Archdiocesan Institutions
Basic Christian Communities
[Confraternities, Pious Associations and Movements] Bishop Selvister Ponnumuthan, Punalur
Introduction
Any understanding of the Church, and Christian Spirituality in particular would be incomplete if we do not take into account the existence of various lay fraternities, associations and movements and the spiritual tradition of their founders. It has been noted that during the past few years there has been a significant increase of the lay associations in the Church. These are founded by lay people themselves and at times founded by priests. In 1987, the synod of bishops on laity focused their attention on the phenomenon of the growing number of lay associations. As a result Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici emphasized the need for definite criteria for discerning and recognizing various lay groups.[1] Canon Law 298 recognizes the reality of associations when it says: “In the Church there are associations distinct from institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life; in these associations the Christian faithful, whether clerics, lay persons, or clerics and lay persons together, strive in common endeavour to foster a more perfect life, to promote public worship or Christian doctrine, or to exercise other works of apostolate such initiatives of evangelization, works of piety or charity, and those which animate the temporal order with Christian spirit.” It is true that the creative process of building up of the Church involves tensions between who pioneer such movements and those in Hierarchy.
+ Selvister Ponnumuthan, Punalur
1. God’s Plan for Man
In the Creation story, we encounter God declaring that everything He had created was good. The culmination was the creation of man and woman whom God created in his very own image and likeness and then blessed them (Gen 1:26-28). God’s plan for mankind was accurately articulated by the Second Vatican Council in Lumen Gentium (9): “At all times and in every race, anyone who fears God and does what is right has been acceptable to him (cf. Acts 10:35). He has, however, willed to make men holy and save them, not as individuals without any bond or link between them, but rather to make them into a people who might acknowledge him and serve him in holiness.” The Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes reiterated this point: “In his fatherly care for all of us, God desired that all men should form one family and deal with each other in a spirit of brotherhood. All, in fact, are destined to the very same end, namely God himself, since they have been created in the likeness of God who “made from one every nation of men who live on all the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26, Gaudium et Spes, 24). St. Irenaeus rightly remarked that the “glory of God is the human being fully alive.” However, the existential situation of the world seems to run counter to God’s plan as described in the Scripture and expounded by the Second Vatican Council.
St Xavier’s Institute of Excellence
(A joint venture of TSSS, Latin Archdiocese, Trivandrum and CORE Institute, Vellayambalam)
This Institute is a joint venture of T.S.S.S, Latin Archdiocese of Trivandrum and CORE Institute Vellayambalam. It was inaugurated on 25th January 2010. The Institute gives special thrust to the over all development of the candidates of the Latin Catholic community by providing fee concessions and scholarships to the deserving candidates. The Institute is located at Palayam Junction, adjacent to the famous St. Joseph’s Cathedral, which attracts exceptional attention of the general public.
DIVYA SANTHI ASHRAM
Divya santhi Ashram is an example for service. “Protect and rub the tears of the people who are being disregarded and deniable from the families by relatives or anybody” is the prime aim is of this Ashram. It was started on 02/09/1995. People from different corners of the society felicitated this initiative also. In the year 2008, exactly on 14/04/2008 the inmates of this ashram had been shifted to their new building. Now this centre is having 32 persons as inmates, most of the people are handicapped, mentally challenged, heart patients and so on. Patients are being taken to Mental Hospital, General Hospital and Medical Collage for better treatments. The center is located in Vettucadu, half kilometer away from Vettucadu church on the way to Shangumuham junction.
St Xavier’s Vocational Training Centers
St. Xavier’s ITC, St. Xavier’s Institute of Technology, St. Xavier’s Driving School
School are established to train and empower the youth and to make them capable of doing some technical job and there by help them to find sustainable livelyhood. St. Xavier’s Industrial training center (St Xavier’s ITC) was established in 1994. Other two are in 2003 and 2005 respectively. The institutions are situated in Valiyathura, eastern side of the Trivandrum International Airport.
KARUNA NIVAS
Short stay home for women in Distress
Karuna Nivas is a short stay home for the women and girls in distress. It was established under Trivandrum Latin Archdiocese in 2007. The centre is registered under the orphanage Control Board of social Welfare Department of Kerala. It has got a capacity to accommodate 40 clients. The day to day supervision of the centre, till April 2009 had been entrusted to the congregation of Deena Selva sabha (DSS) and thereafter to the congregation of St.Joseph of Shemberry. The overall administration of the centre is supervised by Trivandrum Social Service Society(TSSS). A professional counselor was appointed to help the women who come to the centre. The centre is placed in Vettuthura near to the Rosemini Seminary, Canonssian Convent and convent, Vettuthura.
Objective:
To render a sound support to the women and girls in distress.
ACTIVITIES:
Ø Provide accommodation and food
Ø Counseling services for the clients and their families.
