St. Teresa's Prayer Group, Ernakulam: Fifty Years of Grace (BJEP018)
St. Teresa’s Prayer Group: Fifty Years of Grace
A long and fruitful Journey of Communion and Joy
(Reflections from Dr. Edward Edezhath and 25 other group members, April 2026)
Introduction
Some of the most enduring things begin with the most unassuming gestures. A door opened. A few people gathered. A name was put on a list. That was how it started — a modest follow-up to a four-day seminar in the summer of 1976. Nobody imagined that this small gathering would still be meeting half a century later, still praising, still listening, still sending people out into the world changed.
The Beginning: A Seminar That Changed Everything
In June 1976, an orientation program on the Catholic Charismatic Renewal was held at St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam, for a mixed gathering of clergy, religious, and laity — about two hundred people in all. The talks were delivered by Fr. Fio Mascarenhas, Fr. Rufus Perera, and Fr. Marcelino Iragui OCD. The first two priests had come from Mumbai, where the Renewal had already taken root and was bearing fruit. The four days were marked by joyful song, free-flowing exchange, and a fresh encounter with life in the Spirit.
On the final day, Fr. Marcelino announced that he would help form a follow-up group for those who wished to continue. About forty people signed up. Beginning in the first week of July 1976, they met every Sunday at St. Teresa's College, spending three to four hours together covering the themes of the Life in the Spirit Seminar. The Carmelite Sisters (CSST), who ran the college, joined these gatherings with great enthusiasm and warmth. Soon, young people were arriving in greater numbers, drawn by something they could feel but not yet quite name. The group had found its home.
Fr. Marcelino Iragui: Mentor, Guide, and Inspiration
No honest account of St. Teresa's Prayer Group can be told without lingering over the figure of Fr. Marcelino. A tall, lean Carmelite priest from Spain with a wide, beaming smile, he was a professor of theology on the Holy Spirit at Mangalapuzha Seminary — a prominent academic who was nevertheless wonderfully simple, accessible, and warm in person. He radiated joy and was profoundly committed to the slow, patient, unglamorous work of community formation.
From the very beginning, Fr. Marcelino brought a clear vision and a deliberate plan to the group. He systematically introduced them to a new way of living in the Spirit: attitudes of thanksgiving and praise, a love for the Word of God, a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's quiet promptings, and the deep joy of growing together as a community. He was especially insistent on good songs. He taught the group hymn after hymn — short and long — that celebrated and expressed this new spirituality. He formed them in the practice of singing in the Spirit, personally modeling what he taught. "After Holy Mass," he would often say with a laugh, "I would go out into the rubber plantation at the seminary and sing loudly in the Spirit, entering into the freedom the Holy Spirit gives." He trained the group in that same freedom.
Fr. Marcelino also understood the dangers of the Renewal landscape around him with uncommon clarity. "One tragedy of the retreats here," he once observed, "is that they give birth to newborns and abandon them to a life of growing up fatherless." He was determined that this community would not suffer that fate. He visited regularly, provided ongoing teaching, encouraged the formation of small cell groups, and, in time, formed a core group of three young people to guide the community — Kochurani Abraham, Stephany, and Edward. When his own travels required it, his colleague, Fr. Dominic Fernandez, OCD, stepped in to ensure continuity. His generosity extended to the practical: on one occasion, he used an entire retreat stipend to purchase books for the group's library, which he helped build steadily over the years.He was also a connector and a networker of souls. In 1978, Fr. Marcelino sent word to Manuel Thomas in Chennai: "You must meet Eddy" — a simple introduction that forged friendships and alliances which would shape the wider Renewal across India. Many of the early leaders of Kerala's Charismatic movement were, in a deep and lasting sense, formed by Fr. Marcelino. He eventually returned to Spain, where he later died, but the roots he had planted in Ernakulam continued to bear fruit long after his departure — and bear fruit still.
[Pictures: Fr. Marcelino Iragui OCD and Fr. Dominic Fernandez OCD, the initial mentors of the group]
The Life of the Prayer Meeting
After the initial Sunday LSS gatherings, the group transitioned to meeting every Wednesday, from 4:30 to 6:00 PM — a rhythm that would hold, almost without interruption, for decades. The Wednesday gathering became the beating heart of the community.
After the time of listening came biblical teaching — either prepared by a member or drawn from open sharing — followed by intercession and prayer for one another. One Wednesday each month was set aside specifically for healing prayer. The meetings were, by all accounts, rich and varied, alive with the unexpected: "There was praise, worship, adoration, listening, sharing messages, biblical teaching, intercession, praying for one another — and then time together."
And that togetherness extended well beyond the formal close. Members lingered, gathered in small corners to share and pray, and then made their way together to a nearby restaurant for tea, animated conversation, and the kind of fellowship that deepens into genuine friendship over years. For one member who lived in the village of Kumbalanghi across the river, this sometimes meant racing to catch the last ferry home at 9:30 PM — and occasionally missing it, crossing instead by canoe, arriving home very late with a full heart. Such was the pull of the community.
