Introduction

Initiated in the graceful inspiration of the Lord, St. Vincent De Paul pioneered this dynamic catechising technique in the Catholic Church. Vincentian Congregation living to the vision of their patron St. Vincent has committed themselves to the preaching of the Mission retreats in different parts of the world.  Parithrana Bhavan organizes the popular mission retreats, in central and southern Kerala, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, and Goa in India, and in Srilanka.  Parithrana gratefully acknowledges the gift of a dynamic and experienced team of preachers, coordinated by Fr.Augustine Mundackattu, Councilor for Popular Mission and Director of Parithrana and Fr.Antony Thachethukudy the Director of Popular Mission Retreats.  Every alternative weeks of the year are set apart for the preaching of the Popular Mission Retreats. The congested schedule and the queuing of requests tell of its appreciation among the people of God.

Popular Mission Retreats
The following are the parishes where Popular Mission is held.

1996

	DIOCESE	PARISH	DATE	CTRS	PREA
1.	Pala	St.Joseph's Church, Vezhanganam	Jan 21-26	1	3
2.	Changanasserry	St.Joseph's Church, Kodupunna	Feb 25 Mar1	1	2
3.	Changanassery	St.Mary's Church, Vettimughal	Mar 24-29	1	2
4.	'Do'	St.Mary's Forane Church, Pulikunnu	Aug 18-23	1	2
5.	'Do'	Lourdu Church Thiruvanthapuram	Oct 13-18	2	2
6.	Kothamangalam	St.Joseph's Forane Church, Marika	Nov 10-15	2	5

1997

7.	Changanassery	St.Joseph's Church, Veroor	Jan 5-10	1	2
8.	Pala	St.Mary's Church, Valavoor	Feb 23-28	2	4
9.	Pala	Holy Spirit Church Muttuchira	Mar 9-14	2	4
		Valachira
10.	"Do"	Apostles' Church, Chemmalamattom	April 27 May 2	1	2
11.	Changanassery	Lourde Matha Church, Mampuzhakari	Sept 21-26	1	3
12.	"Do"	St.Xavier's Church, Vilakumadam	Oct 26-31	1	2
13.	"Do"	St.John The Baptist, Vadakara	Nov 2-7	1	2
14.	Changanassery	St.Joseph's Church, Chennamkari	Nov 16-21	1	2
15.	Kanjirapally	Assumption Forane Church  Erumaley	Nov30-Dec 5	1	3

1998

16.	Pala	St.Mary's Church, Chakkikavu	Jan 18-23	1	2
17.	Pala	Sacred Heart Church  Maniamkunnu	Feb 15-20	1	2
18.	Changanasserry	St.Joseph's Church, Kurichi	Mar 1-6	1	3
19.	Pala	Shantigiri, St.Thomas Forane Church, Thudanganadu	Mar 8-13	1	2
20.	Aleppy	St.Thomas Church, Thumboli	Mar  8-13	1	2
21.	Kothamangalam	St.George's Cathedral	Mar 22-27	5	12
22.	'Do:'	St.Mary's Forane Church, Arakuzha	Apr 27-May1	2	3
23.	Changanasserry	St.Mary's Church, Kainakari	May 10-15	1	3
24.	Pala	St.Thomas Church, Arunapuram	Sept 20-25	1	2
25.	Kothamangalam	St.George's Church,Pooyamkutti	Oct 4-9	2	4
26.	Kanjirapally	St.Mary's Church,Vellaramkunnu	Nov 15-20	1	2
27.	Changanasserry	St.Basil's Church, Manimala	Dec 6-11	1	2

1999

28.	Pala	St. Joseph's Church Kudakkachira	Jan 10-15	1	2
29.	Kothamangalam	St. Mary's Church Karakkunnam	Feb 7-12	2	3
30.	Changanassery	Little Flower Church, Arpookara	Feb21-26	1	1
31.	Kanjirapally	St. George's Forane Church Kattappana	Mar 7-12	4	6
32.	Kothamangalam	St. Sebastian's Church, Neyyaserry	Mar 21-26	1	1
33.	Changanasserry	Mannanam Monastry	April 18-23	1	1
34.	Pala	St.Thomas Church, Mallikasserry	Sept 19-24	1	3
35.	'Do'	Christu Raj Church, Kayyoor	Oct 10-15	1	2
36.	'Do'	St. John's Church,Kurumannu	Oct 31 Nov 5	1	3
37.	Kothamangalam	St.Mary's Church, Nediasala	Nov 28 Dec 3	4	11
38.	'Do'	St.Mary's Church, Kalloorkadu	Dec 5-10	1	2

