Retreats
The great seeker St Augustine of Hippo revealed: “Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you.” Within every human person is placed a spiritual thirst to be in communion with the Maker. In seeking to quench this interior longing, the human person was led by the deceptive offers of this world and left with a deeper emptiness. Dissatisfaction and despair set in. However this was never meant to be the destiny of humankind.
God chose to become Emmanuel – a ‘God with us’ to be seen, heard and experienced. Jesus, the Son of God came into this world as the Good Shepherd to nourish, heal and revive the human soul. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim the good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18). This mission He entrusted to the Church to continue the spiritual feeding of the flock. As Vatican II clarified the mission of evangelization was the sole purpose of the existence of the Church. Through the centuries, religious congregations committed themselves for the spiritual renewal of the Church.
Divine Retreat Centre run by the Mary Matha Province of the Vincentian Congregation, has been at the service of the Church for this mission of the spiritual renewal of the people. It has been raised by God as the venue where the word of God is preached and the Sacraments are administered that people may experience the reality and liberating power of God. It stands as the largest Catholic Retreat Centre in the world. Since 1989 weeklong spiritual retreats in English, Hindi, Konkani, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu are held simultaneously, every week of the year
Features of the Retreat
“My House shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7). People flock into the Divine Retreat Centre from across the nations, cultures and walks of life to spend a week in prayer.
Prayer here is firstly, an encounter with the love of God where God chooses to speak through the Word, and to touch and heal through His powerful presence in the Sacraments.
The deep experience of God leads to the healing of mind, body and soul and to the reconciliation in relationships and with the past. The return to God is not an isolated event. It sets the person on a trail of healing. Firstly, from the consequences of sin, where the spirit is freed from addictions. Secondly, the individual becomes a channel of peace and families are reunited. Thirdly, the person discovers the mission and purpose in life and radiates the healing received to those one encounters in the world. testimonies.
This spiritual journey of healing and sanctification culminates in the experience of the anointing of the Holy Spirit, where they are empowered to go out into the world with the mission of peace, love and life
Schedule Of Upcoming Retreats
Jan – Mar 2025
29 Dec – 3 Jan Holy Spirit Retreat
5 Jan – 10 Jan Inner Healing Retreat
12 Jan – 17 Jan Couples Retreat
19 Jan – 24 Jan Inner Healing Retreat
26 Jan – 31 Jan Couples Retreat
2 Feb – 7 Feb Inner Healing Retreat
9 Feb – 14 Feb Couples Retreat
16 Feb – 21 Feb Physical healing Retreat
23 Feb – 28 Feb Couples Retreat
2 Mar – 7 Mar Lenten Retreat
9 Mar – 14 Mar Lenten Retreat
16 Mar – 21 Mar Lenten Retreat
23 Mar – 28 Mar Lenten Retreat
30 Mar – 4 Apr Lenten Retreat
Details of the Retreat
The retreat based on the Catholic sacramental and charismatic spirituality is patterned over 6 days, where there is daily worship with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, prayers with Eucharistic Adoration, preaching of the word of God, proclamation of faith through testimonies and praise and worship. Personally every person gets the opportunity of the sacrament of Confession and spiritual counseling with gifted elders.
The retreats in seven languages are held in separate halls in two campuses that lie on either side of the NH 544 Salem Kochi highway. In the Divine Retreat Centre English campus, retreats are held in English, Konkani, Hindi and Kannada. These retreats begin every week on Sunday at 10 am and conclude on Friday at 2 pm. Retreats for children and a ‘Bible Nursery’ for tiny tots are held simultaneously along with the weekly retreats. In the Divine Retreat Centre Malayalam campus, retreats are held in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu. These retreats begin every Sunday at 2 pm and end on Friday at 8 am. Accommodation and dining facilities are provided for the participants on campus.
The retreat based on the Catholic sacramental and charismatic spirituality is patterned over 6 days, where there is daily worship with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, prayers with Eucharistic Adoration, preaching of the word of God, proclamation of faith through testimonies and praise and worship. Personally every person gets the opportunity of the sacrament of Confession and spiritual counseling with gifted elders. The retreats in seven languages are held in separate halls in two campuses that lie on either side of the NH 544 Salem Kochi highway. In the Divine Retreat Centre English campus, retreats are held in English, Konkani, Hindi and Kannada. These retreats begin every week on Sunday at 10 am and conclude on Friday at 2 pm. Retreats for children and a ‘Bible Nursery’ for tiny tots are held simultaneously along with the weekly retreats. In the Divine Retreat Centre Malayalam campus, retreats are held in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu. These retreats begin every Sunday at 2 pm and end on Friday at 8 am. Accommodation and dining facilities are provided for the participants on campus.
Divine Youth Retreats
Inviting you to the two special retreats National Youth Retreat and POWER 2024 the International Youth Retreat from 18-23 May and 20-25 July.
During these weeks there will be Special retreats for Youth, Couples, and Children.
The retreat is led by Fr Augustine Vallooran & Divine team with a host of nationally and internationally renowned preachers.
For prior registration please click the link below:
A special retreat for all priests, religious, lay leaders involved in the ministry of the Church is being held from July 28- August 2.
For details please email divineretreatcentre@gmail.com
Accessibility of the Retreat Centre
Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor, Chalakudy, located at Muringoor, by the National Highway (544) in the district of Thrissur, is 2 kilometres from Chalakudy town, Kerala.
The retreat centre is easily accessible by all modes of transportation.
The closest railway stations are Divine Nagar (1/2 km), Chalakudy (3.6 km), Thrissur (31 km), Alwaye (26), Ernakulam (51.5 km), Shoranur (66 km)
The Kochi international airport (COK) is at Nedumbassery and is 17 kms distant from the retreat centre.
Retreat Malayalam
During the retreats for the sick, special accommodation will be provided for the bedridden if informed in advance. Medical facilities which include an ambulance service are available on request, to transport the sick and disabled from Divine Nagar Railway halt to the retreat centre.
Jesteen Retreat for children takes place every week. Growth retreats and other special retreats are held in Malayalam.
Preachers
Spiritual Counsellors
Divine Retreat Centre has a 200-member-strong trained spiritual counselling team, to offer spiritual guidance on a personal level to retreatants every week. They also counsel the residents of the various homes run by the Divine Charitable Trust, assisting them in their journey of healing and reconciliation.
Intercessors
Imbuing the spirit of the Vatican II, Divine Retreat Centre’s Fathers have taken lay persons and the religious into the proclamation mission, and have trained them to preach the word of God, to share their testimonies and to lead worship sessions.