Formation, Gifts, and the Culture of the Group
From the beginning, the group was clear and focused about personal formation. The charismatic gifts were introduced carefully and exercised joyfully. Singing in the Spirit became a signature feature of the group's worship — something members would recall with wonder decades later. Members were encouraged to read the Word of God personally, reflect on it deeply, and bring the fruits of that reflection back to the group. A strong culture of sharing prevailed — not performance or display, but genuine, unguarded encounter with Scripture and with the living God.
The group was also shaped by wide and curious reading. Members eagerly studied materials from the Word of God Community in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and devoured publications like New Covenant magazine. These were discussed at length after prayer meetings, often with great liveliness. Fr. Marcelino brought booklets and guides. A library gradually took shape in the corner of the meeting room.
The community held firm to a particular conviction that Fr. Marcelino and others had planted and watered: no one should be launched into independent ministry too quickly. Formation came first — always. The group was wary of a pattern they observed repeating itself elsewhere in Kerala: people attending one transformative experience and immediately setting out to preach or lead, without the grounding of stable, accountable community life. St. Teresa's resisted inviting outside speakers and big-name preachers, insisting instead that growth come from within. This was not always without tension; there were disagreements, and the principle was sometimes costly. But it held: the community must carry the ministry, and the community's culture and pace must be protected.
The Committed Group and the Mission Outward
As the prayer group matured, a pattern began to emerge in the prophetic life of the community. Week after week, the group received words with a common, urgent theme: "You are the hands, you are the feet. I have a mission for you. I want to use you to build my Body." The core group gathered to discern what the Lord was saying. Two convictions crystallized: first, that those who felt called to deeper commitment needed a separate space to pursue it; and second, that this deeper growth must lead outward, into mission.
Around eighteen people responded to the invitation and began meeting every Tuesday — a "committed group," distinct from but nourished by the prayer group, devoted to discipleship and outreach. This group met at the city home of a cousin, Stephanie, who generously opened her house: Tuesdays for the committed group, Wednesdays for the prayer group, and Saturdays for an hour of silent intercession before the Blessed Sacrament at Infant Jesus Church.
The committed group was a place of deep, expectant sharing and prayer. Members were encouraged toward genuine growth, occasionally gathering in smaller cells of seven or so — as Fr. Marcelino had taught from the beginning. Some who lived in the same hostel were able to meet far more often. Within this group, the desire to go out and serve the poor slowly crystallized into action.
[Picture: An old list of committed members in the group]
Reaching Out: The Thevara Railway Colony
The group's first outreach mission took them to the Thevara Railway Colony — a stretch of fifty-eight to sixty makeshift huts alongside a railway track on the outskirts of the city. Roofs of rusted tin or plastic sheeting. Living conditions of quiet, grinding poverty. Two members made the first exploratory visit — one of them a young man from the group, the other Joy from Kuzhuppilly, who would later become a doctor. Their report moved the group deeply, and soon the whole committed team was going out every Sunday.
The Sunday pattern became a kind of small liturgy in itself. The team gathered at St. Mary's Basilica for Mass, spent time in praise, sharing, and the Word, and set out — sent, as they understood it, by the Lord Himself. At the colony, they divided into smaller groups according to gifts and inclinations. PV Marykutty — who would later found the enduring children's ministry Christeen — gathered the children around her and played. Cyja and Kochuthresia Simenthy sat with women carrying wounds too heavy to name. Others visited the elderly, the young, and different households — sitting with people, chatting, praying, being present. The community offered black tea. Doors opened, slowly, one by one.
One encounter in particular left a mark that would never fade. The team came across Lawrence and his mother. Lawrence had suffered a violent blow to the head in a crowd and had since been kept chained at his legs, his behaviour unpredictable and frightening to those around him. His mother had no other way to cope. The visiting team, going in with prayer and in a spirit of quiet faith, approached him slowly. They prayed over him, interacted with him gently, laid hands on him — and released him from his chains. What unfolded in that moment was described not simply as a healing but as a profoundly transforming encounter: "More than the change we witnessed in Lawrence, I experienced a very strong divine presence. This was perhaps a more transformative experience for me than even the Baptism of the Holy Spirit." The experience was an echo, unmistakable, of Jesus's own words: When you did this for the least of these, you did it for me.
After the morning visits, the team gathered at St. Thomas's Church — then only a small shed — to share the simple meals they had brought, read the Word together, and reflect on what they had seen and experienced. The day began in prayer, moved into the lives of the poor, and returned again to Scripture. It was, as one member put it simply, "a very beautiful experience."
