PilgrimstaysThe Divine Love Retreat Centre, Jalalkhali, W B is a unit of the Vincentian Congregation . Jalalkhali is located about 105 kms north of Kolkata in West Bengal state. Established in 2006, the Jalalkhali Retreat Centre is attached to the St Louis Parish Church. It has grown exponentially over the years and is one of the most popular Retreat Centres in the region. Origin The Congregation was founded on 20 November 1904 as a Koventha at Thottakom by Fr Varkey Kattarath with three diocesan priests, with the approval and encouragement of Mar Louis Pazheparampil, the first Vicar Apostolic of Ernakulam. The Koventha was based on the Common Rules of St Vincent de Paul and on the model of the Congregation of the Mission, founded by him in 1625. However, due to various reasons beyond their control, all of them, including the founder Fr Kattarath, were forced to disperse by 1915. Revival After some years, Frs George Mannara, Antony Pauvathil and George Vattamkandathil expressed their desire to lead a religious life to Mar Augustine Kandathil, the then Archbishop of Ernakulam who directed them to revive the religious community once founded at Thottakom. Accordingly they revived it and began the community life at Thottakom on 19 July 1927. Fr Varkey Kattarath joined them at Thottakom in October 1927. The Koventha at Thottakom was officially called the Vincentian Congregation in 1938. Spirit and Charism The spirit of the Congregation is the participation in the spirit of Christ, ever active in the Church, lived and recommended by St Vincent– an intimate, personal love of the Father, docility to the divine providence and an ardent, compassionate love of the poor. The Congregation draws its spirit and distinctive character from the life and works, and the Common Rules of St Vincent de Paul who is chosen as the Father and Patron of the Vincentian Congregation. “To preach the Good News to the poor” (Lk.4: 18) is the motto of the Congregation. As visualized by St Vincent, the Vincentians strive to give expression to the spirit of Christ, resplendent in the five virtues of simplicity, humility, meekness, mortification and zeal for the salvation of souls. The ardent and compassionate love of the poor inspires the Vincentians to work hard and to do their best to improve the conditions of the poor, and to share their lot by adopting a humble and simple life style. A whole-hearted commitment to the evangelization of the poor and their human and Christian advancement is the identifying mark and charism of the congregation. Jalalkhali Retreat Centre in Nadia district serves the spiritual needs of the people of North Bengal. It is noted for the Bible Conventions that it hosts periodically.
Established in 2006, the Jalalkhali Retreat Centre is attached to the St Louis Parish Church
The Koventha was based on the Common Rules of St Vincent de Paul and on the model of the Congregation of the Mission, founded by him in 1625
The Divine Love Retreat Centre, Jalalkhali, W B is a unit of the Vincentian Congregation
Jalalkhali is located about 105 kms north of Kolkata in West Bengal state
The retreat chapel is the central gathering space for Mass, adoration, and praise and worship sessions. The atmosphere of sustained prayer — many retreats involve 5–6 hours of communal prayer each day — creates an environment of unusual spiritual intensity that participants describe as transformative.
The retreat centre is set in the characteristically flat, lush Bengal delta landscape — rice fields, ponds, and palm trees under the wide Bengal sky. The physical setting, so different from the mountains and forests of other retreat centres, has its own quiet beauty. The Bengal light — particularly in the evening — is extraordinary.
The retreatant community — people from across eastern India who have come with specific needs and hopes — is a significant part of the retreat. Shared testimony, mutual prayer, and the experience of a Bengali Catholic community of faith are all part of what the centre offers.
The Baruipur Diocese includes the edge of the Sundarbans — the world's largest mangrove forest, home to the Bengal tiger and threatened by sea-level rise. The Catholic communities in this ecologically precarious landscape bring their fears and hopes to the Divine Love Retreat Centre with particular urgency.
The evening praise and worship sessions — Bengali-language hymns, charismatic prayer, and intercession — are the most emotionally intense part of the retreat experience. Many participants describe these sessions as the moment when prayer became real for them.
The Catholic charismatic renewal in India is estimated to involve 10 million Catholics — in a total Catholic population of approximately 20 million. That means half of Indian Catholics have some connection to the charismatic renewal. The Divine Love Retreat Centre at Jalalkhali is one node in a vast network of retreat centres, prayer groups, and renewal organisations that constitute this movement. They share a conviction: the Holy Spirit is available to ordinary people, for ordinary needs, now. That conviction, expressed in Bengali in the delta of the Ganges, is as old as Pentecost.
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
Read in full on Bible Gateway →The Divine Love Retreat Centre, Jalalkhali, West Bengal, is a unit of the Vincentian Congregation. Jalalkhali is located about 105 km north of Kolkata in West Bengal. Established in 2006, the Jalalkhali Retreat Centre is attached to the St Louis Parish Church. It has grown exponentially over the years and is one of the most popular retreat centres in the region.
The Congregation was founded on 20 November 1904 as a Koventha at Thottakom by Fr Varkey Kattarath, with three diocesan priests, with the approval and encouragement of Mar Louis Pazheparampil, the first Vicar Apostolic of Ernakulam. The Koventha was based on the Common Rules of St Vincent de Paul and on the model of the Congregation of the Mission, founded by him in 1625. However, due to various reasons beyond their control, all of them, including the founder Fr Kattarath, were forced to disperse by 1915.
After some years, Frs George Mannara, Antony Pauvathil and George Vattamkandathil expressed their desire to lead a religious life to Mar Augustine Kandathil, the then Archbishop of Ernakulam, who directed them to revive the religious community once founded at Thottakom. Accordingly, they revived it and began the community life at Thottakom on 19 July 1927. Fr Varkey Kattarath joined them at Thottakom in October 1927. The Koventha at Thottakom was officially called the Vincentian Congregation in 1938.
The spirit of the Congregation is participation in the spirit of Christ, ever active in the Church, lived and recommended by St Vincent — an intimate, personal love of the Father, docility to the divine providence, and an ardent, compassionate love of the poor. The Congregation draws its spirit and distinctive character from the life and works, and the Common Rules, of St Vincent de Paul, who is chosen as the Father and Patron of the Vincentian Congregation. “To preach the Good News to the poor” (Lk 4:18) is the motto of the Congregation.
As visualised by St Vincent, the Vincentians strive to give expression to the spirit of Christ, resplendent in the five virtues of simplicity, humility, meekness, mortification and zeal for the salvation of souls. The ardent and compassionate love of the poor inspires the Vincentians to work hard and do their best to improve the conditions of the poor, and to share their lot by adopting a humble and simple lifestyle. A whole-hearted commitment to the evangelisation of the poor and their human and Christian advancement is the identifying mark and charism of the Congregation.
Jalalkhali Retreat Centre, in Nadia district, serves the spiritual needs of the people of North Bengal. It is noted for the Bible conventions that it hosts periodically.
