Shroro

The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest - May, 2005

St. Mary’s Retreat Home (Amma Veedu) – A new charity project of KEFA

By John Philip Kottapparambil & Thomas Abraham Thiruvanchoor

KEFA, a registered charitable society of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, entered into a new charity venture project ‘Amma Veedu’ at Pampady Vellore, Kottayam, Kerala, India.

The Catholicos H.B. Baselious Thomas I laid the foundation stone for the Retreat Home on 30th April 2005. “Assistance to the needy people should not get delayed”, the Catholicos said in his blessing speech during the public meeting held after the ceremony.

The public meeting was presided over by H.G. Dr. Thomas Mor Themotheos, Bishop of Kottayam Diocese. Ex Member of Parliament Scariah Thomas inaugurated the meeting. The Holy Synod Secretary H.G. Joseph Mor Gregorius delivered the keynote address. The website for the Retreat Home www.stmarysretreathome.com was inaugurated by V.N. Vasavan, Joint Secretary of District C.I.T.U. Committee.

The Kottayam District Collector Rani George read the message from Kerala Chief Minister Mr. Oommen Chandy. Felicitation messages were given by the Vicar of Mannarcadu St. Mary’s Cathedral V. Rev. Mathews P. Elias Corepiscopa, Rajan Zacharia, K.C. Jacob, Susan Cherian, Adv. Reji Zacharia, Adv. M.S. Gopinathan Nair, Chitrangadan, Raju Abraham, Susamma Kurian, Babu Cherian, Bro. Augustin, Mathew M. Cherian Mundanickkal and Prof. T. C. Thomas Thandasseril. A grand reception was given to the distinguished guests before the public meeting.

Known commonly as ‘Amma Veedu’, the St. Mary's Retreat Home is a boon for the destitute, aged and the sick. It is a centre which provides shelter, clothing and food for the poor, especially elder citizens who are almost discarded by the relatives and friends. The Retreat Home is meant for the rehabilitation of such unlucky people. The main aim of the project is:

1. To accommodate the destitute in the retreat home, irrespective of caste, creed or religion.

2. To provide food, clothing, medical aid and care for the orphans.

3. To render proper counseling to the orphans if needed.

The project is started at 42 cents of land at Gramattom Velloor, Pampady in Kottayam District, Kerala, India. The plot was donated by Commander K.K. Mani in memory of his beloved wife late Mrs. Saramma Mani. In the first phase, it is proposed to accommodate 100 orphans. A three storied buildings is under construction. There will be a Chapel and a Social Service Training Centre attached to the Retreat Home. The construction cost of the buildings is estimated to be Rs. 25 lakhs. The running expense is estimated as Rs. 1 lakh approximate per month for 100 orphans.

KEFA (Knights of the Eternal Fraternity with Antioch) is involved in many philanthropic activities. The help given to the estate workers at Peermede, who lost their job; the timely help given to the Tsunami victims of the coastal areas of Kerala; and the electrical wiring of the houses of 50 poor people, are examples of the dedicated efforts of KEFA. The formation of the St. Mary's Retreat Home is yet another notable project of KEFA. The Retreat Home is dedicated to the sacred memory of the golden jubilee of the enthronement of His Holiness Moron Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, The Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. The Chief Patron of the Retreat Home is His Beatitude Aboon Mor Baselious Thomas I, The Catholicos of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. The Patron is H.G. Dr. Thomas Mor Themotheos, the Bishop of Kottayam Diocese and the Bishop-in-charge of KEFA.

You can cooperate with this noble venture. Please pray for the Retreat Home and donate generously. On auspicious occasions like birthday, baptism, wedding, wedding anniversary etc. food may be given to the orphans. The donations may be in cash or DD drawn to the S/B A/c No. of the Retreat Home maintained at State Bank of Travancore, Mannarcadu branch. Proper receipt will be issued and audited statement of accounts will be published from time to time.