History of SD
A Brief History of the Congregation of Sisters of the Destitute (SD)
Every Religious Congregation is a gift of God to the Church and to the people of God, having its own history to cherish.It is said that history is first lived and then written.The history of sisters of the Destitute(SD) narrates the story of God’s designs and the gift of His Grace working in and through SD, from the time it was born in the mind and thoughts of its Founder and got actualized in the heart of the Church on 19 March 1927, to this day, as we have lived our charism and mission as it has been traditionally transmitted to us and nurtured by the Grace of God. The history and spirituality of SD contains great potential for the members to cherish and nourish. In the forthcoming account we are trying to present a concise verbal sketch of her history formed by her about more than 1800 members who have reached out far and wide to five continents, spread out in about 222 communities, bearing witness to the compassionate love of Christ in numerous and varied ways, for the information of the seekers of knowledge about her.
The Congregation of Sisters of the Destitute was founded at Chunangamveli near Aluva in the District of Ernakulam in Kerala, South India, on 19 March 1927 with four members as pioneers. It was the deplorable social condition then existing in Kerala that prompted the Founder to form the Congregation of SD. In those days there were no systems or organizations in Kerala to care for the poor and abandoned destitutes and so the destitutes were living in a very pathetic condition, suffering a lot. This pitiable situation was always a thorn pricking the compassionate heart of Fr. Varghese Payapilly and getting intensified as an impelling inner urge to do something to help the helpless. It seems that the Holy Spirit had anointed him with a special charism to carry on the mission of Jesus Christ who had been anointed by the Spirit of the Lord(Lk 4:18) to share the Good News of the Love of God with the poor. While he was thinking, praying and consulting about this matter the idea of starting a Congregation of sisters to care for the abandoned and aged destitute sprang up in his mind. At the same time some young ladies from the locality of Kizhakkambalam were insisting Mar Augustine Kandathil, the Archbishop of Ernakulam Archdiocese to provide them with a Convent other than those that had been existing in that area at that time. As the Bishop was well aware of the charismatic inspiration of Fr. Varghese, he sent those ladies to Fr. Vaeghese after getting confirmed of their willingness to dedicate their life to care for the poor. After many more meetings, discussions, consultations and prayerful waiting Fr. Varghese Payapilly decided to start a Congregation of Sisters with the permission and blessing of the Archbishop, with a view to sharing the Compassionate Love of Jesus Christ with the poor and the destitute. Thus it was this Providential confluence that resulted in the foundation of the Congregation of Sisters of the Destitute. Receiving those first aspiring ladies, he lodged them at the guard house that was in the plot of land which he had bought for the archdiocese, converting it into a residence with four small rooms and making some necessary facilities for their living.
The Founder himself instructed the pioneer sisters on the basics of consecrated life and the particular charism of the newly formed Religious community. He introduced them to a new life style fruitioning from God orientation rooted in meditation and Holy Eucharist, merging into it the other – orientation as its external application.The Founder taught them the importance of family apostolate. So every day on their way back to house after the Holy Mass at the Parish church, they visited the families around the locality, and under the direction of the Founder started caring for the sick and the poor needy people whom they found. The Founder’s devout way of offering the Holy Mass and his inspiring and touching homilies inspired the aspirants and strongly motivated them to sacrifice themselves for others, urged by the Compassionate love of Lord Jesus Christ. All the while he was carefully nurturing their life of prayer, penance and spirit of humble service. Influenced and enlightened by the example and instruction of the Founder they could also recognize Jesus in the poor and the needy whom they encountered – the same Jesus that they experienced in the Eucharistic celebration. He also took the initiative to train them in nursing bed ridden patients. In order to teach the aspirants the fundamentals of Religious life he brought two Carmelite sisters from Chengal and Koonammavu, with the permission of the Archbishop.
While being fully involved in the task of founding and fostering the new Congregation, he had also to discharge the heavy duties of his assignment as the Manager of the reputed St. Mary’s High School, Aluva. So he was residing at the School Boarding house, and from there every day he came to Chunangamvely to see to the managing affairs of the Convent. Fr. Varghese Pathiamoola, the Rector of the Boarding and clerk of the School, wholeheartedly co-operated with the Founder in the upbringing of the Congregation and trained the candidates in accounting and farming. He contributed his salary to the convent. As these Fathers were called by the Boarders, the aspirants too called the Founder as Valliachan (Senior Priest), and Fr. Pathiamoola as Kochachan (Jr. Priest).