Growing Outward: Parishes, Youth, and All-Kerala CCR
For the Wednesday prayer group, invitations began arriving from parishes and youth groups across the region — more than the community could easily manage. The group began conducting the Life in the Spirit Seminar in places like Pachalam, Nazareth, and beyond. Internal ministries flourished within the expanding community: a music ministry, a teaching ministry, and a warmly creative welcome ministry. As the group grew — eventually into the hundreds — it moved from its original classroom into the college's auditorium.
All-Kerala structures of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal began to take shape during these years, and members of St. Teresa's group were consistently at the center of them. In December 1978, the first Kerala Charismatic Youth Convention was organized; Bible study camps followed in 1979, and a major youth conference in 1980. One member increasingly took the lead in these statewide efforts, and through it all, the St. Teresa's Prayer Group remained what it had always been — the silent, steady backbone. "Whatever I was doing, half the people would be from the prayer group. The silent backbone was always this prayer group."
The First Liners Group, formed in 1982 for those making deeper commitments to the movement, drew heavily from the St. Teresa's community. And when Jesus Youth began to emerge as a recognizable movement, it was the people and the culture of this prayer group that gave it so much of its early energy, its discipline, and its spiritual character. The roots ran deep.
Christmas and the Joy of Fellowship
Continuity Through the Decades
The core group was reconstituted every two to three years through days of renewal and recollection, ensuring that leadership remained fresh, accountable, and rooted in the same Spirit from which it had sprung. The committed discipleship group continued in parallel — a distinct reality, open and ongoing, always renewing itself with new faces and new hungers. Through changes in membership, the departure of the Carmelite Sisters from the campus, the gradual movement of younger leaders into wider ministries, and eventually the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic — which moved gatherings online and shifted them to Wednesday evenings from 5:00 to 6:30 PM India time — the group endured. It bent but did not break.
The prayer group that started in July 1976 continues to meet to this day. Hundreds have passed through its gatherings. Generations of leaders have been formed within it. Prayer groups, outreach missions, youth networks, and ministries across Kerala and around the world owe something of their DNA to what was built on those Wednesday evenings at St. Teresa's College.
Conclusion
The story of St. Teresa's Prayer Group is, in one sense, simple: a group of people who came together to pray and kept coming back. In another sense, it is a story of what becomes possible when a community is rooted, without compromise, in worship, in the Word, in one another, and in service to the poorest. It is the story of what patient, unhurried, faithful formation looks like — and what it produces, given fifty years and the grace of God.
Fr. Marcelino once said that retreats in India too often gave birth to newborns and left them to grow up fatherless. St. Teresa's was different. It was nurtured, accompanied, and given time to grow. It learned to praise before it learned to preach. It learned to listen before it learned to lead. It went to the poor before it went to the podium. It chose depth over speed, and community over celebrity. And because of that foundation — because of those choices, made again and again, on ordinary Wednesday afternoons in a college auditorium in Ernakulam — it has continued. Through decades and disruptions, through growth and grief, through the lives of those it formed and the communities they went on to build, it has continued. A quiet, luminous, enduring testimony to what the Holy Spirit can do through a faithful gathering of ordinary people who simply choose, week after week, to keep coming back.
Sharing by Members Past and Present, at the 45th Anniversary of the Group
Reminiscences of the journey with the group
1) Manuel Thomas, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
"Hello, I am Manuel Thomas, from Madras, and I'm very happy to share my memories of my association with the St. Teresa's College prayer group. I first came into contact with the prayer group at St. Teresa's College at the invitation of Father Marcelino Iragui in the late seventies, when I was a college student. Father Marcelino invited me: 'Come to Cochin,' he said. 'See how our young people are filled with the Holy Spirit.' And so I came to Cochin, and I attended the prayer meeting in St. Teresa's, and I met those pioneer leaders of this wonderful prayer group.
I saw firsthand the prayer group's first outreach in Thevara. I attended the first youth convention organized by the prayer group in Sacred Heart College, Thevara. These were unforgettable experiences. And even though I came from Madras, I felt that I belonged. I felt that these people were my family. I experienced the love of Jesus through them.
One word about Eddie. He has been a leader of this prayer group and an inspiration to so many people. But to me, he has always been a beloved brother in Christ. Over the past forty years, I have maintained my relationship with him. Quite recently, when my son was to be married — I was posted in Delhi, and the wedding was in Cochin — I reached out to Eddie. He made all the arrangements, as though it were his own family's wedding. I had only to arrive in time. I look back at this prayer group, which is more of a community, and I see how fidelity to the weekly meeting has borne such abundant fruit. And I thank God for this, for His glory. Thank you."
