Kochi: Retreat Centres are a refuge for those expatriates who are looking for relief in the COVID 19 tragedy. In many parts of the state, the Catholic Church’s retreat centers were left to the government for the Quarantine stay. The government has taken several college hostels and quarantine centers, but the health department’s demand for bath-attached rooms has been hampered in many cases. It was in this situation that the retreat center authorities came to the rescue.
The main quarantine centers in Thrissur district are Divine Meditation Center, Muttur, Potta Ashram, Pariyaram Center for Spiritual Realization (CSR), and Animation Center at Alaragappa Polytechnic Archdiocese of Thrissur. The English wing of the Divine Meditation Center of the Vincentian monastery houses 150 rooms. 27 people from Mali were admitted here. Hundreds of rooms in the Potta Ashram of the Vincentian society have been handed over to the government. In addition to the clergy in the center, health workers and police are also assisting.
The CMI gave away fifty rooms of the CSR which are in the parish of the monastic community. 18 people were admitted here. The government of the Thrissur Archdiocese has given room to accommodate 150 people in the Alagappa Poly Technique. Ten people have already been admitted here. The Chittoor Meditation Center (Ministry of Love) under the Archdiocese of Ernakulam and Angamaly has provided accommodation for 60 expatriates in Quarantine. 52 expatriates from the Maldives arrived here yesterday.
Muvattupuzha Nest Pastoral Center under the Diocese of Kothamangalam, two hostels at Vishwajyothi Engineering College, Vazhakkulam, and three hostels at Nirmala College of Pharmacy, Muvattupuzha. The Nest Pastoral Center accommodates 85 people. Only 79 of those from other states have quarantined. Under the Diocese of Idukki, the Nedumkandam Karuna Hospital, which has 200 beds, has been handed over to the Quarantine Center, including its operating theater.
The Quarantine Center is the center of the Zunheon meditation center in the Pathanamthitta district, the Changanassery Archdiocese. There are 60 bath attached rooms that can accommodate 150 people. Seven missionaries from other states have been quarantined at the Quarantine Center in the Shanthilayam under the Archdiocese of Thiruvalla. The Thumpamon JC Peace Foundation building of the Pathanamthitta Diocese has been handed over to the Quarantine Center.
Pullurampara Bathania Renewal Center, the spiritual revival center of the Diocese of Thamarassery, has given up the quarantine requirements of the diaspora. Mar Ivanios College, Malankara, Catholic Church, Thiruvananthapuram The Mar Aprem Boys Hostel of Mar Baselios College, St. Thomas Boys Hostel of Mar Ivanios College, Marimata Girls Hostel and Alphonsa Girls Hostel. In addition, the Mar Gregorios Renewal Center has been opened.
Two hundred people have been accommodated in the White House, an animation center under the Latin Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram. Special facilities are provided for the lodging of health workers, security personnel, and volunteers. The Archdiocese of Changanacherry had already left the campus of Lourd Mata College of Science and Technology to the district administration. All the hospitals under the Catholic Church had already given up their church leadership for the COVID defense. In addition, more than Rs 1 crore has been handed over to the Chief Minister’s Aid Fund for defense work.