Gradually more candidates were coming seeking admission to the new Congregation. On 19 March1927, the Feast Day of our fondest heavenly Patron St. Joseph the Founder offered Holy Mass in one of the small rooms of the Guard house convent, converting it as a small chapel, and formally inaugurated the new Religious Congregation which he called, ‘The Little Sisters of the Poor’. But later when Most Rev. Leo Peter Kierkels, the Apostolic Delegate of India, visited the Convent and Home for the Aged at Chunangamvely on 31 January 1933, he asked to change the name of the Congregation since there had already been another Congregation with the same name. The new name suggested was ‘Sisters of the Destitute ’by which it has been called ever since.
Following a three day closed retreat conducted by Rev. Fr. George Tharayil seven aspirants received veil on 8 May, 1927. They were:
Thresia Mathew Kalamparampil
Sr. Thresia
Thresia Ouseph Kuppiyil Edakala
Sr. Josephine
Eleswa Anthony Madathiparambil
Sr. Cicily
Rosa Anthony Mazhuvanchery
Sr. Gertrude
Thresia Anthony Oottanchery
Sr.Celina/Kochuthresia
Eleswa Mathai Kalapurackal
Sr. Mariam Magdalena
Rosa Johannan, Nedumkallel
Sr. Ursula
Out of this batch it was the first five ladies who had initiated to take bold and heroic efforts like going on foot to Ernakulam from Kizhakkambalam to meet the Archbishop, and making insistent requests to provide them with a convent that would suit their expectations.The last two came later, after the aspirants had already settled at Chunangamvely, hearing the inspiring exhortation of the Founder on the charism of the new Congregation. But Kalamparambil Thresia and Mariam Magdalena went back home in a short while after joining the Congregation, realizing that they were not suitable to embrace consecrated life.
Thus the first four members, Sisters Josephine, Cicily, Gertrude and Kochuthresia came to be known as the pioneers who laid the foundation of SD along with the Founder Venerable Fr.Varghese Payapilly. Though not counted as one among the first five pioneers, Sr. Ursula belonged to the first batch of Sisters and she lived a very exemplary life of solid spirituality and heroic sacrifices in a spirit of humble service, putting her whole and sole trust in Jesus Christ her bridegroom and fully immersed in Him.
Beginning of the Home for the Aged
The small Guard house that accommodated the first candidates soon turned also to be the first ‘Home for the Aged’. In the 1920’s a Home for the Aged was a novelty in Kerala.The story goes like this:
During their home visits the aspirants happened to see a poor paralyzed man called Vareed and his aged mother in a hut. Since they found it difficult to care for him there, as per the direction of the Founder they brought him to their guard house convent and put him up in one of their four small rooms. Thus the guard house served both as a convent and Home for the Aged. A week later Vareed’s aged mother was also brought there, so as not to leave her alone and helpless in her poor hut. This was the beginning of the Home for the Aged at Chunangamvely. The formal inauguration of the Home was held on 8 September 1926.
The Founder did not keep the Institution as his own preserve. He wanted to make it a popular endeavour making as many people of good will as possible involved in it. Therefore in consultation with the Archbishop he convoked a public meeting of the citizens at Aluva on 1 April 1927. Mr. Kadir Pillai, a leading citizen of Aluva presided over the meeting with Advocates C.P. Tharakan and Joseph Naduvathussery as vice presidents. Many other prominent citizens also took part in this meeting. On this occasion the Founder made a passionate appeal highlighting the need and goal of the Home for the Aged. A decision was taken at the meeting to beg alms to raise funds for the running of the Home. The Founder himself together with the sisters went along the streets of Aluva begging alms for the poor. Kari, his rikshaw man and bullock cart driver accompanied this group of ‘distinguished beggars to show them the houses to be visited and also to transport by bullock cart the collected things like rice, vegetables etc. The Founder also approached other dioceses to collect funds. While travelling if he found an aged man or woman lying abandoned on the roadside or on the veranda of a shop he brought him to the Home at his own expense.
