VATTIYOORKAVU

MSFS HOUSE

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES PARISH (Archdiocese of Changanacherry)

With the intention of establishing a community and starting relevant ministries in Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala, the MSFS began to look for possibilities in 1992.  The land was purchased in 1993 and the mission was entrusted to us permanently by the archdiocese of Changanassery.

As soon as the mission in Vattiyoorkavu in Trivandrum was entrusted to MSFS permanently a parish was established under the patronage of our heavenly patron, St. Francis De Sales and it is the first Church that we have in Kerala under that patronage of St. Francis De Sales.  There are 110 Catholic families in the parish and on Sundays a minimum of 500 people attend services.  On Sundays there are 2 masses.  Most of the people are well off and they give a helping hand to the poor ones.  People are very good and co-operative. There are 4 prayer groups and each group has two leaders each and these leaders form the parish council. St. Francis De Sales Church, the new parish church of Vattiyoorkavu was consecrated and blessed on 29 January 2004 by His Grace Mar Joseph Powathil, Archbishop of Changanasserry.

VATTAPPARA

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER’S PARISH (Diocese of Neyyattinkara)

This parish is entrusted to MSFS for 25 years and 12 years are over since we took charge of it.  Many confreres have rendered their service in the building up of this parish community.  The commitment of the confreres over the years has made Vattappara parish one of the best in every way in the diocese. This parish has been now considered an example for many of the pastoral programs. The entire parish community feels proud of their identity in the larger family of the diocese. The Vattappara parish has many sub-stations and on Sundays there are nine to ten masses celebrated. This mission has been a forming ground for many of our new priests and they have been able to imbibe and live pastoral and missionary spirit.  Under the main parish there are 300 catholic families while in the sub-stations there are 220 families.  In the parish about 60 families are employed and all the others are very poor.   In the parish there are 21 BCC units and they are functioning well. Religious sisters work in very close collaboration with the priests. 

The parish community celebrated the platinum jubilee of the present church on 4 December 2005. It was a grand celebration for the people to give a collective witness to their faith and identity in the locality. The efforts of celebration in various ways have really helped the parish community to feel their oneness and their strength. A major and successful effort of the people was the reconstruction and extension of the parish Church. Vattappara town community is very large and the people were feeling the need of a bigger church since many years. It was their mutual confidence and support that kept them in good stead throughout the construction and to the surprise of everyone they have now a big, elegant, convenient church. It was consecrated by Bishop Vincent Samuel of Neyyattinkara diocese on 19 November 2005.  A family counseling centre, a computer centre, drinking water facility and certain projects to give financial assistance to poor children for their education are the concerns that could be looked into for future ministry.

ADOOR

SALES BHAVAN

ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS PARISH  (Diocese of Punalur)

Having entered into a permanent contract with the diocese of Punalur the MSFS took up the parish and began to work in Adoor from 1986.  Gradually an MSFS community was established and services are rendered to the people of the locality very effectively.

This mission was started in 1940 by Fr. Harris D' Souza. There are 150 catholic families in the main centre and 55 families in the sub-station.  Almost all the parishioners are Dalit Christians.  There are 16 Christian denominations in this area. All kinds of people live here namely the rich, poor, caste people etc.  Geographically the church is in a very good location and community based apostolate has a great scope.