PilgrimstaysThe Emmaus Retreat Centre, Kolkata is a unit of the Vincentian Congregation . The Vincentian Congregation is a clerical society in the Syro-Malabar Church with its Generalate at Edappally in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. 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. Emmaus Retreat Centre, Kolkata is leading the way in Biblical revival in the eastern region of India.
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 Emmaus Retreat Centre, Kolkata is a unit of the Vincentian Congregation
The Vincentian Congregation is a clerical society in the Syro-Malabar Church with its Generalate at Edappally in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly
However, due to various reasons beyond their control, all of them, including the founder Fr Kattarath, were forced to disperse by 1915
The Emmaus narrative shapes the entire retreat experience — the journey from disappointment to encounter, the scriptures explained on the way, the recognition at table. Retreatants are invited to identify where they are in the story: are they walking away, despairing? Or are they at the supper table, recognising the stranger?
The chapel where the Eucharist is celebrated daily is the culmination of every Emmaus retreat — the recognition in the breaking of the bread. Many retreatants describe the moment of receiving communion after a day of prayer and scripture teaching as the most significant moment of the retreat.
The Missionaries of Charity Motherhouse at 54A AJC Bose Road, where Mother Teresa is buried, is a pilgrimage site of global significance just minutes from central Kolkata. For any Catholic retreatant in Kolkata, a visit to Mother Teresa's tomb — to pray where she lived and died and is buried — is essential. Her witness is the most powerful contemporary expression of Kolkata Catholicism.
The Hooghly River waterfront of Kolkata — the ghats, the Howrah Bridge, the boats — is one of the great visual experiences of India and part of the pilgrimage context of Kolkata Catholicism. The Portuguese, who sailed up this river to found Bandel Church, used the same waterfront that stands today.
A walk through Kolkata's Catholic heritage — from St Thomas Church in the Park Street area to the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary at Brabourne Road, past the Loreto schools and St Xavier's College, to the Motherhouse — covers 450 years of Catholic history in one of the world's great cities.
Two disciples walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the first day of the week, hearts breaking, faith shattered. A stranger joined them. They did not recognise him. He explained the scriptures as they walked. At Emmaus, when they sat at table, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened. He vanished. They got up immediately and walked the seven miles back to Jerusalem to tell the others. That is the Emmaus story. The retreat centre is named for the moment of recognition. Come expecting to have your eyes opened. Get up immediately afterward.
“Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Read in full on Bible Gateway →The Emmaus Retreat Centre, Kolkata, is a unit of the Vincentian Congregation. The Vincentian Congregation is a clerical society in the Syro-Malabar Church, with its Generalate at Edappally in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly.
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.
Emmaus Retreat Centre, Kolkata, is leading the way in biblical revival in the eastern region of India.
