The Congregation of the Rosarians
Our Ashrams
Our Ashrams
Mary Matha Ashram
About the year 1954, beloved Father Founder and Servant of God, Father Thomas OMI made all the arrangements to open first Rosarian Ashram in Kerala in the Diocese of Kollam (Quilon) in the civil district of Kollam at the request of Bishop Jerome Fernandes, then the Bishop of Kollam at Vettikkavla mission. The Diocese of Kollam has offered us the land and small building nearby Kottarakkara to begin our mission here. Our first priest, Fr.Francis and his companions were ready to go Kollam. During this period, Most.Rev.Severin, the Bishop of Raigarh and Ambikapur made an urgent appeal to our beloved Founder to open one of the Rosarian Ashram in his diocese as Missionaries are put into lot of trouble by Hindu fundamentalist. As Father Founder realized the need of contemplative life in the central India to support the missionaries, he sent the telegram to Fr.Francis, telling stop going to Kerala and asked Fr.Francis and three Brothers to go to Amkiapur, then Madhya Pradesh, now Chattisgrah.
Our beloved Fr.Founder taught us that nothing happens by chance, but everything is God’s will.When we look into the history of Mary Matha Ashram, it is not by chance, this Ashram came to existence, but by Divine will. It is clear that it was the wish of our beloved Fr. Founder to have a Rosarian Ashram in Kerala and that too in Kollam district in 1954 itself the very place we are now. It took long period of 65 years to realize the plan and wish of our beloved Fr. Founder. Meanwhile Punalur diocese was erected bifurcating from Kollam diocese in the civil district of Kollam. The first Bishop of Punalur, Most Rev. Mathaias Kappil invited Rosarian Sisters to start their convent in Punalur Diocese but could not materialized due to some or other reasons.
As Trivandrum is situated near Punalur, we looked forward a place here so that we can come to Trivandrum for any government works, but could not materialize due to many reasons. Now, it is materialized because of Divine Providence and the wish of Most. Rev.Dr.Sylvester Ponnumuthan, the Bishop of Punalur and Msgr. Vincent, the Vicar General of Punalur, Very.Rev.Chancellor and all Fathers of the Punalur Diocese. The Diocese of Punalur offered us the diocesan land at Vettikavala. This property is purchased during the time of bishop Benzinger, now the servant of God, then the Bishop of Kollam in the year 1930. There was a mission station here known as Vettikkavla Mission and Church was dedicated to St.Thomas the Apostle. This mission station had about 70 families as parishioners. They also had special Holy Rosary devotion in the month of October. It was a vibrant mission station but due to some problems, the mission station could not continue. As there was a Catholic community here, Bishop Jerome, now Servant of God, invited us so that Catholics can participate in the Sunday liturgy and other sacramental life. In spite of all these problems, the diocese was able to keep this land in their name. God has kept this property very beginning for the Rosarians. That is why after long period 65 years, we have come to same place. It also proves that every new Foundaton is the plan of God and wish of Fr.Founder. So we have experienced special Divine Providence from the very beginning of our coming to Punalure from all corners.
As we had some money by the sale of property at Idukki to purchase the land. We gave some money for the land and kept little balance money for the building. Most.Rev.Dr.Sylvestor was very keen to start our mission of prayer for the diocese and to help priests, religious and people in their spiritual needs. We got registered our property in the year 2016.
Our beloved Bishop also gave us a building in Kunnicode, 6 K.m. away from Vettikavala to stay and start the construction works which was used as a convent earlier. We all found it very suitable place to stay as it is very near to Kollam –Chengottai national high way road. It was a wonderful and loving gesture from our Beloved Bishiop. We have cleaned the surround place of the building and painted the house and made it very good for our temporary stay.
Our Beloved Bishop blessed the foundation stone for the new building at Vettikavala and started the construction works. Meanwhile we dug a 20 feet depth open well in the down side of the property and installed the motor there with new electricity connection for the construction works. We have cleaned the old open well with ring in the top. We found out that we may not get enough water in this old well as it is in the top area, whereas we have a hope that there will be enough water in the newly dug 20 feet depth well as it is below field area. It is the Divine Providence which opened the way for opening of this Ashram. We have felt special intercessory prayer of three Servants of God, our Founder, Bishop Benzinger who purchased this property and Bishop Jerome Ferandes who invited Rosarians to come this place in the year 1954. We placed this Ashram again under the patronage of our Blessed Mother and called this Ashram, as Mary Matha Ashram.