Ø Health needs of the clients are taken care.
Ø The education of the children of the clients is secured by sending them to other institutions which provide free education and boarding.
Ø Referral services are provided for the women.
Ø Training in functional vocational courses and rehabilitation of the clients
Ø Networking and collaboration with other like minded institution to ensure better services for the clients
Ø Monthly evaluation and planning meeting with the staff in the presents of TSSS Central team
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Ø The women and girls in distress are attended with respect and care.
Ø Registration process of the centre is in progress.
Ø Every year the service of the centre could be provided for at least 100 victims
ADDRESS : Vettuthura
Chennankara PO
Trivandrum – 695 315
Telephone No : 0471 – 2168574, 9746085551
PRATHEEKSHA
Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA)
In the beginning of 90’s TSSS has taken a dare step to stop illegal liquor brewing and selling of alcohol in the coastal area. The diocese has in a way succeeded in achieving this objective. However it has not much changed the habit of drinking. The Pratheeksha de-addiction centre was established in the year 1995 for the rehabilitation of the addicts. The main source of budget for the centre is grant in aid from the ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Due to the reputation of the center in the field of de-addiction, patients from all other districts of Kerala and patients from Mumbai, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Male approach the centre for the treatment. The patients include from all walks of life like: Doctors, Engineers, Businessmen, Government Officials, agricultural workers, artisans, coolies, drivers, slum dwellers, fishermen, and others. The centre is located half a kilometer away from the Shangumuham junction, on the way to Veli boat club.
OBJECTIVES:
A. Long Term Objectives:
Ø Formation of a drug free society
ØProvding a healthy population to the Nation.
B. Short term:
- Ø Help the individual to free themselves from the clutches of liquor/drugs
- Ø Rectify the disturbed family and sorroundings by counseling
- Ø Create condifence in the patients of a drug/alclohol free life
- Ø promote AA Grupos
- Ø Create awareness to the youth on the ill-effects of this evil and warn them
against the dangers of this habit.
ACTIVITIES:
- Ø Meditation Ø Group Counseling Ø Community gathering
- Ø Yoga therapy Ø Family Classes Ø Medication
- Ø Spiritual Exercises Ø Group Therapy Ø Indoor Games
- Ø Individual counseling Ø Group Activities Ø House Visits
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Ø Till now we have treated over 5000 new patients and over 4000 follow up patients
Ø The sober rate sober rate is around 60%
ADDRESS : Administrative Officer
Pratheeksha Integrated Rebahilitation Center for Addicts (IRCA)
Shangumughom,
Beach P.O
Trivandrum 695 008
Telephone No : +91-9495627990
ST. XAVIER’S
COMPUTER CENTRE
St Xavier’s Computer Centre was started in a very micro level with 8 computers at Bishop Pereira Hall, Trivandrum. Since the number of students increased a branch was opened near St. Joseph’s Cathedral Church, Palayam. During the year 2000-2001 the center was affiliated to ‘All India Society for Electronics and Computer technology’, which operates under the core support from Government of India. It could offer advanced level of education and certification on the different advanced courses, which procured placement in various offices and in VSSC. During the year 2008 our institution was also affiliated to C-DIT – The Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT) is a Total Solution Provider in information technology for the Government of Kerala. At present entire unit of the St Xavier’s Computer Centre is functioning near the St. Joseph’s Cathedral church, Palayam.
ACTIVITIES:
Ø Software Development Courses:
(PGDCA, HDCA, DCA, C, C++, Java, DCFA, MS Office, DTP, Gulf Package, DOA,CWD,CDTP, CITA, CEO, CDECO, COA, CCA, HTML, .Net, XML, DXML, Oracle)
Ø Multi Media Courses:
(DIM, Diploma in Print media, Diploma in web design, Diploma in Media Design, Diploma in 2D animation, Diploma in 3D Animation, Diploma in Animation, Advanced Diploma in Multimedia)
Ø Hardware & Networking Courses:
(DCNE, Diploma in Computer Hardware Maintenance DCHMN)
Ø AutoCAD Courses:
(Diploma in Architectural Design)
ACHIEVEMENTS:
St. Xavier’s is the pioneer institute of computer education in Trivandrum city. During 90s new concepts and technologies are constantly emerging in IT field. We adopted new generation technology in IT education. (Multimedia, RDBMS, Networking. like). We give training in latest software’s. We are one of the trend-setter of IT courses in Kerala. Our courses are in accordance with industry standards. Knowledge we provide became critical tools for solving career development problems of the youth. We played a pivotal role in providing computer education among backward community. Many of our trained candidates are working as faculty members in different institutions.
ADDRESS : Manager
Near St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Palayam
Trivandrum 695 033
Telephone No : 0471 – 2333607
Email ID : stxavierstvpm@yahoo.com