[Picture: Manuel Thomas, Kochurani Abraham (the first leader of the group), and Edward Edezhath, in a recent get-together]
2) Mathew Jacob (Houston, USA)
"Praise the Lord. Hi, everyone. I'm Mathew Jacob, speaking from Houston, Texas. I am one of the many people that St. Teresa's Prayer Group sent out into the world as evangelists, prophets, and teachers of the Word. When I think of St. Teresa's, I think of the great fathers in the Old Testament who would build an altar wherever there was a powerful move of God. For me, St. Teresa's is an altar. A place where God did amazing things. It has influenced the whole world and touched millions of lives through the people who were discipled in this community.
That visit left me curious enough that I agreed to attend a retreat preached by Father Marcelino in 1979 at the Spirituality Centre in Kottayam. The Lord Jesus completely transformed me during those days. Then the question was: what do I do with the rest of my life? I finally decided to leave Bangalore, move to Changanassery, and enrol at S.P. College. From June 1979 to July, while studying there, I used to come to St. Teresa's virtually every Wednesday — by train, back by bus. And that is where I was discipled, nourished, strengthened, and made into the Christian I am. I especially remember Eddie, of course, Mathachan — who is no longer with us — Augustine, Stephanie, and Marykutty. C.K. Joseph, a lecturer at Cochin University, was probably the oldest person there. The rest were all young. And it was simply beautiful to come every week and be nourished.
My parting from the prayer group came at a retreat in Thevara College in June 1982, preached by Father Gino — a retreat that was, in many ways, a pivotal moment in the founding of Jesus Youth. From there, I was sent out to minister to the world. Over the last forty years, I have traveled the world, lived in a dozen countries, and ministered in some extraordinarily fascinating contexts — all of it nourished and strengthened by the blessings that St. Teresa's gave me.
I often think, even as I was preparing this message, that if St. Teresa's is an altar, then this video is like a small stone taken from that altar — as Jacob took a stone, laid his head on it, and dreamed of a gateway to heaven. I pray that Jesus renews His Bethel presence in Kerala. And I pray, Father God, that You do something amazing — pour out Your Spirit in ways people have never known before, with might and power and glory covering this prayer group. Even as people listen to this, may the anointing and overshadowing of Your Holy Spirit come upon them. And out of that overshadowing, Lord, raise the next wave of prophets, healers, apostles, evangelists, and teachers. Let this be a time of renewal, new beginnings, and restoration — not merely a 45th anniversary. I ask this in the mighty and precious name of Jesus."
3) Jessy Velukaran (Kadavanthara, Ernakulam)
"I first came to the prayer group on August 22, 1990. It was only after joining that I gained real knowledge of personal prayer, praise, and worship. It brought a significant change to my spiritual life. I received great prayer support from here. On days when I couldn't attend, I used to feel a sense of distress. I always feel very happy when I come here. I especially ask for prayers for my family."
4) Cyric Mathew
"Dear brothers and sisters, when I think about St. Teresa's prayer group, I remember joining the gathering years ago while working at a hotel called Joyland in Ernakulam South. Later, in 2009, while staying in Pachalam, and again during 2011–12, when I worked as a social worker at the Palluruthy Settlement, I attended the St. Teresa's group. It was the love everyone in the group had that attracted me most. Sharing needs and praying together gives great strength to those who come — that is a special feature of this group. The Christmas celebrations were also very rich. I particularly remember Eddie-chettan always singing a song that begins with 'Raja Rajaneshuvinai Paduvin Muda.' I heard that song often, and it touched me deeply. I also remember when we all went on a pilgrimage together — visiting churches in Thangassery, the Poochakkal Church in Alappuzha, and others along the way. All of these are special memories. Even now, I wonder whether there is another group like this in Kerala — or anywhere else — that has continued faithfully for forty-five years."
5) Nishi Augustine (Chranelloor, Ernakulam)
"When I think about St. Teresa's group, two things come to mind that I always love to remember. One is the period when we used to gather for prayer meetings in the classroom above the old auditorium. What attracted and helped me the most during those meetings was the singing in the gift of tongues. How beautiful that singing in tongues was! Even now, when I think of that joy, my heart fills again with it. I had a very close relationship with everyone in that group. Although some have since passed away, their memories live on in my heart because of the fellowship we shared. We can truly call the St. Teresa's group a family — a place where no one blamed anyone, there were no quarrels, and no one held grievances. Everyone loved each other. Sometimes it felt like a competition of love.
Another thing I can never forget is going for coffee and snacks after our meetings. Most of the time it was banana fritters and coffee, and we would spend thirty to forty-five minutes there together in fellowship. It was a great and genuine experience of community.
Each time I hear these shared memories, I feel a deep sense of joy and gratitude toward Jesus. It is truly remarkable to reflect on the wonders and blessings He has bestowed upon this group. Through these memories, God's love continues to live on as something beautiful and life-giving in each of us."
