|
Foundation The Society of the oblates of the Sacred Heart is a “Society of Common Life according to the Manner of Religious” specially governed by the norms according to CCEO cc. 554-562. By the very nature of the Society, it is a Societies of Common Life according to the Manner of Religious in the eparchial right, erected in the Archeparchy of Kottayam (www.kottayamad.org), in the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church (www.thesyromalabarchurch.org). It is a clerical society, which consists of priests and members who do not aspire to the clerical state (brothers).
History On 21st November, 1921 a dream was realized, the dream Mar Mathew Makil had been cherishing in his heart since his visit to the OMI congregation at Colombo with Fr. Chandy Chulaparambil, the then secretary of the bishop. Inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit, his successor Mar Alexander Chulaparambil, on the look out for a suitable place for monastic life, spotted 'Chengalakattu-kunnu'. There he founded OSH fulfilling the long cherished need for consecrated life for men in the Archeparchy of Kottayam. Bishop Chulaparambil bought the land on 28th May, 1921. On 1st November, 1921, a statue of the Sacred Heart was placed at the entrance of the land and was christened as Sacred Heart Mount (S.H. Mount). It is about Three Kilometers away from Kottayam town. Bishop Chulaparambil was an ardent devotee of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. While studying in Candy Seminary, Sri Lanka, he fostered a strong devotion to the Sacred Heart and a special attraction to the lifestyle of St. Francis De Sales, which was highlighted in his pastoral letter, dated 21st November, 1931. With a view of founding a religious institute, he invited a few priests interested in religious life from the Archeparchy. On 20th November, 1921, the bishop blessed a little chapel and the first house of the society; and later with the approval of the Holy See, Mar Chulaparambil, raised this association as an institute for priests and lay brothers in the Archeparchy of Kottayam and named it the ‘Oblates of the sacred Heart (OSH)’. On 29th January, 1924 the first members made their religious profession in the presence of the eparchial bishop. The first members of the Society of OSH were a group of clerics and brothers of the Archeparchy of Kottayam. They were gathered together to form a community at Sacred Heart Mount, on the feast of the presentation of Our Lady on the Temple under the leadership of Fr. Kuriakose Kuzhimullil, the first superior. Bishop Chulaparambil, by his Decree dated 29th January, 1930, canonically erected the Society by framing its general rules based on the Rules of St. Charles Borromeo’s Oblates of St. Ambrose. The founder bishop, by erecting the Society of the OSH, envisaged not only the personal sanctification of its members but also their availability for various ministries in the Archeparchy as well as in the Universal Church, such as pastoral, ecumenical, family apostolate, etc. Purpose and Charism The Society draws its spirit and distinctive character from the life and works, and the Common Rules of Church and Society. The members of the Society living in common and devote themselves to the pursuit of perfect charity through the practice of the evangelical counsels. The specific purpose of the Society is to propagate and spread the love of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus through various pastoral ministries such as parish ministry, family visits, education, ecumenism, social service activities etc. The Charism of the Society of OSH is the living and transmitting of the love of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. They share the love of Jesus, from ones own life experience with Jesus, to others. The love of Jesus is expressed and transmitted through its various activities of apostolate. Revival Divine providence revived the Society of OSH all through the ages. The Society has defined its charism in tune with the needs of the time in its revision of the statutes: Spreading the devotion of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus through its various pastoral activities. It is expressed through its various activities; like teaching in the schools, to be in charge of the parishes, mission centers, ecumenical contacts and dialogues, and by taking up whatever pastoral and apostolic tasks entrusted to them by the eparchy of Kottayam and in the universal Church, etc. Apostolate An important apostolate of the OSH members was the promotion of migration to the northern side of Malabar. Since many people found it difficult to earn a living for their families in their present set-up, were forced to migrate to the North Malabar where more cultivable land was available and a new beginning was possible for their families. Such people were helped in many ways by the OSH Fathers. Another apostolate was to facilitate the reunion process in the Archeparchy. At present the important apostolate are pastoral ministry, family apostolate, education, social activities etc. Pastoral Ministry Many priests of OSH are actively engaged in pastoral work with various pastoral activities from the very beginning until now without failure. Another one is to help and co-operate with the diocesan clergy in pastoral works. Parish Retreats and the Retreats for the Religious are also done by the OSH fathers. Since a few years the members of OSH have been doing their pastoral ministry in Australia, Canada, USA, Germany and South Africa other than the Archeparchy of Kottayam and in India. Preaching the Gospel, Spiritual Guidance and Family Counseling is also comes under the pastoral ministry of OSH fathers. Educational Ministry The Congregation renders good service in the field of education. It conducts Elementary School, High School and Higher Secondary School. Our education institution has earned a good reputation for formation and excellence. The Society of OSH is running a recognized Higher Secondary School in C.B.S.E. pattern. Students from our institutions have come off very successfully. We help the poor students by granting scholarships either partial or full fee concessions. We have a reputable staff members working in our institutions. Social Ministry All apostolic activities of the society of OSH spring from its charism, i.e., the living and transmitting the love of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Following the example of Jesus, the society has taken up the social apostolate which is an important field of activity of our Society. Sacred Heart Social Service Society (SHESSS) The Society of the Oblates of the Sacred Heart (OSH) has established a registered Social Service Society (registered under Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific & Charitable Societies Act XII of 1955) with the name ‘Sacred Heart Social Service Society’ before the Kottayam District Register, General with the Reg. No. K. 463/ 07, to co-ordinate the charitable and social activities of the Society of OSH with its own Rules and Regulations. The members are admitted from the Society of OSH by the president from time to time are the members of the Society. The members cannot be less than seven and more than fifty. The supreme control and management of the affairs of the society is vested in the Board of Directors. The Annual General Body elects the Board of Directors for one year and they may be re-elected upon the expiration of their term of office. Those who Guided in the History 1 | V. Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Kuzhimullil | - | 2 | V. Rev. Fr. Jacob Tharayil | 1937 - 1943, 1951 - 1954 | 3 | V. Rev. Fr. Thomas Mukalel | 1943 - 1948 | 4 | V. Rev. Fr. Thomas Edathiparampil | 1948 – 1951, 1966 - 1970 | 5 | V. Rev. Fr. James Theckanattu | 1954 - 1958 | 6 | V. Rev. Fr. Jacob Mudackalil | 1958 – 1964, 1970 - 1973 | 7 | V. Rev. Fr. Mathew Ayathil | 1964 - 1965 | 8 | V. Rev. Fr. Thomas Kaniyamalil | 1965 - 1966 | 9 | V. Rev. Fr. Thomas Chamakalayil | 1973 - 1981 | 10 | V. Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Karamel | 1981 - 1985 | 11 | V. Rev. Fr. Joseph Mulavanal | 1985 - 1988 | 12 | V. Rev. Fr. Thomas Thazhappally | 1988 -1990 | 13 | V. Rev. Fr. Jacob Vezhaparambil | 1990 - 1992 | 14 | V. Rev. Fr. Thomas Puthusseril | 1992 - 1995 | 15 | V. Rev. Fr. Mathew Kaniantharamali | 1995 - 2007 | 16 | V. Rev. Fr. Mathew Kannuvettiel | 2007 - |
|
Address Fr. Superior General
S.H Mount Monastery
S.H Mount P.O, Kottayam – 686 006
Kerala, INDIA Tel: +91-481-2312387, 2312388, 2312389
481-2311465 (S.G)
Fax: +91-481-2312399 E mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
