Community of St. John of God  Kattappana, Kerala

Early History

The first two Brothers, Bro. Fortunatus Thanhäuser and Bro. Prakash Madapally, arrived at Kattappana on 19th November 1969. They were very warmly welcomed by Rev. Fr. Joseph Meprakarott (parish priest), Rev. Fr. Joseph Kurinjiparambil, (assistant parish priest), and the people. Monsignor L.J. Chittoor (administrator of the diocese), introduced the Brothers to the large audience.

The Parish Priest accommodated the Brothers in the presbytery until their residence was constructed and blessed on 6th April 1970. This small residence was close to the hospital and was built under the supervision and guidance of Fr. Meprakarott. The community life began in the presbytery. Bro. Alfons M. Höring and Bro. Werenfried Diel from Germany joined the community on 4th April 1970. Later in September 1970 Bro. Werenfried was recalled to Frankfurt due to a lack of Brothers.

Fr. Mathew Kalathoor CMI was the first spiritual director and chaplain at Kattappana. The first Holy Mass was celebrated on 27th June. In the beginning, Mass was celebrated in the Brothers’ parlour until a small chapel was built in November 1970. The first three Postulants were admitted to the novitiate on 5th July 1970.

The hospital was transferred from Kumbukkal to the present building on the 1st of February 1971. Following an old tradition of the Order, the Brothers went to the hospital wards soon after Holy Mass each morning to serve patients. Bro. Savio Padinjarekutte arrived at Kattappana in October 1972 after six years of training in Frankfurt. On 4th November 1973 Bro. Savio Padinjarekutte made his solemn profession. The Provincial, Bro. Makarius Klaholz, and Bro. Florentin Langthaler, Provincial of Austria, were present.

Growth & Development

 The construction of the present Brothers’ Residence was completed in October 1976 and was blessed, together with the present Chapel, by Mar Joseph Powathil, the Auxiliary Archbishop of Changanassery, on 8th February 1977. The Provincial, Makarius Klaholz and Bro. Michael Mockenhaupt were present. Vellappally Brothers, Kottayam, built the Residence and the Chapel.

St. Martha’s Sisters (SMC) helped the Brothers to manage the dietary department of the house and the hospital from 1978 to … the following Sisters did wonderful service here.)

Bro. Robert Wimmer of Bavaria joined the Community at Kattappana in July 1981 and returned to Bavaria after 1½ years of service.

Until 1981, when a separate formation house was established at Poonamallee (Chennai), the different stages of initial formation - Aspirancy, Postulancy and Novitiate - were at Kattappana itself.

Activities Connected With the Community at Kattappana

 The first apostolic activity of the Brothers at Kattappana was in the St. John’s Hospital (see separate article). Soon they started social activities such as a home for the chronically sick and aged orphans called ‘Pratheeksha Bhavan’ (separate article), midday meals for the poor, houses for poor families, free medical care to the poor sick, sponsorship to poor students, Mother & Child Health Programme, financial assistance to the poor, etc. To know more about these activities see the article entitled ‘The Welfare Activities Initiated by Bro. Fortunatus Thanhäuser.’

In 1982, the St. John’s School of Nursing and in 2003 the St. John’s College of Nursing were started. (For more information see the article on St. John’s Hospital).

Bro. Prakash Madappally started a service known as ‘Kaithiri’ (meaning ‘small light’), to help poor children with their studies. (See separate article).

The Scholasticate

From the beginning, for many years, the Scholasticate of the Order had been in the Kattappana Community. Now the Scholasticate is at Velloor. The Scholastics undergo studies/training at different places. 

Present Community

There are 09 Brothers in the Kattappana Community. Bro. Roy Joseph is the Prior (Superior) Mob.0+919567294000. Brothers are engaged in different apostolic activities in the Hospital, Pratheeksha Bhavan, etc.

The farm (c. 16 hectares) provides job opportunity for many people near by. The main crops cultivated are pepper, coffee, coconut, cardamom, plantain and tapioca.

Institutions