PilgrimstaysDivine Mercy Retreat, Chennai is a retreat centre run by the Vincentian Congregation . Retreats are conducted in Tamil and English. Retreats for couples, nuns, youth, evangelisers etc are conducted every year. Food and accommodation during these retreats are free. AC rooms are available on payment. During the retreat, special accommodation can be provided for bed-ridden retreatants if informed in advance. The Inner healing retreats begin with the message of the everlasting love of the Father manifested through incarnation. “God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The mercy of God is being poured to each human until the last moment of their lives. Salvation in Jesus is to be experienced through a radical turning away from sin and turning to God’s Mercy in repentance. Through the reception of the sacraments of reconciliation and Holy Eucharist, the retreatants are invited to experience a new vitality and spiritual vigour. The charism of healing is exercised through the preaching of the Word of God and the worthy reception of the sacraments. There is an inner healing session in the presence of the Eucharistic Jesus through which the Lord heals many. The retreat ends with the fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit as experienced in the Sacrament of Confirmation. This all-transforming experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit is accepted as a special grace, to withstand the temptations of the evil one and to defend and spread the faith by word and action confessing Jesus Christ as the only savior of mankind. Divine Mercy Retreat, Chennai: The Vincentian Provincial Council intended to start a Retreat Centre for the people of Tamil Nadu. About 36 acres was purchased at Elavur, Gummudipoondi, about 50 kms from Chennai. The property abounded with teak and eucalyptus trees, of which six acres were cleared to make way for the Centre and the residential blocks. The foundation stone for Divine Mercy Retreat, Chennai was laid on 27 April 2005 by Very Rev Fr Varghese Puthussery, Superior General and blessed by Rt Rev Dr Lawrence Pius, the Administrator, Madras-Mylapore Archdiocese and opened by Rev Fr Jose Vettiyankal, the Provincial Superior on 20 May 2005. The Vincentian Minor Seminary for the St Xavier’s Region was started on 24 June 2015. In the first batch there were 16 seminarians. A beautiful Adoration Chapel was blessed by the Archbishop Rt Rev Dr George Antonysamy and opened by Rev Fr George Arackal, the Provincial Superior on 1 April 2016. Divine Mercy Retreat, Chennai conducts residential retreats and one day programmes at present. In the first and second week of each month there are Tamil residential retreats and in the third week there is weekend retreat. English residential retreats are conducted during alternate months. Every year a Divine Mercy Convention is conducted along with the feast of the Divine Mercy.
In the first batch there were 16 seminarians
In the first and second week of each month there are Tamil residential retreats and in the third week there is weekend retreat
Every year a Divine Mercy Convention is conducted along with the feast of the Divine Mercy
Divine Mercy Retreat, Chennai is a retreat centre run by the Vincentian Congregation
The chapel with the Divine Mercy image is the devotional heart of the centre — where the Chaplet is prayed daily at 3 PM and where the sacraments anchor the retreat experience. The combination of the ancient sacramental tradition of Chennai Catholicism with the modern Divine Mercy devotion is characteristic of how Indian Catholicism renews itself.
The family healing retreats — designed for married couples, parents struggling with their children, and families in crisis — are among the most attended programmes. The teaching addresses family systems, forgiveness, and the healing of generational wounds. Many families report significant healing in relationships after these retreats.
The centre's youth retreats — drawing young Catholics from across Chennai who are wrestling with faith questions, identity, and vocation — are an important part of the ministry. The charismatic approach, with its energy, music, and direct engagement with experience, often connects with young people who find traditional parish life disconnected from their reality.
Chennai is a city of extraordinary Catholic heritage — St Thomas Basilica, San Thome Cathedral, the Mount of St Thomas, the Armenian Church, the Scottish Kirk, and dozens of parish churches span the full spectrum of Indian Christian history. The Divine Mercy Centre exists within this rich context, adding a renewal ministry to a tradition that is already very deep.
The centre operates within the network of the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore — one of the most active Catholic dioceses in India. The archdiocesan context gives the centre access to parishes, schools, and communities across greater Chennai, amplifying the reach of its retreat ministry.
Chennai has one of the most remarkable Catholic stories of any city in Asia: an apostle came here in the first century and was martyred on a hill that is now in the middle of the city. His tomb is under a basilica. His hill has a church on top. The tradition is 2,000 years old. The Divine Mercy Centre was founded in the 20th century. It is the newest layer of a very deep tradition. The mercy it offers is the same mercy St Thomas preached in Malayalam and Greek in the first century.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Read in full on Bible Gateway →Divine Mercy Retreat, Chennai, is a retreat centre run by the Vincentian Congregation. Retreats are conducted in Tamil and English. Retreats for couples, nuns, youth, evangelisers and others are conducted every year. Food and accommodation during these retreats are free. Air-conditioned rooms are available on payment. During the retreat, special accommodation can be provided for bed-ridden retreatants if informed in advance.
The inner healing retreats begin with the message of the everlasting love of the Father, manifested through the Incarnation. “God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The mercy of God is poured out to each human until the last moment of their lives. Salvation in Jesus is to be experienced through a radical turning away from sin and turning to God’s mercy in repentance. Through the reception of the sacraments of reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist, the retreatants are invited to experience a new vitality and spiritual vigour.
The charism of healing is exercised through the preaching of the Word of God and the worthy reception of the sacraments. There is an inner healing session in the presence of the Eucharistic Jesus, through which the Lord heals many. The retreat ends with the fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit as experienced in the Sacrament of Confirmation. This all-transforming experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the fulfilment of the promise of Jesus. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit is accepted as a special grace, to withstand the temptations of the evil one and to defend and spread the faith by word and action, confessing Jesus Christ as the only saviour of mankind.
The Vincentian Provincial Council intended to start a retreat centre for the people of Tamil Nadu. About 36 acres was purchased at Elavur, Gummudipoondi, about 50 km from Chennai. The property abounded with teak and eucalyptus trees, of which six acres were cleared to make way for the centre and the residential blocks. The foundation stone for Divine Mercy Retreat, Chennai, was laid on 27 April 2005 by Very Rev Fr Varghese Puthussery, Superior General, and blessed by Rt Rev Dr Lawrence Pius, the Administrator, Madras-Mylapore Archdiocese, and opened by Rev Fr Jose Vettiyankal, the Provincial Superior, on 20 May 2005.
The Vincentian Minor Seminary for the St Xavier’s Region was started on 24 June 2015. In the first batch there were 16 seminarians. A beautiful Adoration Chapel was blessed by Archbishop Rt Rev Dr George Antonysamy and opened by Rev Fr George Arackal, the Provincial Superior, on 1 April 2016.
Divine Mercy Retreat, Chennai, conducts residential retreats and one-day programmes at present. In the first and second week of each month there are Tamil residential retreats, and in the third week there is a weekend retreat. English residential retreats are conducted during alternate months. Every year a Divine Mercy Convention is conducted along with the Feast of the Divine Mercy.
