Holy Redeemer Renewal Centre Umroi
Towards the end of 1996, the MSFS purchased a plot of land with a house in Umroi, which is about 10 km away from the Guwahati-Shillong (G.S) highway and is situated close to Shillong airport. It was then thought that this could be made use as a Minor Seminary for the candidates hailing from North East instead of sending them to Thamaraserry. Hence a building was constructed for the purpose and was named as MSFS Seminary, ‘Lum Mermier’. The Seminary continued to function there till early 2001 (3 batches) after which it was shifted to Medziphema.
During the Provincial Chapter of 1999, the confreres of the Province had discussed the need for opening a retreat centre. And the Provincial Administration decided to have a retreat centre and proposed Umroi as a suitable location. In the beginning, Fr Chacko Varapadavil conducted monthly conventions and arranged a few retreats and undertook outreach programmes. In 2001, Fr Reji Kizhakkethalackal, appointed as the Mission preacher of the Province, came to join Fr Chacko to assist him in preaching ministry. By then monthly conventions became a regular event and there was a large inflow of participants. On an average, thousand people regularly participated in these monthly conventions, as the ministry became known and accepted across the region. The retreats at centre began to attract people even from outside the state. The centre also began to conduct regular weekly residential retreats. To accommodate the growing number of participants, a new retreat hall and a dormitory for men were built in 2001.
Sr Blandina Momin msmhc (2000-2006), who used to support Fr Chacko in his preaching ministry even before the centre was established, joined the preaching team in 2000 and continued with the ministry and the team till 2006. In 2006 Fr Chacko went to Rome for a renewal course and Fr Devasia Manalel took over as its Director. During 2006-2007, Fr Johny Kuttikottayil was appointed the Superior and Administrator of the centre and the centre continued with the normal momentum with retreats and monthly conventions. Sr Smitha (2006-2009) from Kerala, secular institute member joined the preaching ministry in 2006 and continued till 2009. By 2007-2008, as the ministry got expanded and the number of fathers and permanent staff increased, a new priest-residence was built.
Fr Chacko, on his return from Rome in 2007, was appointed to the centre for preaching ministry. As the programmes and participants increased over the years, the need for more priests for the ministry became urgent. Eventually, Fr Joby Kurikalamkattu in 2007, and Fr Jude Poovakulathu in 2008, were appointed to the centre as assistants for the ministry of preaching. The year 2015-2016 brought a facelift to the centre with a new adoration chapel, the new statues of the Way of the Cross on the campus and cementing of the approach road.
The ministries of the centre include monthly conventions, weekly healing and deliverance ministry, daily prayer and healing services, perpetual adoration, Redeemer’s Youth and Kids, Word of God ministry, ministry of the sick and poor, retreats, directed retreats for the religious and counselling ministry. Apart from the permanent staff of the centre there are also number of volunteers and intercessors who regularly come to assist the centre in the various programmes conducted by the centre.
MSMHC Sisters
MSMHC sisters restarted collaborating in the ministry in 2011 Sisters help in the centre for preaching, counselling, intercession, music ministry, outreach ministries and the daily running of the retreat centre.
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SL. NO |
DIRECTOR |
YEAR |
|
1 |
Chacko Varapadavil |
2000-2005 |
|
2 |
Devasia Manalel |
2005-2010 |
|
3 |
John Karondukadavil |
2010-2014 |
|
|
Reji Kizhakkethalackal |
2014 |
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SL. NO |
Associate Director |
YEAR |
|
1 |
John Karondukadavil |
2009-2010 |
|
2 |
Reji Kizhakkethalackal |
2010-2014 |
|
3 |
|
|
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SL. NO |
ADMINISTRATOR |
YEAR |
|
1 |
James Pattarakalayil |
2000-2002 |
|
2 |
John Kuttikottayil |
2006-2007 |
|
3 |
Kurian Ovelil |
2007-2008 |
|
|
Joby Kurikalakattu |
2008-2009 |
|
|
Mathew Edattu |
2009-2010 |
|
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Jacob Puthiyadathuchalil |
2013-2014 |
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|
Jojan Plathottam |
2012-2013 |
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Corbinus Soreng |
2010-2012 and 2014 |