6) Joseph Anthraper (Edappally, Ernakulam)
"Praise the Lord. My beloved brothers and sisters, I have been part of St. Teresa's Prayer Group for forty-one years. The story of how I joined goes back to November 1980, when I attended a charismatic retreat in Assisi, Bharananganam. After the retreat, I was told to connect with the nearest charismatic prayer group. I was living in Cherthala at the time, and since there wasn't one there, I began searching. My elder brother had married in 1980, and his wife was studying at St. Teresa's College. I used to collect her on Wednesdays. One day, I saw a crowd and heard sounds coming from the hostel area — and that is how I found the group. Despite being a newcomer, I received a warm welcome, and ever since, I have cherished the love, joy, peace, and closeness to Jesus I have found here.
Later, I moved to Trivandrum for business and only visited occasionally — but I made sure to remain connected to a prayer group there. In December 1982, I moved to Dubai and joined a group there as well. I vividly remember the 1982 Thevara Convention and how magnificently our prayer group organized it — a great opportunity to meet national leaders like Father Gino and Father Fio and to connect with other groups across Kerala. The formation I received here actually helped me start a Malayalam prayer group in Dubai.
Whether someone is a senior leader or a complete newcomer, everyone in this group is received with the same love and acceptance — and that truly sets us apart. Being a member of St. Teresa's Prayer Group carries a quiet weight of respect. As Santhosh often says, it is like a school. Even movements like Jesus Youth, which have now spread across the globe, trace their roots back to this prayer group. The recognition I receive in places like Dubai or Bangalore as a member of this group is a gift from the Lord. Praise the Lord."
7) Jibson Bivera (Mysore, TN)
"Hello, everyone. Praise the Lord. My name is Jibson, and I am from Kochi. I was part of this prayer group from 2000 to 2005, during my college years — a time of great spiritual growth. The sessions were lively and alive with the Holy Spirit's presence. The leaders and members were all wonderfully supportive and encouraging. I particularly remember the sessions led by Eddie-chettan. His talks and songs were inspiring in a way that helped me grow in faith in ways I did not expect. Even though I am no longer in Kochi, I still cherish the memories of those years. They have had a lasting impact on my life and my relationship with God. I pray that this group continues to be a source of blessing for many more people. Thank you."
8) E X James (Kaloor, Ernakulam)
"Praise the Lord. While listening to Mathew Jacob Sir's sharing and prayer, I felt a shiver run through my body — similar to the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I felt a special anointing today. Many thanks to God, to the St. Teresa's Prayer Group, and to Mathew Jacob for that prayer. It was a great experience, and I believe that God is going to lead many through this group to new heights and new ministries. Praise the Lord."
9) Bindu Johnson (Edappally, Ernakulam)
"Praise the Lord. My name is Bindu Johnson. It has been three weeks since I joined this group, but every voice message I hear brings so much joy to my heart. I am deeply grateful to the Almighty for the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful fellowship. I also want to thank Marykutty-chechi for introducing me to the group. Listening to these messages makes me feel I should have joined much sooner. I offer my heartfelt thanks to God for sustaining this group over all these years, and I pray that the Lord continues to bless and strengthen every member. Thank you."
10) Annie Kaniyampuram (Bolgatty, Cochin)
"When I think of the 45th anniversary of St. Teresa's Prayer Group, I feel so much joy. I remember when my sister and I used to come to the old auditorium. Annie Usha would come running over and hand us a slip with a word of God — Philippians 4:4. It was with great happiness that we entered that fellowship. Hearing such a word at the door brought such joy.
I remember seeing Eddie, Mary, Teacher, Augustine, Nishi, Annie Usha, Mathachen, K.K., Celine Chechi, Clara, and T.K. Joseph — seeing such a gathering was wonderful. Compared to the group we knew in Bolgatty parish, this was a far more powerful group, with its gift of tongues, community sharing, and the intercessory prayer at Ernakulam Infant Jesus Church on Thursdays. I remember the Christmas celebrations and how everyone's birthdays were celebrated with such warmth.
I remember everyone before God with gratitude. Although my circumstances haven't allowed me to continue with the group, you all continue to remember me and invite me back — and I offer that before God with a grateful heart. There is so much joy in this group that has lasted forty-five years. With the desire still burning to remain a member, I offer my prayers and best wishes to everyone."
11) Justine MI (Kaloor, Ekm)
"I am very happy. St. Teresa's Prayer Group has formed so many people over the past forty-five years. They have supported Tezita and me enormously — in our personal growth and in our spiritual lives. We are certainly indebted, very much indebted. I especially remember and thank Eddie-chettan, Marykutty-chechi, Augustine-chettan, and everyone else. St. Teresa's has been a good beginning for so many things — a group that has received much, and has given even more. There is a great desire in my heart to remain part of that group. I definitely want to join on the 7th."
