Thursday, July 30, 2015

Loretto ashram, Novitiate Houe, Muvazhatpuza




























Alphonsa Ashram, Rajkumari

This is higher range area.....all around hills and hills.....the biggest hill in Kerala is here....it is just 50 Km away from Munnar.....further down is the border of Tamil Nadu. The friars are here for good number of years....they have about 5acres of land....and have cultivated pepper, cardamom and other items of vegetables and spices....


 This Friary is on top of the Hill....you can see the surrounding....in winter it is just like Swiss......
 There are 17 pre-postulants and they are very much inserted into the fraternity...besides their classes they also do household works and looking after the livestock....
 This is the friary and in the background you see the highest hills of Kerala....wonderful place to takes rest and retirement too.....
 I spoke to the brothers about the world wide capuchin Order, the friars, mission and capuchin saints....they were rapt in attention....gave then 10 mantras to have  successful year....and also spoke to them about Capuchin spirituality...
 A community building song.....It is we build the community....roll over the ocean, roll over the sea ....go and do your part to build community....
 Friars Bijo and John Prakash.....the Guardian is out in Germany for summer ministry...John Prakash has worked in Krist Jyoti for 32 years as teacher and principal of the schools,,,,very efficient and hard working teacher....he has returned to the Province last year....he is taking classes for the brothers....all of them very happy....he is a fatherly figure.....
 It is time to volley the ball.....what a temptation to play with them.....i couldn't because frozen shoulder didn't allow me...
 The three musketeers ....
 The old friary where the friars initially stayed and carried out the ministry...they have about 5acres of land....it is now cultivated and very soon the crop will yield....

 This is the biggest one...about 55kg....
 Very much Franciscans....the cows....chickens....Pigs....you cannot imagine a capuchin house without all these,,,,

 Two types of rabbits....

 They don't only lay eggs but occasionally come on the table too.....good hybrid variety of fouls....i got to taste them..
 In the town there is a Marian shrine...i went to visit....it is run by the diocesan clergy....
 Beautiful altar and statute of Mother Mary...

 The churches here in Kerala are very big ones....these days there are many new churches have been built....this is one of them...
 I went in and prayed the Novena to Perpetual succor and prayed for you too...

 Cultural evening by the brothers....twin brothers have joined....they are good singers and musicians...they are all rounders...God bless and keep them in the Order....
 They put up a small skit on the life of st. peter....it was moving and emotional drama....

 The hanging of St. Peter.....
 Morning Eucharist....I preached during the homily....

 A perfect picture.....
 They cut the banana bunch for the Novitiate house...my next destination.....
 On way to the Novitiate and all along water falls and hills....what a feast for the eyes....

This house is a formation house....