Valliachan himself was the first formator of the aspirants in taking care of the aged and sick destitute. He used to exhort the sisters like this: ‘Serve the poor man as though he were Jesus’. He wanted to dissolve this conviction into the bones and marrows, flesh and mind of each SD sister. He taught them how to care for the dying when Vareed the first inmate of the Home was on his death bed. He administered the sacrament of anointing the sick, and after his death he prepared the body for the funeral, conducted the funeral service, and buried the body at the parish cemetery of Chunangamvely. After the burial he always offered Holy Mass for the dead.Thus he spent himself for the inmates of the Home with such a loving passion for serving the destitute. It has become a pattern and inspiration for the sisters as well. Another dictum that he gave to the Sisters to be observed in their life of service to the poor was this: ‘ You should satisfy your own needs, only after the destitute under your care are fed, clothed and housed’.
Vestition
Following a seven day closed retreat conducted by Rev. Fr. Joseph Panjikkaran the vestition ceremony of six aspirants was solemnly conducted at the Aluva St.Mary’s School hall on 19 March 1929, the feast day of St. Joseph, officiated by Mar Augustine Kandathil, the Archbishop of Ernakulam. The newly vested sisters were Srs. Josephine, Cicily, Gertrude, Kochuthresia, Ursula and Mary Agnes. ( Sr. Mary Agnes left the Congregation on 10 February 1932). Now having completed the responsibility entrusted to them, after two and a half years of service, on 29 August 1929 the Formators Sr. Anna and Mariam CMC returned to their Convent. When the formee sisters shed tears at their farewell the Founder consoled and strengthened them saying, ‘Dear daughters do not be worried about anything. I brought them here to teach you the essentials of Religious life. Now I shall instruct you on the real spirit and basic values of the Little Sisters of the Poor and keep you safe in your Religious commitment’. He had such a clear vision of the Congregation that he founded which he was always pondering over in his mind.
For the smooth running of the community the Founder appointed Sr. Josephina the first member as their Superior, with the unanimous consent of the other members. Bye and bye the community grew and developed assuming a systematic structure. The dynamic life style and spirit of fervent service of the new Congregation began to draw the attention of the public, far and near. Educated young women from noble and reputed families began to seek admission to the new and challenging Congregation, despite the despising remarks of some calling it as ‘paddy husking convent’. For, in the initial period the sisters manually husked paddy for the Boarding house of St. Mary’s School, as a means of income for their living.
The Archbishop frequently visited the Sisters at Chunangamvely to impart his blessings and encouragement to them. SD began to tread the Lord’s path coping up with adversities.
An unexpected turn of events
God was training the infant SD in the school of adversities so that she would be empowered by His loving providence. On 9 September 1929 Venerable Fr. Varghese got affected by a severe cold which soon grew worse. He was very weak with illness and was confined to his room. The Sisters went to visit him at St. Mary’s. He eagerly inquired about everything. The Sisters seemed to be so sad about him and bade farewell in tears. He consoled the sobbing Sisters: ‘ Beloved little children, whatever happens surrender to the will of God. Do not pray for anything else. Pray that only the Will of God be done’. It was their last meeting, and his last words to the Sisters. Soon he was diagnosed with typhoid, and was shifted to Ernakulam General Hospital on 24 September 1929. But medical science could not save his life. On Saturday 5 October 1929 the lamp that was glowing subsided for ever. The Sisters with their throbbing hearts remained in prayer at Chunangamvely, without a chance for a last look at their beloved Valliachan. His mortal body was laid to rest at the Parish Church of his birth place Konthuruthy.
The unexpected departure of the Founder who was everything for them was an unbearable loss for the Sisters. The conditions of those days did not permit his spiritual daughters to be at the death bed of their Founder and father. The fact that they could not have even a glance of his dead body or pay him a last homage aggravated their grief. But keeping his last words in mind, they silently surrendered to the Will of God.
The untimely demise of the Founder left the Religious Congregation and the Home for the Aged literally orphaned. His Grace Archbishop Mar Augustine Kandathil visited and consoled the deeply bereaved Sisters and inmates of the Home. He told them, ‘Beloved children, grieve not, for the Holy Spirit will provide you with an appropriate person to guide you, in response to your earnest prayer’. Before long His Grace appointed Fr. George Valliarumpeth, hailing from Vaikom, and the then Parish Priest of Tripunithura Forane Church as the Director of the Religious Community and the Institute, thereby opening a new chapter in the history of SD.
