In 1994 Bishop of Alleppey Peter M. Chennaparambil invited SHM to start a convent in the diocese. On 3 November 1994 our sisters took up residence close to the cathedral and on 11 February 1995 they started a new house in Vazhichery Market. This was the first house in Kerala.

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In the area around the convent there were 200 families who had migrated from Tamil Nadu. They were daily wage earners and the main occupation was fishing. The sisters worked on deepening their faith and building values through family visits and counselling, tutoring the children, setting up income generating programs for women, etc. 

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In 2005 the sisters shifted to Mangalam, where subsequently Jyothi Bhavan was built. Currently, the centre’s social projects include tailoring classes for women and girls, housing for the poor, livelihood for destitute women. Further they engage with victims of human trafficking, especially women through an NGO, Arise Foundation, by way of awareness and income generating projects.

POSTAL ADDRESS

Jyothi Bhavan Convent, Mangalam, P.O. Thumboli, Alleppey 688 007, Kerala