A Dream fulfilled by the Providence of God and through the generous support of many people. We are delighted to share, with hearts full of gratitude, a joyful milestone in the history of the Schoenstatt Fathers’ mission in Punjab, North India.
Our mission journey
The Schoenstatt Fathers began their mission in North India in 2020 by assisting with parish ministry in Delhi. This first step helped us become familiar with the region’s pastoral needs and prepared us for a more permanent missionary presence.
On June 1, 2022, we expanded our mission to Punjab, serving at Sacred Heart Mission Station in Jaitu, where we carried out pastoral ministry among the faithful. During the same period, we also assisted at St. Joseph Convent School in Barnala, ministering to students, families, and the local Catholic community for nearly one year.
On January 1, 2023, we moved into a rented house in Bagha Bai Ka, from which we continued to strengthen our pastoral work within the Diocese of Faridabad and in the Jalandhar Diocese to develop the Schoenstatt Mission in Punjab.
A historic milestone was reached on April 26, 2023, when the Schoenstatt Mission in Punjab was officially inaugurated and blessed by Archbishop Kuriakose Baranikulangara and Bishop Jose Puthenveetil. This joyful celebration marked the formal establishment of our mission in Punjab and encouraged us to continue serving the Church with renewed dedication.
Our first mission house in Punjab
One of our long-cherished dreams became a reality on March 13, 2026, with the purchase of our first permanent mission house in Bhucho Mandi, Bathinda, Punjab. With gratitude to the Divine Province, the newly established Mission House was blessed by Rev. Fr. Paul Panamkkulam, Provincial Superior of the Providence Province.
Over the past four years, we have lived in several rented houses, moving from one place to another as the mission’s needs required. While these temporary residences enabled us to continue our pastoral work, they also reminded us that we need a permanent home from which we can serve the people more effectively.
The property includes an existing house and an adjoining plot of land, providing adequate space for parking, future construction, community activities, and pastoral ministry. Having our own mission house gives our community stability, creates a permanent center for Schoenstatt mission and formation, and enables us to serve the faithful more effectively throughout North India.
This mission house will become a place of prayer, formation, pastoral outreach, youth ministry, family apostolate, and the spread of Schoenstatt spirituality. It also provides a secure foundation for the future growth of our mission in North India.
The new mission house will serve two important purposes:
- As a residence for the Schoenstatt Fathers serving the mission in Punjab.
- As a Mission House for our pastoral ministry in the Diocese of Delhi-Faridabad.
Kripalaya
The new house is named Kripalaya, which carries beautiful spiritual significance. Kripa means grace and compassion. Alaya means home or dwelling place. So Kripalaya is a place or house of grace and compassion. For our Schoenstatt mission house in Punjab, Kripalaya is both meaningful and memorable, conveying hospitality, prayer, and God’s compassionate love to everyone who visits us.
Every contribution, whether large or small, helps us build not only a house but also a lasting center of faith, prayer, formation, and pastoral outreach in Punjab. From this mission house, families, young people, and the faithful will be welcomed, accompanied, and strengthened in their Christian life.
We sincerely thank you all for your prayers, encouragement, and support, which have made this dream possible. We humbly ask that you continue to remember our mission in your prayers.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
