PilgrimstaysWith two Retreat Centres established in West Bengal, the Vincentian Congregation looked eastwards and this is how the Divine Retreat Centre, Khetri was established. The Congregation’s first foray was into Assam- the closest among the seven North Eastern states. The first centre was built at Khetri which is located about 39 kms from Guwahati. The Bishop of Guwahati the Rt Rev Dr Thomas Menamparambil invited the Vincentian Congregation to establish a Retreat Centre in Guwahati Diocese. Khetri is a beautiful village set in idyllic surroundings and was well chosen for this divine purpose. The Divine Retreat Centre, Khetri is located atop a hill and is spread across eight acres of land. It has developed into a very popular centre where the faithful congregate for worship and praise of the Lord. Today retreats are conducted in many languages to cater to the spiritual needs of the communities in the region. God’s ways are strange and wonderful. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and He works everything for our good. Circumstances have now changed and the Centre is growing by the day and is functioning very well. The serenity of Divine Retreat Centre, Khetri provides a conducive atmosphere for prayer. A pious surrounding is also created by the presence of the Rosary mysteries on the way to the centre, the Stations of the Way of The Cross and the Word of God written on coloured boards. Continuous intercessory prayers are done at the perpetual Adoration Chapel which can accommodate about forty persons. The cave like chapel which is exclusively meant for silent prayers attracts many souls to contemplation and deep prayers. The beautiful Grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary draws the people to praying the rosaries in her loving presence. Besides, there is the Grotto of St Joseph, the patron of the centre, Grotto of St Vincent De Paul and St Alphonsa and the statue of St Michael where people pray for protection. There are separate buildings for men and women with the capacity to accommodate over a hundred persons. The first floor of the Ladies Building is the Auditorium with space for some two hundred and fifty persons which is used for preaching. Every month three residential retreats are conducted for the different tribes of North East such as Khasi, Khasi Pnar, Garo, Assamese, Hindi, Bodo, Tiwa, Karbi, English, Nagamese. There are good translators of English into the vernacular dialect. The number of participants vary from group to group. Special Retreats for priests and the Religious are conducted thrice a year where the participants reach to the maximum. Also special Retreats for groups like Novices, Candidates, Youth, and Catechists are conducted. On Fridays to Sunday a team of two priests and three sisters go on outreach programmes to the parishes of the North East as per the request of the Parish. The Divine Retreat Centre, Khetri extends its services outside the country as well.
With two Retreat Centres established in West Bengal, the Vincentian Congregation looked eastwards and this is how the Divine Retreat Centre, Khetri was established
The Congregation’s first foray was into Assam- the closest among the seven North Eastern states
The first centre was built at Khetri which is located about 39 kms from Guwahati
Besides, there is the Grotto of St Joseph, the patron of the centre, Grotto of St Vincent De Paul and St Alphonsa and the statue of St Michael where people pray for protection
The first floor of the Ladies Building is the Auditorium with space for some two hundred and fifty persons which is used for preaching
The retreat chapel serves the diverse community of northeast Indian Catholics — people who may come speaking Naga, Mizo, Khasi, Meitei, or Bengali, united in the Catholic Eucharist. The liturgical diversity of the northeast Indian Church is part of what makes the Guwahati retreat centre unique.
Guwahati sits on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra — one of the great rivers of Asia, rising in Tibet, cutting through Arunachal Pradesh, and flowing across Assam. The river at Guwahati is vast — over a kilometre wide in many places. The retreat centre exists in relationship with this enormous natural presence.
Guwahati is also one of the most significant Hindu pilgrimage cities in India — the Kamakhya Shakti temple on Nilachal Hill draws millions of Hindu pilgrims. The Catholic retreat centre exists alongside this ancient pilgrimage tradition, representing a Christian presence in a city saturated with religious significance.
The northeast Indian tribal communities that come to Guwahati for retreats bring with them cultures of extraordinary richness — Naga festivals, Mizo music, Khasi matrilineal traditions, and Manipuri dance. The Catholic Church in the northeast has developed in deep dialogue with these cultures, producing one of the most inculturated expressions of Christianity in Asia.
The retreat centre serves as a meeting point for Catholic communities scattered across an enormous geographical area — communities that may have limited access to regular retreat facilities in their home states. For many retreat participants, the journey to Guwahati is itself a significant pilgrimage.
The northeast Indian states are unlike anywhere else in India. In Nagaland, over 90% of the population is Christian — Baptists, Catholics, and Presbyterians. In Mizoram, 87%. These are the most Christian regions in India, and they are also among the most culturally vibrant and politically complicated. The Catholic Church here has grown in dialogue with Naga warrior culture, Mizo community ethics, and Khasi matrilineal social structure. The Guwahati retreat centre is where this Church meets to renew itself.
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, Give them up! and to the south, Do not hold them back. Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth.”
Read in full on Bible Gateway →With two retreat centres established in West Bengal, the Vincentian Congregation looked eastwards, and this is how the Divine Retreat Centre, Khetri, was established. The Congregation’s first foray was into Assam — the closest among the seven North-Eastern states. The first centre was built at Khetri, which is located about 39 km from Guwahati.
The Bishop of Guwahati, the Rt Rev Dr Thomas Menamparambil, invited the Vincentian Congregation to establish a retreat centre in Guwahati Diocese. Khetri is a beautiful village set in idyllic surroundings and was well chosen for this divine purpose. The Divine Retreat Centre, Khetri, is located atop a hill and is spread across eight acres of land. It has developed into a very popular centre where the faithful congregate for worship and praise of the Lord. Today retreats are conducted in many languages to cater to the spiritual needs of the communities in the region.
God’s ways are strange and wonderful. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and He works everything for our good. Circumstances have now changed, and the centre is growing by the day and functioning very well.
The serenity of Divine Retreat Centre, Khetri, provides a conducive atmosphere for prayer. A pious atmosphere is also created by the presence of the Rosary mysteries on the way to the centre, the Stations of the Way of the Cross, and the Word of God written on coloured boards. Continuous intercessory prayers are offered at the perpetual Adoration Chapel, which can accommodate about forty persons. The cave-like chapel, exclusively meant for silent prayer, attracts many souls to contemplation and deep prayer.
The beautiful Grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary draws people to pray the rosary in her loving presence. Besides this, there is the Grotto of St Joseph, the patron of the centre, the Grotto of St Vincent de Paul and St Alphonsa, and the statue of St Michael, where people pray for protection. There are separate buildings for men and women, with the capacity to accommodate over a hundred persons each. The first floor of the Ladies’ Building is the auditorium, with space for some two hundred and fifty persons, which is used for preaching.
Every month, three residential retreats are conducted for the different tribes of the North East, such as Khasi, Khasi Pnar, Garo, Assamese, Hindi, Bodo, Tiwa, Karbi, English and Nagamese. There are good translators of English into the vernacular dialects. The number of participants varies from group to group. Special retreats for priests and the religious are conducted thrice a year, where the participants reach the maximum. Special retreats for groups such as novices, candidates, youth and catechists are also conducted.
From Friday to Sunday, a team of two priests and three sisters goes on outreach programmes to the parishes of the North East, as per the request of the parish. The Divine Retreat Centre, Khetri, extends its services outside the country as well.
