ABOUT US
On 8th December 1981, Bro Varghese Karippery and Bro Francis Kodiyan, MCBS, two philosophy students at St Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam, India, had been entrusted with the weekly office of attending the phone calls. While they had been on duty, they encountered a special intervention of God, who bestowed them with a special gift to work for the lost, followed by a powerful message from the Most Holy Eucharist to become a Love-bomb to heal the broken-hearted.
THE EARLY DAYS OF PRISON MINISTRY INDIA
FIRST PRAYER GROUP
1981On Calvary, the death of Jesus was really an explosion of a super dynamic Love Bomb. If Jesus is a Super-Dynamic Love Bomb, we should at least become a dynamic Love Bomb. This powerful insight began to pester their thoughts. Bro Francis asked himself "How can I become a Love Bomb to explode love in to the lives of the broken-hearted? As an answer, they formed a prayer group in their seminary batch and began to raise their hearts to God through intercessory prayers, for the least, the last and lost. Every afternoon, during siesta they spent before the Blessed Sacrament and prayed for the different groups of dejected and despondent people such as alcoholics, prisoners, sick, drug-addicts, slum dwellers, and others.
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1985On 13 June 1985, on their way to Ahbhaya Bhavan of MC Sisters, Francis and Varghese noticed a board "Kottayam Subjail". Their attempt to visit the prison was in vain. With the decision to visit the prison at any cost they returned to seminary. On the way Francis noticed another board "Prison Fellowship India". The next week they visited this office and Mr John Kurian explained about the Prison ministry. The two brothers expressed their desire to visit the prison which was wholeheartedly welcomed by Mr John. On 18 July 1985 together with Dr Kunjumon Chacko, Mr Unnikrishnan and Mr Sivadasan they visited Kottayam Subjail and experienced the powerful transforming impact of the Word of God on prisoners.
They shared this experience to late Rev Fr Joseph Koickakudy, the Seminary Rector. He encouraged them and asked them to organize an experience sharing to the whole staff and students. After their inspirational sharing, Bro Jose Kochuparambil suggested to have an All Kerala Prison Pilgrimage during summer holidays. For this pilgrimage, they formed a new prayer group of eight brothers and three Fathers and began preparation for it with chain prayer and fasting in September 1985. Each one took up responsibly 3/4 jails of the thirty-nine jails in Kerala for special prayer and fasting. |
1986March 1st, 1986, has left an indelible mark in the history of the Prison Ministry India with inception of All Kerala Prison Pilgrimage accompanied by orchestra, puppet show and rhapsody, which conveyed the powerful message of the forgiving love of Jesus. This pilgrimage encouraged prisoners to develop a new vision and mission in their life. Many of them experienced great peace and joy. All clearly felt and convinced the great need and relevance of this ministry in today’s world.
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Prison Pilgrimage |
It is said "once in jail, always in jail'. A released prisoner can be trapped at any time under suspicious circumstances. Their life is always at risk and insecure in spite of their release.
Prison pilgrimage was really an eye-opener for the Prayer Group Members, for they learnt to rely on the providence of God as the only resource for an effective jail ministry. That was exactly the reason why this movement bore the name 'Jesus Fraternity' in the beginning. Whenever and wherever they went in Jesus' name, prison gates were opened for them because only Jesus can work miracles among prisoners. During the 1985 Christmas season they had collected addresses of prisoners and sent Christmas greeting cards to them. As a response, they too received reply cards from the prisoners. Interestingly one prisoner sent the biggest Christmas card which read as follows; "Dear loving Brother, I have been living in this prison since the last six years. Nobody has written a single letter to me ever since my entry inside. And today I realize that there is somebody who loves me and prays for me." |
First
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The group continued to pray for the construction of a renewal and rehabilitation centre for the effective prison apostolate. This dream came true on October 1991 with the purchase of 11 acres of land for the rehabilitation centre, earned laboriously out of begging from several philanthropic people all over Kerala. We accept the released prisoners whole-heartedly irrespective of what caste and creed they belong. No recommendation is required, and they have the freedom to move in and move out. If someone stays there for six months for mental adjustment, they are being helped in various ways such as, re-integration with the family, society, seeking jobs for them from other activities.
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