Provincial House, Kottayam

Established. 1993
Patron: St. Joseph
AD: Changanacherry

Address:
Vincentian Provincial House
S.H. Mount P.O. 686 006, Kottayam, Kerala . India
0481-2563559, 6532825
0481-2563582 (Fax)
vincentiansjp@gmail.com
www.vincentianssjp.com

• Fr. Arukalil Thomas  (Member)
• Fr. Kakkattupillil Mathew (Provincial Superior)
• Fr. Karingattuparambil Antony (Secretary to the Provincial)
• Fr. Puthentharayil lnnocent (Provincial Councilor & Finance Officer)
• Fr. Thomas Peedikayil (Secretary to the Provincial)
• Bro. Xavier Kollamala (Akhil) (Regent)

• Social Institute Regd. (1993)
• Vincentian Social Services, India Regd. (1993)
• Vincentian Publishing Society Regd. (1994)

The Vincentian Provincial House stands 2 km away from the Kottayam railway station. It is situated in an area of 96.5 cents adjacent to the M.C Road where it crosses with the S. H. Mount Road. The Provincial House is situated in the jurisdictional area of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry. The heavenly patron of the Province and Provincial House is St. Joseph. It enters the history of the St. Joseph's Province of the Vincentian Congregation from April 6, 1993 when the sales deed was contracted between the Province and the Vattappalliyil House. On the same day Rev. Fr. Joseph Nediyakalayil began staying there in the already existing Building. The building was canonically erected as a house and blessed on May 30, 1993, by Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Powathil, the Archbishop of Changanacherry and was inaugurated by Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mattam, the Bishop of Satna. There upon, the Provincial House that was running on a temporary basis at Thodupuzha was transferred to Kottayam. Very Rev. Fr. Mathew Thoyalil, the first Provincial Superior of the St. Joseph's Province, and Rev. Fr. Joseph Nediyakalayil, the Provincial Procurator of the time, were the first residing members of the house. Before being transferred to Chengam Orphanage as its director Rev. Fr. George Arackal (Jr), a new priest of the year, joined the community for doing the work of the Vocation Promoter, secretary and lending his help in Popular Mission.Retreats. The then Provincial Very Rev. Fr. Mathew Thoyalil, was also the most felt presence in the social fields of Kerala, as he became the founder and the Executive Secretary of Kerala Social Service Society.

During the period of administration from 1997-2001 the construction of a new building for the Provincial House was going on under the supervision of Rev. Fr. Thomas Madathinal. The foundation stone for the new building was laid by His Excellency Rt. Rev. Dr. Mathew Vaniakizhakkel, the Bishop of Satna on May 5, 2000. The new Provincial House Building was blessed on April 4, 2001 by His Excellency Rt. Rev. Dr. Mathew Vaniakizhakkel himself and was inaugurated by His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Powathil, the Archbishop of Changanacherry.

The community changed the residence from the old house to the new and the provincial house came to its full swing by May 1, 2002 with the Family Gathering of the year.

By June 2003 the functions of the house expanded with the erection of the Post Plus Two second year seminary in the old building by Rev. Fr. Roy Thekkumpurath as its Rector. The residing members of the Provincial House too took classes for the seminarians. It was later shifted to the Minor Seminary, Pala in the academic year 2005-06.

A good number of the neighboring Christians and Non-Christians profit form the spiritual undertakings of the House. Moreover the Provincial House acts as the pivotal point of communion and co-ordination of the works of the Province as well.