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Origin & Development
"Be a love Bomb
Let it be exploded
Not to kill
But to heal the broken hearts"
This small sentence is the seed of Prison Ministry India (Jesus Fraternity). On 8th December 1981, two brothers called, Varghese Karippery and Francis Kodiyan, (Philosophy Students in St Thomas apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam), were given weekly office for attending the phone calls.. While on duty there came a special intervention of God.. They got a special call for the least, the last and the lost. From the curcifix they got a powerful message that every person should be a Love-bomb in order to help others.
On Calvary the death of Jesus was really an explosion of a super dynamic Love Bomb. The person who dropped the Love bomb was broken into pieces but others got life. If Jesus is a Super-Dynamic Love Bomb, everyone can become a dynamic Love Bomb.
This idea began to work within a short time. "What can we do in order to become a Love bomb", Bro. Francis asked. They formed a group and started the intercessory prayer for the least, the last and lost. Every afternoon they sat before the Blessed Sacrament and prayed for the different groups of dejected people such as alcoholics, prisoners, sick, drug-addicts, slum dwellers etc.
On 1st July 1985, when they had gone for field-experience, Bro.Francis pointed out a name board, 'Prison Fellowship India'. they entered the office and requested Mr. Kunjumon Chacko and his team for sharing with them whey the prison fellowship is. They came to the seminary and shared Prison Ministry experiences. After their sharing Bro. Jose Kochuparambil suggested to have a jail visit programme during summer holidays. For this prison pilgrimage, they formed a group of eight Brothers and three Fathers. From September 1985 onwards they started a chain prayer and fasting for six months. Each one of them took up four jails among the thirty-nine jails of Kerala for special prayer.
March 1st 1986, was a memorable day of starting the prison pilgrimage.to the Kerala prisons. With a small orchestra programme they conveyed the powerful message of Jesus. They encouraged the prisoners to have a new vision and mission in their life. Many of them got real peace and joy. They understood the great need of this Ministry. The inmates asked our help for their renewed life. "Give us a chance for a Renewed life", they requested us. Usually it is said 'Once in jail, always in jail'. A released prisoner can be trapped at any time under suspicious circumstances. So they are helpless and insecure.
Prison pilgrimage was really an eye-opener for them. They learnt to rely on the providence of God and started to think for an effective jail ministry, solely depending upon the providence of God. That was why the name 'Jesus Fraternity' was given to this movement.in the beginning When we go in the name of Jesus, prison gates are opened for us. Jesus can work miracles among the prisoners. During the Christmas season of 1985 they collected some addresses of prisoners and sent Christmas greeting cards to them. They too sent Christmas cards back. Among them one person sent the biggest Christmas card and it was written, "Dear loving Brother, I have been here in this prison for the last six years. No body has written a single letter to me during this period. Today I realize that there is somebody who loves me and prays for me."
The group again started to pray to start a renewal and rehabilitation centre for an effective prison apostolate. It was realized in October 1991. In order to purchase 11 acres of land for the rehabilitation centre, they begged for money from people all over Kerala. We accept the released prisoners whole-heartedly irrespective of caste and creed. No recommendation is needed. At any time they can come and go. If they stay there for six months for mental adjustment, they are helped in various ways like re-integration with the family, society, seeking jobs for them etc.
Prison authorities are also very co-operative. By the providence of God, we could conduct the first National Gathering for Catholic prison volunteers at Bangalore in August 13-15, 1994. At that meeting a decision was taken to extend the ministry in view of its national work, and change the name into Prison Ministry India (PMI). Fr. Varghese Karippery was elected as first national co-ordinator.and started a national office in Koramangala in Bangalore. The second National Gathering of Prison Ministry India was conducted in 1995 at 'Navintha', Delhi. The third National Gathering was held at Trichur in Kerala in 1997. The fourth National Gathering was at Mumbai in the year 1998 and Fr. Sebastian Theckanath was elected as 2nd national co-ordinator in the meeting fifth one was in the year 1999 in Culcutta, and the sixth was at Hyderabad in the year 2000.
On 24th August, 2000, Prison Ministry India was officially recognized by CBCI (Catholic Bishops Conference of India). On February 12, 2002, Fr. Sebastian Vadakumpadan took over charge as National Co-ordinator. The Seventh National Convention was conducted at Chennai in 2002. In the same year PMI received the Spirit of Assisi National Award. Reformative Research and Documentation Centre was started in the year 2003 in Trichur, Kerala. A Sunday was officially given to PMI as PMI Sunday on 17th August 2003. On 18th July 2003, the North Regional Office was inaugurated and Fr. Joseph Kavalakkat became the first Regional Co-ordinator. In 2004, the eighth national gathering was conducted at Bhopal, M.P. In December 2004, Prison Voice, the national monthly, a registered magazine was started. The year 2005 was a blessed year for PMI, new programmes were introduced such as, Full timers Ministry, 10th Anniversary of PMI, the Inauguration of project for the welfare of Indian nationals in foreign prisons, releasing of PMI Flag and inauguration of PMI National Anthem. In the same year, 2005, we started the North East regional office and 19th rehabilitation centre for women and children namely 'Ashadham' on 8th September 2005, by Bhopal Archdiocese. The 20th rehabilitation centre, a home for released women prisoners was started by congregation of Ursuline of Mary Immaculate at Vasai, Maharashtra on 17th February, 2006.
Fr Josekutty Kalayil MST took up the charge as the national co-ordinator in the year 2007. National convention was conducted in the same year in Mysore. In 2009 we purchased a new building for the national office of Prison Ministry India, in Karmelaram in Bangalore.
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