Vincentian Congregation (VC)
The Vincentian Congregation was started on 20 November 1904 as Koventha at Thottakam by Fr. Varkey Kattarath, Vicar of Vaikom, with three diocesan priests. namely Frs. Joseph Kariapurayidam, Mani Paramkulangara and Kusumos Kattezhath, with the approval of Mar Louise Pazheparampii, the first Vicar Apostolic of Ernakulam (1896-1919), based on the Common Rules of St. Vincent de Paul, on the model of the Congreation of the Mission, founded by him in 1625. As the members of the Koventha were asked now and then by the bishop to do pastoral work in different parishes for long, inspite of his formal instruction on 02-08-1912 to Fr Varkey Kattarath to take steps for a proper community life as per the Common Rules. all of them left Thottakom by 1915 for various reasons -with the permission of the bishop who invited them to his diocese for starting the Koventha. Divine Providence revived the Koventha of Thottakom when Mar Augustine Kandathil, the first Archbishop of Ernakulam (1924-56) granted the request of Frs George Marmara. Antony Pauvathil and George Vattamkandam to lead a religious life in the Koventha of Thottakum in July 1927, and Fr. Varkey Kattarath blessed them at Champakulam and joined them at Thottakom in October 1927. With the permission of theArchbisnop he took the first vows on 20.07 1929 and perpetual vows on 19 07 1931 before his death on 24.10 1931 The Vince-ntian Congregation of the Syro-Malbar Church, a Society of Common Life according to the Manner of Religious (CCEO 554). was raised to the status of 'Pontifical Right' on 11 02.1968. (Generalate: P0. Box 2250, Edappally, Kochi 682 024, Kerala, India Tel: 0484 - 2540503. 2550572)