Best Christian de-addiction Centre (Treatment & Retreat) in Kerala-Snehasadan, Munnar

There are many de-addiction centers in Kerala. While some are started and function merely on commercial lines (as it is a thriving business), some others are founded with the noble purpose of freeing the hapless but valuable souls from the clutches of evil powers that have captivated and enslaved them. Sneha Sadhan Retreat Center at Ellakkal, near Kunchithanni near Munnar in Idukki, is one such. 

Snehasadan is an amazing Christian Retreat and Revival Centre attached to a reputed healthcare institution named St Xaviers Hospital run by Catholic Nuns belonging to the Medical Sisters of St Joseph (MSJ) under the jurisdiction of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Idukki. According to 'Servant of God' Monsignor Joseph C. Panjikaran, the founder of the MSJ Congregation, the main objective of the Congregation is to consider every soul very precious and to win the souls by treating the bodies very kindly and sympathetically.

As Snehasadan Retreat and Rehabilitation center is located close to Munnar, the climate is very crisp and brisk here! One will neither feel hot and sweating nor cold and shivering. And as the Retreat Centre is located in a serene atmosphere, it is geographically also very ideal for doing meditation and reinvigorating one's body, mind, and soul. The centre has modern amenities to meet the physical and spiritual needs of hundreds of people at a time including delicious breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner and comfortable accommodation!

Very effective de-addiction programs (called camps) are held here for drug and alcohol addicts that last for 10 days. During the first five days, the patient is given medications as required after a thorough examination and spiritual healing is done during the second part of the treatment for 5 days. As the whole process is done by dedicated and devoted Sisters (Nuns) with the help of other trained staff/volunteers, every person will be taken special care of.

Snehasadan Retreat centre is not meant for drug addicts alone. It is a lovely place for those who are seeking an 'inner-healing' or 'deliverance' retreat. As the threat of the pandemics has disappeared and the covid protocols have been withdrawn, several types of Spiritual Retreats are held there for different age groups like children, teenagers, youths, adults, families, etc. Retreats are conducted by Spirit-filled Rev Fathers, Sisters, and gifted laity preachers. Whoever attends a five-day retreat in Snehasadan becomes Spiritually, mentally, and physically rejuvenated. 

As mentioned above, the prime focus of Snehasadan is to win souls. It is not a commercial center. The fees charged for food, accommodation, classes are very nomminal and affordable. If anyone is not able to pay even the small fees, he/she will be given free admission to the retreat programme.

Please contact the following phone numbers (Mother Superior or Director Sister) to inquire about the dates and schedules of Normal Retreats and/or deaddiction camps and to make an advance booking. 

6282272853, 9061409086

Nalpatham Velli നാല്പതാം വെള്ളി 40th day in Holy Lent & Kozhukkatta thirunnal

Nalpatham Velli means the fortieth Friday. It is actually the fortieth Day in the Holy Season of Lent from the Danaha Thirunnal (Pethratha) according to the Eastern Christians in Kerala, that falls on a Friday. If calculated Friday-wise from the Ash Monday (Kurisuvara Thirunnal), it is the sixth Friday in the Valiya Nombu! 

Nalpatham Velly rituals (നാല്പതാം വെള്ളി ആചരണം) are marked in most Churches of the Syro-Malabar Sabha. Nalpatham Velli reminds the devotees who are on Fasting and Abstinence to intensify their spiritual and devotional activities for the Holy Week (പരിശുദ്ധ വാരം) that starts a couple of days after the 40th Friday. Usually, those faithful who failed to observe abstinence strictly until then (owing to various reasons) observe the last week of Lent (Holy Week) very strictly. 

On the Fortieth Friday, most Churches conduct the Way of the Cross in a Solemn manner to the nearby pilgrim mounts (Kurishumala). Devotees (even non-Christians) in large numbers even from far away places participate piously in this 'Kurisinte Vazhi' prayer undertaking many penitential activities voluntarily for the atonement and forgiveness of one's sins. Kanji is served to all after the Nalpatham Velly Prayers.

The Saturday that falls after Nalpatham Velli (before Palm Sunday/Hosanna Njayar) is known as Kozhukkattta Shani. In most Christian families they make കൊഴുക്കട്ട, a round-shaped pastry with rice flour that looks like stones! There are two beliefs associated with the Kozhukkatta snack.

Some people say that when the Lord Jesus Christ went to bring back to life again the dead Lazarus in Bethani, before a few days of His Passion and death, his sisters prepared some eatables similar to Kozhukkatta to serve the Lord! Some others think that these kozhukkattas are to mark the stones that were taken to throw on the Lord by the Jews!

This year's (2022) Nalpatham Velli (40th Day / sixth Friday) in the holy Lent falls on April 8th.

Watch Live: Consecration Ceremony of Russia & Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Holy Mary

The whole world is preparing to witness the historical event within hours, which was demanded by the Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of Lord Jesus Christ when she gave her apparition in Fatima a hundred years ago. Our Blessed Lady of Fatima (in Portugal) appeared to three shepherd children from 13th May and 13th October in 1917. During Her apparitions, the Holy Mother had prophecized some matters to the children and asked them to reveal some to the authorities and to keep some of the prophecies as secrets until the Mother permitted them to reveal.

The Holy Mother asked repeatedly for repentance. She showed them a multitude of unrepenting sinners falling into hell. She also asked to pray for the conversion of sinners. The Holy Mother also foretold the time of the end of the 1st world war in 1918 and the beginning of the 2nd world war in 1939. The Holy Mother asked for the consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart. But for fear or some other reasons, the Heads of the Catholic Church never performed it specifically to date. And when Russia started attacking Ukraine, following the plea of Ukrainian Bishops and others, the Pope has decided to do that consecration ceremony immediately.