Before continuing the story of SD let us pause for a while and make a flash back to the Founder and the Pioneer Sisters.
Venerable Father Varghese Payapilly - A brief biographical sketch and some prominent personality traits
Little Varghese was born as the … son of Mr. Lonan Payapilly( Palackapilly) and Mrs. Kunjumariam at Perumanur in Konthuruthy Parish in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam on 8 August 1876. Varghese grew up in a spiritual atmosphere in the family where vocations to priesthood thrived. He had an uncle and a cousin who were Priests. He did his Elementary education at KPLP School, Perumanur, and High school education at St. Albert’s High School, Ernakulam. While he was in the ninth standard he joined the Petty Seminary at Puthenpally near Alangad, and learned Latin. Perceiving the extra ordinary qualities in the aspiring boy, Bishop Mar Louis Pazheparambil, the Vicar Apostolic of Ernakulam, sent him to the Kandy Papal Seminary in Srilanka in 1897 to continue his Priestly studies, where he attained the best priestly formation, the traits of which were reflected later in his personal life style and priestly ministry.
Deacon Varghese Payapilly was ordained Priest on 21 December 1907, by Rev. Dr. Clement Pagnani, the then Bishop of Kandy. He offered his first Holy Mass there, dedicating his entire life at the altar of the Lord as a holocaust and never regretted it. The new Priest and his three companions left Kandy the next day of their ordination and returned to India. It was their home trip after ten years of study and formation at Kandy. Later they were sent to Chengal to learn Syriac and the east Syriac liturgy.
Fr. Varghese Payapilly was appointed the Parish Priest of Kadamakudy church in 1909, of Alangad in two terms – from 1910 to 1913, and from 1916 to 1920. From 1913 to 1919 and from 1922 to 1929 he had to shoulder the heavy responsiblity as the Manager of Aluva St. Mary’s High School, the prestigious School of Ernakulam Archdiocese. With this covetous job and onerous responsibility the mission entrusted to him was the hard task of re securing the State recognition of the School that had been withdrawn by the Director of Education, and he managed to win it. He proved himself to be a visionary and generously spent himself for the integral formation of the boys in the School as well as of the boarders. He was a role model for the teachers. He set an example par excellence in academics, effectiveness in pedagogy, soundness in discipline and of harmony in interpersonal relationships. He was able to kindle the same spirit in his colleagues who shared his dreams and ideals, and thus could build up a first rate Institution. In his time the School was a seed bed of priestly vocations, as testified in his autobiography by his Eminence Joseph Cardinal Parecattil, who was a boarding student at St. Mary’s.
In 1920 Fr. Varghese was transferred to St.Mary’s Forane church at Arakuzha. Within a short period of time from 1920 to ‘22 his name was imprinted in the hearts of the parishioners as a zealous shepherd of souls. The second term of Fr. Varghese’ managership of St. Mary’s High school was a most significant period in his life. He intervened in a heroic way to save the marooned people during the dreadfully disastrous flood of 1924. In the same year he was miraculously saved from the Redeemer boat tragedy on his way back from Trivandrum. It was also providential that in the same year he brought a plot of 100 acres of land at Chunangamvely, for the Archdiocese. It was this place where later he could realize his great projects of the foundation of Little Sisters of the Poor, and a Home for the Aged and Infirm.
The personality and spirituality of the Founder are found inseparable like the two sides of a coin. Msgr. Thomas Nedumkallel describes his physical stature as follows: Slender, tall, fair, well built body, broad forehead, striking nose; broad intuitive sharp penetrating eyes, facial expression exhibiting nobility and seriousness, and demeanour capable of attracting anyone. He easily became the confidant of ecclesiastical, civil and educational authorities, revered by all irrespective of caste or creed. He was considered one of the prominent personalities, not only in the Diocese, but in the whole state of Kerala. People even wanted to make him Municipal chairman, in spite of being a Priest. He kept up his gift of intuition to grasp truth and to transmit it to others pleasantly and fearlessly all through his life. Cardinal Parecattil testifies regarding his will power and determination: ‘I have never seen anybody with a will power stronger than that he had’. He confronted even insurmountable problems calmly with the power of the Holy Spirit.