12) C O Augustine (Cheranelloor, Ekm)
September 16, 1978, is an unforgettable day in my life. That was the day I received my Baptism in the Holy Spirit. At Mathachan's insistence, I joined St. Teresa's through the prayer group that had started in Kuzhuppilly Parish. Although it was very difficult, because of work, to reach the prayer meeting that started at 4:30, I was able to attend most Wednesdays after getting special permission. The fellowship we had after each prayer meeting, the journeys in Paul's car, the many gatherings at B.C.H. under the leadership of Georgeettan — those were days when the Holy Spirit was blowing and burning within me.
I remember the spontaneous prayers and songs in praise and worship, the praise in the gift of tongues, and the encouragement to give the message I had received while listening to the Lord in silence. I remember the one-day seminars held from time to time, the leadership of Father Marcelino, Father Augustine Puthenpurackal, Father Palli, and my dearest Eddie — and the spiritual growth I found through them. I remember the efforts to make each prayer meeting as fruitful as possible by listening to the divine voice together in the core group on Tuesdays.
For me, every prayer group has been about rejoicing in Jesus from beginning to end. Instead of asking how today's meeting went, I asked myself how faithful I had been. Every prayer group filled with the Spirit has always been an inspiration for my life, an incentive to pray constantly, and a source of strength in every area. Faithfulness to permanent things and devotion to the Word of God — all of this has been made possible for me through the prayer group.
I still experience every Wednesday as exciting — because of everyone's unity in the Spirit. This continues even today. The same desire, the same thought: Jesus must be exalted, and we must live in Jesus. Many friendships on earth and in heaven — Mathachan, Varghese Chittilappilly, Abraham Sir, Celine Chechi, Anthrapper, Georgeettan, Joseettan — the list goes on. May the Lord continue to lead us and help us look always to the heights."
13) Filomina Paul (New Delhi)
"Praise the Lord. It is truly inspiring to read and listen to so many members' experiences and contributions from St. Teresa's prayer group. I became a member in 1980 after attending a retreat at St. Teresa's College given by Fr. Mathew Naickaparambil. Kochurani Abraham was instrumental in introducing Beena and me to the group, when we were doing our postgraduate studies at Sacred Heart College, Thevara. The strong praise in tongues and the warm, cordial atmosphere drew me in, and I became a regular member while I was in Ernakulam.
This group gave me a strong foundation that helped me remain faithful to the Lord. It helped me become a member of the First Line of Jesus Youth, under the guidance of Fr. Gino. This again opened doors to interact with spirit-filled leaders like Eddie, Augustine C.O., Mathachan, K.K. Joseph, Stephanie, and V.J. Antony. Even after being transplanted to Delhi, the basics I learned here helped me continue. It is a great privilege to join — even virtually — my first parental group, which nourished me and helped me reach the humble heights I now stand on. May God continue to use this group to mold more and more missionary disciples. Glory and honor to You, O Lord!"
14) K K Joseph (Kakkanad, Ekm)
"Today, our St. Teresa's prayer group is completing forty-five years. I have numerous experiences in the group. None of them is merely a memory; they endure close to us in our hearts even today. That is why they are not just memories.
I came to the Renewal in 1979 during Lent, and since then, the prayer group has been part of my life. It continued until a prayer group got started in the parish at Vazhakala, Kakkanad. It was Augustine who first brought me to the group. What happened after that is the grace of God. I have since attended many prayer groups, one-day programs, conferences, and conventions. But what has truly molded and shaped me was this prayer group. I am proud to say that.
When I look back today, I can say that the prayer group gave me a solid foundation in Charismatic Renewal and has continually strengthened me in spirituality, fellowship, formation, and mission.
I remember with much love and gratitude Eddie, C.V. Mathachen, C.O. Augustine, Abraham Sir, Marykutty Teacher, Miss Ann Kannath, Sheela, Marykutty, Kochurani Abraham, Kochuthresia, the sisters who used to come from Lissy Hospital, Georgechettan, Celine Chechi, Mathayichen and Rani Chechi, V.J. Antony, Reena, Stephanie, Anthrapper, Revi, T.O. Antony, and so many more. The fellowship, praise and worship, messages, Bible teaching, intercession, and coffee-shop fellowship were so beautiful. The Christmas celebrations and outreaches were exemplary. So many used to come just to visit the group and learn. May the Lord continue to lead us!"
15) Benson Mendez (Saskatchewan, Canada)
"I began my spiritual journey by attending the Wednesday prayer group after my first encounter with Jesus at the Divine Retreat Center in 1995. It was in one of those very prayer meetings that I heard an announcement about the Discipleship Training Program organized by Jesus Youth. I attended it and began my journey with Jesus Youth. I still remember how I was welcomed on my very first day at the Wednesday meeting. What made me comfortable — what encouraged me to come back the following week — was simply the fellowship I experienced there.
