SOCIAL WORK

Blessed Chavara was also the pioneer in the field of the Apostolate of social and charitable activities in the Kerala Church. He founded a charitable institution in Kainakari in the year 1869. It was for the care of the aged, the poor and the marginalized people.

Today, the CMIs are engaged in social services in various fields such as care of the sick, mentally retarded, physically challenged, and in various job-oriented and self-help programmes. In the North Indian CMI Missions, hundreds of poor villagers are on the path of integral progress by the services of the CMI Missionaries. All our social services aim at building up an ideal community of people with the kingdom values of mutual love, truth, freedom, equality, justice, fraternity, solidarity and peaceful coexistence.

Blessed Chavara himself had started a charitable organization in 1869 with the cooperation of the people of Chennankary parish at Kainakary and developed an institute called Upavisala (House of Charity) for the service of the poor, destitutes and old people.

Blessed Chavara instructed that “the day in which you have not done something good to your fellowmen will not be recorded in your book of life”. With the help of other agencies and with our own resources we lend our helping hands to the poor and marginalized through institutions like orphanages, centers for the physically and mentally challenged, terminally ill, hospitals, health care centers, de-addiction centers, counseling centers and non formal institutions of various types which all together numbers about 125. In the course of time the followers of the holy trio picked up the modern idea of social action centered on the welfare of families and community developmental programmes. Thus, following the scientific and technical way of doing social work through the active participation of the beneficiaries, they formed different kinds of registered societies and trusts and got financial help from various funding agencies around the world and the government. Cyriac Elias Voluntary Association (CEVA) is the umbrella institution of the CMI congregation representing the provincial social apostolate secretaries of all provinces of the congregation and it guides and directs the social work activities in the whole congregation.

CMI SOCIAL APOSTOLATE AT A GLANCE

A Social Welfare Services

1. Centres for Mentally Challenged – 17

2.Cetres for  Physically Challenged - 4

3. Deaf and Dumb Care Centre - 1

4. Centre for Visually Challenged - 1

5. Homes for Aged and Destitute - 16

6. Homes for Orphan and Destitute Children - 21

7. Jail Ministry - 6

8. Food Distribution Centres - 6

B. Health Services

1. Hospitals - 8

2. Dispensaries - 18

3. Alternative Medicine Centres – 11 (Antivenom, Herbal Medicine, etc.)

4. De-Adiction Centres - 2

5. HIV/AIDS Care Centres - 3

6. Counselling Centres - 15

C. Non-Formal Education

1. Creches - 107

2. Literacy / Tuition Centres - 260

3. Vocational Training Centres - 873

D. Community Based Organizations

1. Registered Organizations - 117

2. Self-Helps Groups - 5332

3. Farmer’s Forum - 121

4. Senior Citizens’ Forum - 25

5. Youth Clubs - 111

6. Children’s Club - 286

E. Community Development

1. Cottage & Village Employment Centres - 36

2. Community Development Projects - 106

3. CMI Charitable Organizations - 84

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CMI Vision of Social Work; PG Circular