Similarly, batches of seminarians and lay people make their retreats and recollection under the direction of a Rosarian priest.
We admit and train our candidates to be happy Rosarians leading a wholly consecrated life. This is the first house for the Rosarians in Kerala.
Pushpavanam Ashram
Officially, the Devamatha Ashram was formally inaugurated on December 8, 1981 with a concelebrated Mass, presided over by Bishop Most Rev. Maxwell Noronha, the Bishop of Calicut, with a number of priests and religious, and people from the local parish. On July 1982, Fr. Bernard CR took charge of the Ashram, as superior. A large spacious house was gradually built. The fields were cultivated. After a short term of superiorship of Fr. Peter and Fr. V.J. Augustine, Fr. Ephraem took charge again. He built a new chapel, as the existing one was weak and leaking. Being contemplatives, the members of the community spend a life of ceaseless-prayer and penance, in the silence and seclusion of chapel, before the Eucharistic Lord. As Marian contemplatives, like the Virgin Mary, we too hear the word of God and ponder over the life of Jesus.
Small groups of priests and sisters of different dioceses and religious congregations come here and make their spiritual retreat, or days of recollection. Similarly, batches of seminarians and lay people make their retreats and recollection under the direction of a Rosarian priest.
We admit and train our candidates to be happy Rosarians leading a wholly consecrated life. This is the first house for the Rosarians in Kerala.