He was a man of extra ordinary vision and mission. The personality traits that God imprinted in him contributed to the formation of his spirituality. Humility, punctuality, submission to the authorities and compassion for the poor enabled him to form a spirituality of self emptying and total surrender to the Will of God. His life was centered on the Eucharist which was the source of his vigour and vitality. His smiling face and simplicity of life made people feel the presence of the Kingdom of God in him.
He was a zealous shepherd of the people, spiritual guide to students and priests, friend of the Religious and Religious communities, a humble man for others, a teacher by example, a man of prophetic vision, and a great devotee of S. Joseph.
The Venerable Fr. Payapilly died at an early age of 53 years, in less than three years after the foundation of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Within this short span of time he did whatever was possible to instil in them the charism of the new Congregation. There was already a living tradition among the first members which they had imbibed directly from the Founder.
Process of Canonization of the Founder
As the Second Vatican Council instructed the Religious Congregations to focus a closer attention on the Founder and founding charism, SD also began to probe deeper into the life, virtues, personality, charism and apostolate of her Founder Fr. Varghese Payapilly. The 75th Death Anniversary of the Founder was observed in the Congregation with grand, meaningful and enriching programs. It was an occasion to delve deeper into his life by collecting informative materials from his relatives and others by all possible means. The deeper knowledge about the life and charism of the Founder enlightened the Sisters so as to kindle an earnest desire in them to get him canonized. A book named as ‘Karunayude Neerchal’ and some other writings on him were published. According to the decision of the General Synaxis of the Congregation steps were taken to apply for the canonization of the Founder, and the process of canonization began on 25 August 2009, after 80 years of the death of the Founder. Sr. Roseline Elavanal SD was appointed the Postulator of the Cause. On 6 September 2009 following the Eucharistic celebration officiated by Rev.Fr. Antony Punnassery , Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil, the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam – Angamally Archeparchy, officially declared that the Initiation of the Cause of the Servant of God Fr. Varghese Payapilly has begun. The Diocesan Tribunal took the oath during the ceremony. This solemn Opening ceremony was held at our Mother house, Chunangamvely. During the Synod of Syro Malabar Bishops at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad in January 2010 we got the written approval of the Synod for the Cause and Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil submitted the application to the Congregation of the Cause of Saints, Rome for approval. On 9 September 2010 Ernakulam Archdiocese received the Nihl obstat that was written in Rome on 25 August 2010 . Thus the Founder of SD, Fr. Varghese Payapilly became Servant of God, and Valliachan’s name was included in the list of Servants of God in Rome.
The next step of the process, exhumation, that is opening of the tomb of the Servant of God Fr. Varghese Payapilly was conduted on 23 February at St. Nepumsian’s church at Konthuruthy with a special solemn ceremony presided over by Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, in the presence of official witnesses. When the tomb was opened, to the surprise of all, Valliachan’s skeleton was seen intact even after 83 years. All were convinced that God had actually preserved the skeleton without damnation. The bones were taken out, cleaned and put in the specially prepared caskets, and kept in another specially arranged tomb inside the church.
After completing further procedures of the process like enquiry of the Archdiocesan tribunal, sending the boxes containing the documents to the office of the Roman tribunal, the solemn closing ceremony at the Mother house Chunangamvely, and submission of the Positio prepared by the Roman Postulator Sr. Grace Koovayil SD to the Historical Commission in Rome, the Positio was accepted by all the Roman Authorities concerned, and on 14 April 2018 Servant of God Fr. Varghese Payapilly was declared Venerable by Pope Francis. We are hopefully and prayerfully waiting for further Divine intervention for the remaining process to be completed as we experienced so far in all the procedures of the Cause of the Founder. Whoever reads this matter is requested to continue to pray with earnestness and commitment and encourage others to pray and to make him known to many more in every possible way.
The Congregation of the Sisters of the Destitute and the Home for Aged stand out today as two significant and live monuments of the priestly compassion and Christian charity of the Founder Venerable Fr. Varghese Payapilly. SD, the Religious Congregation that he founded has grown up enormously branching out far and wide in India and abroad.