The Pope has invited all the Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, nuns and the laity to participate in the historical event to be held on 25th of March 2022 (the Solemnity of the Annunciation) at 6.30 pm Italian Time or 5.30 pm GMT for which the world is keenly looking forward to. 

Please check your local time and try to participate in this great global Spiritual event live. At a time when Russia is possing to be the worst threat to humanity, Consecrating Russia to the Holy Heart of the Mother of God is the last hope left for the world.

Join live the Pope and the global devotees' community to offer Russia to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mother who will purify it and consecrate to the Sacred Heart of Her Son Jesus Christ!

Here is the Act (Prayer) of consecration by Pope Francis in PDF format.

Nalpathumani Aradhana (Forty hours Holy Eucharistic Devotion) നാല്പതുമണി ദിവ്യ കാരുണ്യ

What is Nalpathu mani Divyakarunya Aaradhana? (നാല്പതുമണി ദിവ്യകാരുണ്യ ആരാധന)

Nalpathumani stands for nalpathu manikkoor (forty hours) in Malayalam. In many Catholic Churches worldwide, a very powerful Eucharistic devotion is being observed devotedly during the Holy season of Lent. In Kerala too there are many Catholic Churches that observe this Devotion very solemnly and piously for the past 150 years.

Who founded 40-hour Eucharistic Devotion?

According to Wikipedia, A Dominican Priest Rev Fr Thomas Nieto, A Barnabite Clergy St. Antonio Maria Zacharia, and his friend Brother Buono of Cremona, known as the Hermit, are suggested as the founders of the Forty Hours Devotion in the universal Catholic Church.

In Kerala in India, this Sacred ritual was started first by St Chavara Kuriakose Eliyas (Chavara Achan) in 1866 in Koonammavu Church. Then in 1867, it was introduced in Mannanam, Vazhakulam, and Elthuruth Catholic Churches. Thereafter it spread to many Forane Churches and monasteries. Today, though it is unfamiliar to all Catholics in Kerala, it is observed in many Churches with great pomp and gaiety like a Church festival!

During the 3-day Nalpathumani Aaradhana, the Holy Eucharist is exposed in a golden monstrance in the Church Altar for public adoration. People (including non-Christians) in large numbers throng to these Holy places and worship the Compassionate Lord Who is visible in the form a white Bread. And many people who participate piously in this spiritual ritual experience numerous blessings and miracles in their lives. 

Hence all the people residing in and around the places of Churches where 40-hour Eucharistic Adoration ceremony is conducted, wait eagerly for this annual ritual to arrive so that they get a rare chance to have a personal vision of the Almighty Lord and to open to HIM directly their hearts and minds in silence..!

2022 LOGOS QUIZ: Syllabus, Category, Exam Date & Registration info

Owing to the covid-19 pandemic and related lockdowns imposed by the governments, there was some confusion in holding the Logos Bible Quiz 2020. Though the 2020 Logos Quiz was postponed several times it was finally clubbed with that scheduled for 2021 and successfully held on the 19th December last in a combined manner.

Hence the subsequent Bible quiz program proposed to be conducted this year ie in 2022 is the 21st Logos Bible Quiz in the order.

Logos Bible Quiz 2022: FAQ

Que. When will be the Diocesan-level Logos Quiz 2022 held?

Ans. The Diocesan Level Logos Bible Quiz 2022 is scheduled to be held on 2022 September 25. From 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm.

Que. Which are the dates for the state-level Logos exams?

State Level Logos exams will be held on 2022 November 13, 26 & 27

Que. When does the Logos Registration commence?

Ans. Logos Registration Opens for all age groups on 2022 June 1st.

Que. What is the last date for Logos Quiz Registration?

Ans. Registration closes for all age groups: on 2022 July 31st.

Logos Bible Quiz 2022 Syllabus:

Joshua (ജോഷ്വ) chapters:  1-12 

Sirach (പ്രഭാഷകൻ) chapt: 23-26

Mark   (മർക്കോസ്) chapt:   9-16

I Corinthians (1കോറിന്തോസ്): 9-16

Logos Bible Quiz 2022 Age Groups:

Renewal Period in Kerala Catholic Church: 05-06-2022 to 08-06-2025

 Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) has decided to observe a 'Renewal Time' in the Church in Kerala to revive and reinvigorate It from the present drowsy state. The Renewal Period will be commemorated for a span of three full years starting and ending on the Solemn Feasts of Pentecost (Holy Spirit Sundays) of 2022 and 2025 respectively.

As per the directives of KCBC, the schedule of the Renewal Period is given hereunder:

Commencing: 5th June, 2022 (Pentecost Sunday)

Closing:          8th June, 2025 (Pentecost Sunday)

The word Pentecost means 50 and The Pentecost Sunday that falls on the 50th day after Easter is an important Feast in the universal Christian Church because it is on that day when the disciples of Lord Jesus Christ gathered for prayer with His Holy Mother in the Cenacle (the Upper Room in Zion hill in Jerusalem where the Last Supper and institution of the Holy Eucharist took place) and the Holy Spirit descended on them in the form of tongues of fire.

The Catholic Church in Kerla which was very vibrant in the past has become indifferent for some time owing to several reasons. As we are nearing the end times, the enemies of the Church also have become stronger. The council of Bishops who are leading the Church realized the defects and felt the need for a renewal and revival and declared a three-year-long renovation through various special prayers and spiritual practices. 

It is hoped that the Church in Kerala which has been producing many saints these days will become more invigorated and united through this unusual Renewal Process!