PilgrimstaysDivine Retreat Centre, Coimbatore: Rev Fr John Kavunkal landed at Coimbatore and started his efforts by staying in a rental house at Ondiputhur. He was in search of a site for the Retreat Centre. The present plot was purchased on December 23, 2002. It was Very Rev Fr George Arackal, the Superior General of Vincentian Congregation who laid the foundation stone for the Vincentian Ashram on August 1, 2003. The construction progressed steadily and Mar Jacob Manathodath, the Bishop of Palghat diocese, blessed the house on 26th April 2004. To add momentum to the Retreat Centre, Rev Frs Mathew Naickomparambil, George Panackal and Antony Payyappally from Divine Retreat Centre, conducted a Bible Convention in Alverna School ground, Coimbatore for five days starting from 12th May 2004. It paved the way for one-day retreats on every second Saturday in Divine Dhayana Illam. Very Rev Fr Varghese Parappuram, the Provincial Superior of the Marymatha Province laid the foundation stone for the present Retreat Hall. Mar Jacob Manathodath blessed this hall on 15th January 2008. On 21st August 2008, residential retreats of four day duration, were introduced. His Excellency Rt Rev Dr Thomas Aquinas, the Bishop of Coimbatore Diocese blessed the Perpetual Adoration Chapel and the renovated grotto on 11th December 2008 and 28th July 2009 respectively. People from all walks of the life come to this grotto in Coimbatore and to recite rosaries and to find refuge in Mother Mary, the finest intercessor for their struggles. After the blessing of the Grotto, the veneration of the relics of St Alphonsa began with greater solemnity. The residential block for the retreatants was blessed by Mar Paul Alappattu, the Bishop of Ramanathapuram Diocese. To reach the Divine Retreat Centre, Coimbatore from the main road was a hazardous task in the rainy season, for the soil was absolutely clay. By the grace of divine providence, a non-Christian offered land free of cost to the Retreat Centre and thus today there is a beautiful approach road. The newly constructed residential block consisting 32 rooms was blessed by Rev Fr Paul Puthuva, the Provincial Superior of Mary Matha Province on 26th September 2014.
After the blessing of the Grotto, the veneration of the relics of St Alphonsa began with greater solemnity
The newly constructed residential block consisting 32 rooms was blessed by Rev Fr Paul Puthuva, the Provincial Superior of Mary Matha Province on 26th September 2014
Divine Retreat Centre, Coimbatore: Rev Fr John Kavunkal landed at Coimbatore and started his efforts by staying in a rental house at Ondiputhur
He was in search of a site for the Retreat Centre
The chapel at Dhyana Illam is designed for both charismatic praise and contemplative silence — a combination that is characteristic of mature charismatic spirituality, which recognises that the full arc of prayer includes both exuberant worship and deep silence. The chapel environment supports both modes.
The contemplative prayer sessions — in which participants are led into sustained silent prayer, lectio divina (prayerful reading of Scripture), and centering prayer practices — are distinctive of this centre's approach and distinguish it from purely charismatic centres that focus primarily on praise, healing, and deliverance.
Coimbatore is known as the Manchester of South India — a major textile and engineering city, the second largest in Tamil Nadu. The Catholic community here includes factory workers, engineers, teachers, and healthcare professionals. The Dhyana Illam offers a space of contemplative quiet in a city of industrial energy.
Coimbatore sits at the base of the Western Ghats, with the Nilgiri Hills rising to the east. Day trips from Coimbatore to Ooty and the Nilgiris are easily arranged around a retreat. The natural beauty of the Ghats is itself a contemplative resource.
The evening adoration sessions — in which the consecrated host is exposed in a monstrance and the community prays before it in silence and song — are the most characteristically Catholic element of the Dhyana Illam's spirituality. The theology is direct: God is present. Sit with him.
Dhyana — the Sanskrit and Tamil word for meditation — is one of the most important words in Asian spiritual life. The Buddha used it. The Bhagavad Gita describes it. Patanjali systematised it. When Indian Catholic retreat centres use this word in their names, they are claiming that the contemplative tradition is not alien to Christianity — that what Christians call contemplative prayer and what Hindus call dhyana are reaching toward the same God. That claim is controversial. It is also, for millions of Indian Christians, simply true.
The Divine Retreat Centre, Coimbatore began when Rev Fr John Kavunkal landed at Coimbatore and started his efforts by staying in a rented house at Ondiputhur. He was in search of a site for the Retreat Centre, and the present plot was purchased on 23 December 2002. It was Very Rev Fr George Arackal, the Superior General of the Vincentian Congregation, who laid the foundation stone for the Vincentian Ashram on 1 August 2003.
The construction progressed steadily, and Mar Jacob Manathodath, the Bishop of Palghat diocese, blessed the house on 26 April 2004. To add momentum to the Retreat Centre, Rev Frs Mathew Naickomparambil, George Panackal and Antony Payyappally from the Divine Retreat Centre conducted a Bible Convention in the Alverna School ground, Coimbatore, for five days starting from 12 May 2004. It paved the way for one-day retreats on every second Saturday in Divine Dhayana Illam.
Very Rev Fr Varghese Parappuram, the Provincial Superior of the Marymatha Province, laid the foundation stone for the present Retreat Hall. Mar Jacob Manathodath blessed this hall on 15 January 2008. On 21 August 2008, residential retreats of four-day duration were introduced. His Excellency Rt Rev Dr Thomas Aquinas, the Bishop of Coimbatore Diocese, blessed the Perpetual Adoration Chapel and the renovated grotto on 11 December 2008 and 28 July 2009 respectively.
People from all walks of life come to this grotto in Coimbatore to recite rosaries and to find refuge in Mother Mary, the finest intercessor for their struggles. After the blessing of the grotto, the veneration of the relics of St Alphonsa began with greater solemnity. The residential block for the retreatants was blessed by Mar Paul Alappattu, the Bishop of Ramanathapuram Diocese.
To reach the Divine Retreat Centre from the main road was a hazardous task in the rainy season, for the soil was absolutely clay. By the grace of divine providence, a non-Christian offered land free of cost to the Retreat Centre, and thus today there is a beautiful approach road. The newly constructed residential block, consisting of 32 rooms, was blessed by Rev Fr Paul Puthuva, the Provincial Superior of Mary Matha Province, on 26 September 2014.
