About us
At Lourd Bhavan Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of mentally challenged individuals and fostering a spirit of compassion through our blood donation initiatives. Our mission is to create a world where everyone has an opportunity to lead a fulfilling life, irrespective of their challenges.
Our Story
“A Thousand praise and worship to you my God who created, protected and providing me everything from your abundance, Oh Holy Trinity who take care of us from your abundant grace we totally submit our Lourdebhavan under your everlasting love”.
Dear brotheren,
To the Divine mercy, how much of thanks I give also, it is insufficient for choosing an illiterate person like me to run a home like Lourde bhavan depending only on His providence.
I was a rubber tapper and a daily wages labourer, and was not having any faith in God. In the year 1997 due to compulsion from the sisters of the L.S.D.P. convent at Aruvikuzhy and the elderly lady of the house where I was working as a labourer, I decided to attend a retreat. I heard many stories about people who attended retreat getting miraculous healings and other blessings. But I was not interested to listen to the word of God or to become a Godfearing person. My thoughts were as follows: ‘I want to sleep comfortably in the retreat centre. I will take a lottery ticket and I should get the first prize for the ticket, thereby I can live comfortably without much difficulties and hard work. If these things happen to me I shall give my testimony in the retreat centre”. So I decided to go to Pota Retreat Centre. But the sisters and the lady were not fully convinced in the truthfulness of my decision.
So according to their choice I was sent to Kunnanthanam retreat centre run by the LSDP sisters. Only my body took part in the retreat and not my mind. Through out the retreat from Sunday to Thursday I slept well in the retreat hall and nothing happened to me.
On Friday I visited the mentally retarded and the differently abled inmates in the house attached to the retreat centre run by the sisters. Seeing them I realized how beautifully God created me and take care of me without any physical or psychiatric disorder in me. Hence I received the necessary word of God and His blessings through these inmates by observing them.
After returning from the retreat I could visit different families of Aruvikuzhy Parish suffering from alcoholism and such other problems. God gave me the wisdom and strength so that through me God gave them proper directions towards a better family life.
We do not have any disabilities. But we always have complaints in front of God. Once God fulfill our complaint we start with new complaints. But the inmates of the retreat centre have no complaints. They are satisfied with what they receive. They are happy with that and thankful to God for what they get. So they are in the palms of God and how happy they are! But how many of us say thanks to God for receiving blessings from Him?
There was a man called Varghese who lived behind Fathima Matha Shrine at Pallickathode market. He had untidy long hair and beard, Everyone of the locality knew him. Nobody knew the native place and home of Varghese. He cooked meat, dal, rice, chilies etc. together in a pot and eat. He kept this food for weeks till it finishes. Sometimes worms were seen in the food. But he didn’t mind and eats the same food. He was not mentally sound. One day one of my friends and myself decided to take him to “Navajeevan Trust Kottayam” run by Shri. P.U. Thomas where such people were taken care of. Thomas chettan agreed to take him. We tried to take Varghese to ‘Navajeevan’. But he was not willing to go. With fasting and prayers we approached Varghese again. But he was not willing. Again with strong fasting and prayers together with Rosary we approached Varghese for the third time. He said “If you take me to Karukachal Hospital I shall come with you”. So we boarded him in a jeep and took him to Navajeevan Trust. Miraculously, Varghese did not give any difficulties and peacefully we could take him to Navajeevan Trust. Thus I understood the power of fasting and prayer. At Navajeevan 1 got the first experience to cut the hair, shave and hath a psychiatric patient.
That day Thomas chettan asked a question. “Why don’t you start a centre like ‘Navajeevan’ at Pallickathode also?” With this Jesus sow the seed for this kind of service in my mind. But I was not thinking seriously about it. But I was told that there is another centre like this at Pala and there was not enough volunteers to serve. Hence we started going to ‘Maria Sadan’ Pala every Thursday to wash the clothes of the inmates. At this period of time we could take many wanderers suffering from psychiatric disorders to ‘Maria Sadan’.