I was almost regular in that meeting until I moved to Mangalore as a Jesus Youth Full-time Volunteer in 1999. The meetings were vibrant, with time for praise, singing, and praying in tongues, small-group study, short talks, intercession, and recognition of birthdays and anniversaries. After the prayer group, the fellowship time was great. The foundations of my spiritual life were strengthened through this community, and the companionship with the leaders and members guided me in ways I am still discovering."
16) Alexy Pallan (New Delhi)
"I came to the prayer group around 1990–91, invited many times by my friends from Jesus Youth — James, Martin de Cruz, and others. As everyone has shared, the fellowship, prayer, praise and worship, singing in tongues, Bible study groups — all of it inspired me enormously and helped me grow spiritually. I found here a wide circle of spiritual friends: Marykutty Teacher, Celine Aunty, and so many others.
And then the B.T.H. coffee fellowship after the prayer meeting — vada, banana fry, tea — with a big, laughing gang that included V.J. Antony-chettan, Reena-chechi, George Luis Uncle, Augustine-chettan, Nishi-chechi and the children, Eddie-chettan, Martin, James, Justin, Bright, Jibson, Linton, Tizita.
For twenty years now, I have been working in North India as a missionary family with Fr. Dheeraj Sabu, IMS, and the Santana Community. The formation I received from my beloved St. Teresa's Prayer Group has been with me through all of it. I remember the prayer group always. God bless you all!"
17) Clara William (Mattancherry, Cochin)
"I have been part of St. Teresa's prayer group for forty years. I am amazed — I did not realize how many years had passed. The reason, I think, is that this group has become a family, and the people here have become like family to me. I started coming here before I got a job. After getting the job, no matter which office I joined, I would ask permission to leave at 4 PM every Wednesday so I could attend. Every Wednesday I came here to recharge — to find spiritual and mental strength for the week ahead.
When I first started coming, the prayer was held in the large auditorium. Every meeting was a celebration — songs, action songs, joyful sharing. Even today, whenever I hear those songs, I feel that initial experience return. Eddie, Augustine, Mathachan — their enthusiasm inspired me in lasting ways.
The Christmas celebration was a thrilling experience every year. The decorations, the snacks, Marykutty Teacher's quiz — everything is still vivid. I remember the punishment for losing a game: I had to have a pretend argument with my husband William. Anyone who knew William will understand how impossible that was — he wouldn't fight back if you handed him a stick. What fun it was.
The outings, the pilgrimages, the one-day trips — all beautiful memories. But the biggest difference is this: no one here has an ego. Everyone is simply the same.
In my field, there was a strong temptation to accept bribes. I was able to stand there and remain honest because of the spiritual strength I found in this prayer group. There is much more I could say — but I will stop here. Best wishes to everyone."
18) Marykutty Abraham, Teacher (Thevara, Ernakulam)
"St. Teresa's prayer group has been an inseparable part of my life. I thank God for allowing me to pray and work with this community since the very beginning. I remember the early core group — Celine Chechi, Sr. Tereceline, Eddie, Rani, K.K. Joseph, Mathachan, and I. There was such intimacy in that group. We would wait for each other all week. There were deep sharings. There was a real understanding between us. If someone had an idea, it became everyone's. We knew each other personally and truly.
How beautifully we celebrated everyone's birthdays — sweets, cake-cutting, joy. How beautiful was every Christmas celebration! When one Christmas was over, we would wait like little children for the next one. How happy everyone would be receiving a gift from Santa Claus.
The best quality of this group is that there has never been politics here. People loved and supported each other. We have supported so many members in material ways — for medical expenses, for house construction. In short, this group has helped everyone become a better person in their own way. How blessed was the chain rosary each October! No matter how much I say, it will not be enough. I thank God the Father who leads us forward as one. Happy 45th anniversary to everyone!"
19) Babu John, Police (Ernakulam)
"Praise God. I was born and raised in Thevara, Ernakulam. As a schoolboy, I used to visit Ernakulam General Hospital as a member of the Catholic Medical League. One afternoon, a young man on a bike would regularly arrive at the hospital and invite me, in a friendly and persistent way, to the meeting at St. Teresa's on Wednesdays at 6 PM. Even when I came early, I would wait in the first room, and from the next room I could hear singing, laughter, lively discussion, and prayer. One day, this fair-complexioned man said to me: 'If you come early, it would be nice to attend the prayer meeting.' Eappen-chettan was also there. It was a trap I could never escape — and now I feel I never want to.
That was the beginning of my entry into the Wednesday group. God later blessed me to be active in the Monday group and the Professionals group as well. The community I found has given me great freedom, joy, and spiritual anointing. Along with that, such richness and depth.
I feel, because of the special demands of my work, I am the one who arrives at the last minute to this group — and still receives the complete grace available here. In this way, I am perhaps the most fortunate person in it. Thank you, God. I praise you for this group and for everyone in it."