2000

39.	Pala	St.Mary's Church  Muzhoor	Jan 16-21	1	3
40.	'Do'	Blessed Alphonsa  Church Payyanithottam	Jan 30 Feb4	1	2
41.	Changanaserry	Lourdematha Church, Mammoodu	Feb 6-11	1	3
42.	Aleppy	St.Xavier's Church, Azheeckal	Feb 20-25	2	5
43.	Kothamangalam	St.Joseph's Church, Upputhodu	Mar 5-10	1	2
44.	Pala	St.Joseph's Church, Varianikkadu	Mar 19-24	1	2
45.	Changanasserry	St.Joseph's Church, Ramankari	April 2-7	1	2
46.	Pala	Sacred Heart Church, Ullanad	Sept 17-22	1	2
47.	Kothamangalam	St.Mary's Church, Vadattupara	Oct 8-13	1	3
48.	Kollam	St.Antony's Church  Kanjirakode	Nov 5-10	1	2
49.	Pala	St.Sebastian's Church, Kalikavu	Nov 19-24	1	2

2001

50.	'Do'	St.Mary's Forane Church, Bharananganam, Edappady Church	Jan 14-19	4	9
51.	Kollam	Holy Cross, Mangadu	Feb 11-16	1	2
52.	Changanasserry	St.George's Church  Aikkarachira	Feb 25-Mar 2	1	2
53.	Kothamangalam	St.Mary's Forane Church Karimanoor	Mar 11-16	4	9
54.	Pala	St.Augustine's Church, Kudayathoor	Mar 25-30	2	5
55.	Vijayapuram	Infant Jesus Church, Mathuraveli	April 1-6	4	8
56.	Pala	St.Sebastian's Church, Valachira	April 1-6	--	--
57.	Kottayam	St.Mary'schurch, Kakkathumala	April 1-6	--	--
58.	Pala	Malapuram	April 1-6	--	--
59.	'Do'	Holyfamily Church, Koothattukulam	April 22-27	3	7

2001 Oct-2002 May

	Diocese	Parishes	Dates	Ctrs	Prea
1.	Kothamangalam	St.Mary's Church, Cheenikuzhy St.Thomas Church, Malayinchi St.George's Church, Peringasserry Blessed Alphonsa, Uppukunnu	Oct 14-19	4	9
2.	Changanasserry	St.Mary's Church, Aryamkavu	Nov 25-30	3	6
3.	Changanasserry	St.George's church, Edappalayam	Nov 25-30
4.	TrivandrumArchdiocese	St.George's, Malankara Church Aryamkavu	Nov 25-30
5.	Pala	St.Antony's Church, Meenachil	Dec 2-7	2	3
6.	'Do'	Cherupushpam, Palakkad	Dec 2-7
7.	'Do'	St.John The Baptist Church, Kanjirathanam	Dec 9-14	2	5
8.	Pala	Holy Cross Froane Church Cherpumkal	Jan 20-25	4	8
9.	'Do'	St.Sebastian's church Manglaram	Jan 20-25
10.	Thakkalai	Holy Family Church, Arukani Pathukani, Anamugham	Jan 7-Feb1	3	6
11.	Kothamangalam	St.Peter & Paul Church, Kuruppampady	Feb 17-22	4	8
12.	Kanjirapally	St.Antony's Church, Anakallu	Feb 24-Mar1	4	8
13.	"Do"	Gethesamani Church, Palambra	Mar 10-15	1	2
14.	Kothamangalam	St.Thomas Church, Ayiramacre	Mar 17-22	2	4
15.	TrivandrumArchDiocese	St.George's Malankara, Kadambanadu	April11-16	3	7
16.	TrivandrumArchDiocese	St.Mary's Church, Karimthottuva	April 11-16
17.	TrivandrumArchDiocese	Sacred Heart Church, Mannarode	April 11-16
18.	Kothamangalam	St.Sebastian's Church, Nedumkandam	April 1-26	6	16
19.	Changanasserry	St.Theresa's Church, Kavalam	May 5-10	4	8
20.	Trivandrum	St.Peter's Forane Church, Anchuthengu	May 19-24	1	10

2003 Sep-2004 May

1.	Changanasserry	St.John The Baptist Church, Nedumkunnam	Sept28-Oct3	5	10
2.	Pala	St.John The  Baptist Thruthipally	Nov9-14	1	7
3.	Pala	St.Xavier's Church Kruppanthara, Mannarpara	Nov16-21	4	11
4.	Vijayapuram	St.Paul's Vettimughal	Dec7-12	4	9
5.	Changanachery	Lourd Matha Church. Pacchachekidikadu	Jan25-30	1	5
6.	Pala	St.Thomas Church Ragnagiri	Feb22-27	2	6
7.	Changanachery	St.George Church Puthanangadi	Mar14-19	1	4
8.	Idukki	St.Thomas Forane Church, Erattayar	Mar 28 -April2	7	20
9.	Iddukki	Jaya Matha Church Ezhukumvayal	Apr25-30	6	15
10.	Pala	Mary Help Of Christians, Mannar	May 9-14	1	5
11.	Changanachery	St.Joseph's Church	May23-28	3	9