During this period some people belonging to ‘Living Jesus’ Prayer home at Pallickathode thought of starting a centre to take care of children. I was also invited to the one day prayer meeting for the same purpose. In this meeting Rev. Fr. George Pazhayapura, the then vicar of Lourde Matha Church Aruvikuzhy also attended and shared his thoughts. In his opinion it is better to take care of the wandering psychiatric patients than the children. Accordingly, we searched for a building for rent for the rehabilitation of the wandering psychiatric patients. But none was willing to give building for the purpose. Then one of my friends said that if he gets his share from the family property, there we could start the rehabilitation centre. I did not give any attention to that because I was not having much land or properties. Then how can a centre be started? But that night a thought crossed my mind. Being the only son of my father I don’t need to get share from my father. So why can’t I start this centre in my home? But I could not take a decision at that time.
We had only 20 (twenty) cents of land and a small hut in it where my father, my wife and my two children live. Whether they will give their consent to start such a centre? But to open a centre for the destitute psychiatric patients was alive in my mind. When I shared this thought with my friends we agreed to discuss this matter with my family members. My wife happily accepted this idea.
Then the matter was discussed with the vicar of Aruvikuzhy Parish Rev. Fr. George Pazhayapura. He said, “You have only 20 cents of land and will your father agree to this? Any way let us, pray, if it is the will of God it will be done”. So together with my friends we continued our prayers especially Rosary for the intercession of Holy Mary for about a week. Then we approached my father and he refused. Again we continued our prayers for another week and approached him once more. This time by the Grace of God he agreed to start the centre in our home only for the destitute psychiatric patients.
Then we decided to have one day fasting and prayer for a Friday. That same week I went to Chennaipara, met Rev. Fr. George Kuttickal who is the God father of all destitute, and attended retreat led by him. Next Friday we had fasting and prayer in my small house from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Not many people attended this prayer service. It was under the leadership of Rev. Fr. George Pazhayapura. By noon my wife Mary became too weak. We tried to take her to hospital. But she told that the prayer be completed. After the prayer we took her to Nirmala Hospital Anickad. Her blood pressure was too low and the doctor referred her to a better hospital Marian Hospital, Pala. The treatment at Marian Hospital didn’t have any improvement in her condition.
So from there she was referred to Medical College hospital Kottayam. In an ambulance, she was taken to Medical college Kottayam.
All our hopes were lost; but God has greater plan for us. For that we were being moulded by Him. God was always with us to take care of us. When we reached Medical College, Jesus was there in the form of a good doctor. The doctor inspected her and gave her an injection. After half an hour slowly my wife returned to life. By this God was preparing for His Service. How beautiful were the ways of God in which we were made to take care of the destitute psychiatric patients!
given by Fr. George Pazhayapura a private company gave us the necessary materials for the shed without any security or interest. Hence the shed was completed. Thus on 11th February 1999, receiving three destitute psychiatric patients the rehabilitation centre “Lourd Bhavan Trust” came into being. Many people commented that Jose became ‘mad’. The number of inmates increased day by day.
Road faciliteis to Lourdebhavan was very poor. It was difficult to reach even by foot. During the second Anniversary of Lourdbhavan, Shri Oommen Chandy, the then Chief Minister of Kerala was invited Happily he accepted our invitation. Seeing the pathetic condition of the road, he has alloted an amount of one lakh rupees for the improvement of this road. As such, constructing a bridge the road was made motorable. As the number of inmates increased more buildings were necessary. Many well-wishers who extended their helping hands in cash and kind a hall was completed for the inmates. But we were facing financial difficulties.
During that time we met a teacher from Velichiyani who visited us and took notice of our problems. At that time through the teacher a person from Kanjirappally sought prayer help from us for selling his land. For that purpose the inmates together with the volunteers prayed and by the grace of God he could sell his land for a reasonable price. With his family he came here and with his help we could construct the dining hall for Lourdebhavan. Afterwards by taking loan, the kitchen was also completed. Again, the number of inmates increased and their accomodation was not sufficient. During this time we had to face a lot of hardships and we were facing a tough time. But the good Lord gave us strength to face such hardships Again the number of inmates increased and more buildings were required, so we started to construct the first floor. But due to financial shortage it was difficult to complete the construction.
