Healing Ministry of Bethany Sisters at Vadakkankulam “I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord” (Jer 30:17) God brought the congregation of the sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany into being in the church on 16th July, 1921, on the feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel. The first house was at Bendur - Mangalore. Bethany was the response of the Servant of God Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas to the cry of rural children for good education and faith formation, the yearning of young girls for religious life, the thirst of women for empowerment and aspiration of the youth for direction of life. ‘Service born out of love’ which is the spirit of the Bethany sisters has attracted many Bishops and ecclesial authorities and has inspired them to invite the sisters to their dioceses. Bethany sisters are involved in pastoral apostolate, educational apostolate, social apostolate, medical apostolate and hostel apostolate rendering their loving services in 63 dioceses over 9 countries, having 192 communities across India, Germany, Italy, France and Africa. Rev. Fr Maria Gnanam who sensed the need of the medical care for his flock invited the Bethany Sisters with open hands to Vadakkankulam. Four sisters ventured into the unknown land and started their healing ministry at Vadakkankulam on 27.07.1970. Initially they started their mission in a rented house and later with the help of the Miserior, they were able to build a small hospital named St Thomas Hospital at the present location. As the years rolled, hospital was expanded with more facilities and infrastructures, with help of Manos Unidas and our Congregation. Sisters had hard times, challenges and difficulties due to lack of water, money and personnel. With the grace of God and blessings of Mother Mary, they have thrived and at present the hospital has expanded to 40 beds, well equipped operation theatre and other facilities. Their services are benefited by 25-30 villages covering about 3-4 lakh population. We enjoy the support and encouragement of the ecclesial authorities. People of Vadakkankulam are wonderful, friendly, welcoming, generous and helpful. Besides our healing ministry in the hospital, we are involved in pastoral activities of the parish: teaching catechism, preparing the people to receive sacraments, attending BCC prayer meetings, visiting the families in the parish, rendering palliative care to the bedridden and terminally ill patients. We are grateful to God for His powerful guiding hands in our medical ministry. We hope and pray that our presence here brings love, peace and joy thus, establishing the Kingdom of God. We also owe our gratitude to Bishops, priests and religious communities of Vadakkankulam for their contribution in our mission. We extend our thanks to the people of Vadakkankulam and all those whom we are able to serve especially through our healing ministry. As the Holy Family Church at Vadakkankulam celebrates 150 years of its existence, we wish and pray that it may become rich soil where the seed of faith of Christianity grows and bears much fruit for the glory of Triune God.
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