2004 October-2005  March

1.	Changanasserry	Kindangara St.Greaories Church	Oct 10-15	1	6
2.	Pala	Koodalloor St.Joseph's Church	Oct 24-29	3	8
3.	Changanasserry	Pazhavangadi Mar Sleeva Forane Church	Nov 14-19	5	13
4.		Karimadi St.Nicolas Church	Nov 28-Dec3	3	6
5.		Kotha Thikkariyoor St.Thomas Church	Jan 9-14	1	2
6.	Irinjalakuda	St.Thomas Pastroal Centre Chennai Mission Madras Mylapore Arch diocese	Feb 6-20
7.		Amala Annai Aalayam Chrompet	Feb 6-8	2
8.		The risen Christ Church Peravallur	Feb 6-8	3
9.		St.Joseph's Church Erukkenchery	Feb 6-8	2
10.		Arogya Annai Aayalam	Feb 10-12	2
11.		St.Antony's Church Kalpakkam	Feb 12-13	3
12.		St.Sebastians Church Madhavaram	Feb 12-13	3
13.		Votive shrine Kilpauk	Feb 7,8,10	3
14.		St.Loius church, Adayar	Feb 6-10	2
15.		St.Antony's Church Avadi	Feb 13-18	2
16.		Sacred Heart Church Egmore	Feb 13-18	2
17.		Fathima church, Koddambakkam	Feb 13-18	4
18.		St.Paul's Church Thiruvottiyur	Feb 13-18	2
19.		St.Peters Church, IAF Avadi	Feb 6-11	2
20.		C.R.P.F Camp Church Avadi	Feb 6-11	2
21.		St.Thomas Pastoral Centre, Ayanavaram	Feb 13-18	2
22.		Holy Cross Church, Mugappair	Feb 13-18	2
23.		St.Marys Church, Athipet	Feb, 13-18	2
24.		St.Joseph's Church, Eranavoor	Feb 13-18	2
25.		Sacred Heart Church, Keelkattalai	Feb13-18	2
26.		St.Sebastian's Church, Ottery	Feb 13-18	2
27.		Santhome Home, Poonamallee	Feb 13-18	2
28.		Vincentian Ashram, Ambattur	Feb 13-18	2
29.		Holy Family Convent Chapel, Gourivakkam	Feb 13-18	2
30.	Idukki	St.Antony's Church Ellackal	Feb27-Mar4	3	7
31.	Idukki	St.Mary's Church Mamkulam	Mar 13-18	5	19
32.	Iddukki	Vimala Matha, Church Vimalagiri	May 8-13	3
33.	Pala	Marsliva, Malayinchipara	May 23-27	2

The cooperation and participation from the missionaries were very encouraging. Almost everyone whom we approached extended their willingness to cooperate and participate in the Popular Mission.

Structure And Format
From the beginning onwards every effort was taken to conduct the Popular Mission Retreat in the traditional format, with services  in the morning and evening accompanied with possessions and rally and slogans and songs in the traditional form. Accordingly, the songbooks and slogans for 'Jatha' were modified and printed new. Even though some parishes or centres insisted to have only one time, viz; in the evening, we were successful to conduct morning and evening. Special care has taken to visit all the families within the Popular Mission Parish territory.

Director - Popular Mission
It is a matter of pleasure and privilege that the Province is blessed with a time Popular Mission director since many years.  Fr.Antony Thachethukudy took charge as the director of Popular mission from March 2002. Since then Fr.Antony is heading the Popular Mission team efficiently.

Popular Mission In Srilanka
Two sets of priests and Delegates from different dioceses in Srilanka came and attended two Popular Mission Retreats in Kerala. They also visited the Popular Mission Retreat centre at Adichira and some other retreat centres to get training and experience. In the month of June, 2002 almost four Popular Mission Retreats had been envisaged to be held in the Tamil Dioceses Of Mannar and Jaffna in Srilanka. The mission was accomplished as joint venture including the Vincentian fathers as well as Srilankan Priests.

Shortly retreats in Tamil will be held in Tamilnadu too.
However due to internal problems in getting permission to go to Jaffna, we could hold only one Popular Mission Retreat in Thalai Mannar in the Diocese of Mannar. Over twenty thousand people attended the Popular Mission, which was first of its kinds in Srilanka. Over twenty priests were actively involved in organizing and conducting the retreat. The Srilankan priests helped in giving homily and translating the preaching of Fr.Augustine Mundackatt from English to Tamil, family visiting, confessions, counselling, Holy Mass etc. We followed every detail in the format and content of the Popular Mission in Kerala including slogans, processions, various services like renewal of Baptismal vows, death experience, concluding processions etc.

Bishop of Mannar, Most Rev.Joseph Rayapu, gave the concluding message. Since only Fr.Joseph Ayyankolil and Fr.Augustine Mundackatt were from the Popular Mission team, we didn't have many centres. The Popular Mission was grant success in all its dimensions. Mannar Diocese as well as other Dioceses in Srilanka was looking for more of its kind.

Future Mission
There are a number of invitations from many parishes and different dioceses for Popular Mission to be held. The planning of the Popular Mission is yet to be completed. The feed back that we get from the concerned Bishops, Priests and parishes were very encouraging.

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