We were coming and going from Rosary Hill Ashram, Vellikulangara in the beginning stage of the construction works. Finally Bro.Sunny Jospeh from Sultan Bathery and Fr.Siju from Rosary Hill Ashram started to stay permanently at Kunnikode to supervise the works.
After the General Chapter 2018, Fr.Prior General has entrusted the construction works to Fr.K.P.Xavier CR. Remaining at Rosary Hill Ashram. Rosary Hill Ashram gave the support of Fr.Sabu and Fr.Joy. All them stayed some days at Kunnikode and some days at Rosary Hill Ashram, later two were the members of the Rosary Hill Ashram.
The psalmist says that unless the Lord build the house, those who build it in vain. It means that if it was not divine plan, it should not have accomplished even after 65 years. Because of purely Divine Providence, maternal care of our Blessed Mother and together with generous heart and support of our beloved benefactors, we could complete the construction works by April 2019. Our beloved Bishop extended to us all the supports and visited construction site and Kunnikode many times. As the chapel donor was interested to bless this monastery on the Divine Sunday Mercy, we somehow worked very hard to complete the works by Easter. This new monastery blessed on 28th April 2019 by His Excellency Most.Rev.Dr.Selvister Ponnumuthan, the Bishop of Punalur, in the presence of Prior General of the Congregation of the Rosarians, Vicar General, Episcopal Vicar, Fathers, Sisters and large number of laity of the Diocese of Punalur. We gratefully remember our beloved benefactors always for their wonderful collaboration and support to accomplish this missionary task.
After the Inauguration, a new community was formed. Fr. K.P. Xavier was appointed as Superior, Fr. Joy and Bro. Benny as community members. After the priestly ordination of Fr. Jojo CR, he also joined Mary Matha Ashram. Many people come for confession, prayer and some sisters and Fathers come for retreat and recollection. Some laity also join us for daily and Sunday Holy Mass. This house serves as the Power House of the diocese.
Pushpavanam Ashram
Our Beloved Bishop blessed the foundation stone for the new building at Vettikavala and started the construction works. Meanwhile we dug a 20 feet depth open well in the down side of the property and installed the motor there with new electricity connection for the construction works. We have cleaned the old open well with ring in the top. We found out that we may not get enough water in this old well as it is in the top area, whereas we have a hope that there will be enough water in the newly dug 20 feet depth well as it is below field area. It is the Divine Providence which opened the way for opening of this Ashram. We have felt special intercessory prayer of three Servants of God, our Founder, Bishop Benzinger who purchased this property and Bishop Jerome Ferandes who invited Rosarians to come this place in the year 1954. We placed this Ashram again under the patronage of our Blessed Mother and called this Ashram, as Mary Matha Ashram.
We were coming and going from Rosary Hill Ashram, Vellikulangara in the beginning stage of the construction works. Finally Bro.Sunny Jospeh from Sultan Bathery and Fr.Siju from Rosary Hill Ashram started to stay permanently at Kunnikode to supervise the works.
After the General Chapter 2018, Fr.Prior General has entrusted the construction works to Fr.K.P.Xavier CR. Remaining at Rosary Hill Ashram. Rosary Hill Ashram gave the support of Fr.Sabu and Fr.Joy. All them stayed some days at Kunnikode and some days at Rosary Hill Ashram, later two were the members of the Rosary Hill Ashram.
The psalmist says that unless the Lord build the house, those who build it in vain. It means that if it was not divine plan, it should not have accomplished even after 65 years. Because of purely Divine Providence, maternal care of our Blessed Mother and together with generous heart and support of our beloved benefactors, we could complete the construction works by April 2019. Our beloved Bishop extended to us all the supports and visited construction site and Kunnikode many times. As the chapel donor was interested to bless this monastery on the Divine Sunday Mercy, we somehow worked very hard to complete the works by Easter. This new monastery blessed on 28th April 2019 by His Excellency Most.Rev.Dr.Selvister Ponnumuthan, the Bishop of Punalur, in the presence of Prior General of the Congregation of the Rosarians, Vicar General, Episcopal Vicar, Fathers, Sisters and large number of laity of the Diocese of Punalur. We gratefully remember our beloved benefactors always for their wonderful collaboration and support to accomplish this missionary task.
After the Inauguration, a new community was formed. Fr. K.P. Xavier was appointed as Superior, Fr. Joy and Bro. Benny as community members. After the priestly ordination of Fr. Jojo CR, he also joined Mary Matha Ashram. Many people come for confession, prayer and some sisters and Fathers come for retreat and recollection. Some laity also join us for daily and Sunday Holy Mass. This house serves as the Power House of the diocese.
