GIFT OF GOD
It was not a bolt from the blue, but the sweet outcome of the concern for the poor and suffering . It was in 2019 ,several families living on the western slopes of the Western Ghats lost their houses in heavy and incessant rains. In places like Cheenikkapara and Vattapara on the valley of Kalladikodan Mounts ,40 houses were found missing when a new day dawned after a rainy night, 22 no,s at Palakkayam and 18 at Cheenikkappara and vattappara put together.At Palakkayam, the Parish priest took the initiative to rebuild the fallen glory and successfully did it ,within a short period of 10 months.The inspiring model of Palakkayam rejuvenated the spirit of love for the fellow beings among the youth of the place Fr. Tony Kozhippaden, the parish priest took the leadership for this move .The neighbours offered help in various ways.Donations poured in,cash ,kind and manual effort.
The houses came up very fast, but when the initial enthusiasm cooled down, the work reached to a grinding halt. Fr.Tony called the committee and discussed the ways forward. One of the practical suggestions was to approach Joyalukkas Foundation. Foundation representatives visited the place and studied the history in detail. Finally Foundation agreed to pay the balance requirement of Rs 25 lakhs. The enthusiasm returned and work resumed in full swing. Within a few weeks all the houses were ready to occupy .
A function was arranged at St. Thomas church, Cheenikkappara on Sunday 11th April '21, to distribute the keys of the new houses.Palakkad Bishop Mar Jacob Manathodath inaugurated the function and handed over the first Key in a meeting presided by Very Rev. Fr. James Kallumkal, Provincial superior, Vincentian Provincial House Angamaly. There were several dignitaries to felicitate the beneficiaries and to hand over the keys .Bishop Mar. Manathodath gifted a memento to the chief Coordinator of the Foundation Sri. Jose.in appreciation of the role played to help complete the construction of the houses.Mr. Jose, in his small speech, congratulated Fr. tony and his associates for coming forward to take up the noble mission and lead it to a successful end .