We started praying rosary in front of Holy Mother Mary who pleaded to her son Jesus for overcoming the difficulty of shortage of wine in the wedding feast at Cana. After few days a reverent sister came to Lourde bhavan to give food to the inmates on the occasion of the death anniversary of her demised brother. She was happy to see this home and the services rendered here. She also understood our difficulties. Through this sister, another reverent sister who is her friend visited Lourde bhavan. She took notice of the difficult state of us and she conveyed this to some people. Many of them came to Lourde bhavan together with the sister and helped us in completing the first floor and the second floor of the building.
“See what love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.” (I John 3:1)
Now there are 77 inmates in this home. Majority of them are from other states of the country. During this 25 years about 450 inmates got well from their psychiatric disorder and we could reacli them back to their families. Many of them are leading a nonnal family life. many souls departed to their heavenly home during this period. If a death occurs here, and his address is not known, we keep his body in mortuary for 3 days after noticing in leading news papers together with his photograph. If no relatives turned up his body shall be cremated in the electric crematorium of the Kottayam Municipality. Only in 5 cases relatives turned up and only in 2 cases dead bodies were taken by their relatives.
After showing improvement 2 of the inmates are taken by their family to take care of them. Proper medicines are provided by us. Those patients who can’t afford to buy medicines, Lourdebhavan provides them, in this locality. Further deserving patients from this area avail Lourdebhavan vehicle to go to hospitals. In this area during rainy season in order to reduce mosquito breeding in rubber plantations, the inmates together with volunteers empty the water- filled latex cups.
We had only 20 cents of land which was completely used to construct building for the inmates and it was not sufficient. So with the prayers and help from many people we could buy about an acre of land as three plots.
We had no water sources in the beginning. During that time Rev.Fr. Mathew Chandrankunnel was the Vicar of St. Mary’s Church Moozhoor. Through his help ‘Senso Engineering company Mumbai ’ bought a plot of land, constructed a well, installed .1 pump set and donated it to Lourde bhavan. The God who provided water to the Israelites from rock is providing water to us now also!
Still we are in short of living space for the inmates. So we need to construct more buildings in our land. Through organic farming we produce good vegetables, bananas, Tapioca etc. for our own use.
Here, we get the services of a Psychiatrist, a Physician together with the services of primary Health Centre Pallikkathode. Moreover for cutting hair and shaving the inmates few volunteers from the nearby places come regularly to Lourde bhavan. The Rev. Vicar of Lourde-Matha Church Aruvikuzhy is the spiritual director of Lourdebhavan. There are five members in the Lourde bhavan Trust. In this home we receive lunch packets from few parishes and schools for few days in a month.
This home is registered as Lourde Bhavan Trust in the year 2001 with Reg.No.113/2001/4. It is registered under Orphanage Control Board with Reg. No.905. It is also registered under Department of Social Justice, Govt, of Kerala with Reg.No.4 SJD/4933/2021-RPWD1. The daily maintanence of this home is run by the help and co-operation of the good will of many people.
How Can we help this Home?
Remember this home during celebrations like wedding, birthday, wedding anniversary, death anniversary, etc. When we buy dress, remember one of the inmates of this home. A portion of one- tenth of our income can be given to this home. A portion of our agricultural produce can be given to this home. A portion of our time also can be given. Remember us in your prayers and tell others about Lourdebhavan Trust.
[ Jesus Christ, our safe fort, from your Divine Mercy pour your blessings over all the activities and services of Lourdebhavan. Lead us in love of your Holy Spirit.
Holy Mary direct us according to the will of God like a mother catching hold of the hands of a baby. St. Jospeh, all the angels and all other saints pray for us.]
For Lourde Bhavan Trust Managing Trustee
Jose Antony.
Who we are
We are a team of change-makers who believe that every helping hand can raise a child and create a better future for them.
Our approach
Our Mission
Our mission is to make sure all young people and children get all the support they need, when they need it, no matter what it is.
Our Vision
We want to build a world where no child or youth feels alone and gets every possible help they need as soon as possible.
