St. Joseph Ashram, Vellarikundu

The extraordinary Provincial Chapter of St. Jospeh Province, held at Assisi Renewal Centre Bharananganam from April 29 to May 3, 2003, passed a resolution to start yet another Ashram in Idukki District and an Ashram in Kasaragod District. However it was not actualised. Since Pavanatma Vice- Province was constituted, it was our wish to start a Capuchin Ashram in Kasaragod District. Vellarikundu was thought to be the best location for our requirements. Hence our pro- proposal was to start an Ashram at Vellarikundu also as a parish in Thalassery archdiocese. Mar George Valliamattam, the archbishop of Thalassery promptly gave us the permis- sion to carry out the proposal. Accordingly a three acre plot of land by the side of the main road was purchased on 30th March, 2007. It is called St. Joseph's Capuchin Ashram. Br. Johnson Arassery was appointed Br. Guardian.

The already existing little house was blessed by Very Rev. Fr. Mathew Kayamackal, the forane vicar of Vellarikundu on 24th April 2007. Our brothers moved into it and organized the local people to put up a temporary church for liturgical worship. This was blessed by Mar George Valiyamattam, archbishop of Thalassery on 2nd Oct. 2007. He, in his inaugural homily, declared that the Ashram will have a parish attached to it. He exhorted the local Catholic community to co-operate with the capuchin brothers to build up the parish. The area assigned to us is very promising and has great scope for developing our life and ministry. There are over 250 catholic families around St. Josephs Ashram. God willing, the location is perceived to be very suitable to become the center for our life and ministry in Kasargod district. We are blessed with the goodwill of the archdiocese, the local forane church and the neighboring parishes and the people of the locality. On 19th March 2009, Fr. Scaria Kalloor, Vice provincial laid the foundation for the construction of a new ashram and it was completed under the supervision of Br. Johnson Arasseril. The new house was blessed by Archbishop Mar George Valiyamattam on 30th Nov. 2009.