20) Sheela STC (Ernakulam)
d"Down the memory lane. I joined St. Teresa's prayer group in 1981. I was in the science block hostel and used to come with Ms. Anne Kannath, who was a core group member. My friend Jessy was there too — she would later become both a nun and a doctor. I remember the team: Eddie, Antony, Mathachan, Augustine, K.K. Joseph, Abraham Sir, Marykutty Teacher, Lilly Chechi, Rani Chechi, Nishi and her sister, Ravi, Stephanie. I cherish the memory of the intercession prayer at Infant Jesus Church on Saturdays — and the coffee that followed. There have been programs by Fr. Gino, youth gatherings — it is all endless, and all beautiful."
21) Sangeetha Shaju (Bangalore)
"I don't remember the year I joined the group — as the daughter of Augustine and Nishi, I think both Santhosh and I were part of it from birth. I remember that Wednesdays were happy days, filled with singing and joy. The children had their own parallel world during the meetings: Eddie-uncle's children, Varghese-uncle's children, Joseph-uncle's children — all of us had a wonderful time together. I started imitating praying in tongues in this group as a child. Later, I actually began praying in tongues — my favorite prayer, especially when we sing in tongues together. Apart from all of this, I cherish the visits to Bharat Coffee House after the prayer meeting. George Luis uncle and Eddie uncle headed those trips. The pazhampori, vada, and coffee tasted extraordinary. Perhaps because of the company."
22) Dr. Kochurani Joseph (Kakkanad, Ernakulam)
"I joined the group in 1983 while studying my post-graduation at Maharaja's College. I used to come on Wednesdays after college hours along with friends. Lilly Josey introduced me to the group. I remember Rani, Mathayachan Kottukappilly, Mathachan — all part of the team at that time. Good memories, dear and enduring."
23) Jessy Maria (Palarivattom, Ernakulam)
"There was a girl who turned to the south-west corner of the prayer room and led the praise and worship from there — at the height of ecstatic prayer, eyes closed, facing the wrong direction without knowing it. No one but Eddie-chettan noticed. When the prayer was over, he came quietly, patted her on the shoulder, and said: 'That was very good.' How can I forget that moment, Eddie-chettan?
This prayer group is the best example I know of what a community should be. This group is my family — loved ones who have walked with me in my joys, my sorrows, and my uncertainties. Marykutty Teacher, Eddie-chettan, Audrey-chechi, Clara-chechi, Shantha-aunty, Sheela-chechi — nothing in the world can replace their love. And how can I forget Celine-aunty and Georgetan? I remember you all. Everything received here is an unrepayable debt. We will continue to stand together in Christ."
24) Linton D’Aruja (Thoppumpady, Cochin)
"I am very happy to hear that our prayer group is forty-five years old. St. Teresa's Prayer Group is my first prayer group — my home group. When I was studying at St. Albert's College, I never missed it. My music ministry started here. I began playing guitar in the music ministry, and from there it has taken me to places I never imagined. The input sessions, the sharing, the teachings helped me enormously in my spiritual life. I remember the Christmas celebrations, and I remember the post-prayer-meeting journeys to B.T.H. — Eddie-chettan, V.J. Antony-chettan, Varghese-chettan, Mathachan, and Augustine-chettan, all together over coffee and banana fritters. These memories are still fresh, still warm. Praise God!"
25)Martin D’Cruz (Bolgatty, Cochin)
"My name is Martin D'Cruz, from Mulavukadu. I want to tell you a small film story. In the Malayalam film Gulan, played by Mammootty, every character proudly flaunts their connection with Gulan. I know exactly that feeling. If someone asks me which group I belong to, I say without hesitation that I am still a member of the St. Teresa's Prayer Group. I do my best to act like those characters from the film — and flaunt my relationship with this group as my greatest pride. I say all this because my passion for this community has never dimmed.
As I came into the Renewal, I was able to walk and learn through this group. I grew through its beautiful celebrations, its teachings, its intercession. I am proud to have brought new people here — people like Varghese Chittilappilly and Glen, who came here for the first time and then went on to live beautiful lives in evangelization.
This prayer group was the lifeblood of Charismatic Renewal in Ernakulam. Because of it, Wednesday at 4:30 PM became something people came to with commitment, with expectation, with eagerness — receiving a message, accepting responsibility, implementing it, living it. Whatever needs arose in the Charismatic Renewal were discussed and supported here. When the national convention came in 1987, this group carried much of the responsibility. When the Rex Band was formed after 1989, the most supportive group behind it was St. Teresa's. When Peace on Earth was organized at Rajendra Maidan — again, the strength came from here.
In every way, a divine experience, a model of the divine life: not only in words, but in actions; not only in proclamation, but in the depth of love. That is what this group has always been.
On this 45th anniversary, may God give all kinds of blessings. I extend those blessings to the current leadership, and to every member — past and present — of this extraordinary, God-graced community."
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