Lourdes Mount Ashram, Vattappara P.O., Trivandrum, Kerala
(Estd. in 1961 – Neyyattinkara -Diocese)
Franciscan Ashram
Lourdes Mount, Vattappara P.O.
Dt. Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – 695 028
Tel : 0472- 2585033
0472- 2585034 (Res)
Establishments & Activites : English Medium Schools – SSLC,
ICSE & CBSE, Farm & Parish Activities
The Franciscan Missionary Brothers started to work from 1961 in and around Vattappara were the Gospel was unknown to many people. From here they visited the neighbouring villages such as Kodikunnu, Koppam, Vembayam, Vettinadu, Vengode, Kazhakunnu and Neduveli, giving medicines and preaching the word of God. As the result of their labour many people were baptised and were made members of the Catholic Church.
The mission at Vattappara was undertaken among the Dalits, who were baptised by foreign missionaries some time earlier. Effects were made to revive their faith to catholic way of life and its practices by helping the poor, building the houses for the poor etc. and trying to attract them to the sacraments by means of dramas theatrical performance, excursions, cultural activities and festive entertainment.
In course of time, the congregation accrued a farm, about 40 acres of land, mainly of coconut trees to generate income for its various charitable activities. Later on, a House and a Chapel were built for their use. It was blessed by the then the Bishop of Trivandrum on 23 rd February 1963. Building for the technical school, hostel and workshops were started and the foundation stone for a larger church was laid for this promising centre.
It was Brother Raphael Nedumparambil, who was the local superior of the station that undertook the construction and gave the shape to the institution. This was followed by the Nursery school. Gradually the Nursery School was raised to an English Medium High School, by adding a class every year. At present the English Medium School Christianised, “Lourdes Mount School” offers class from LKG to Higher secondary level. Now we have three streams of syllabus following i.e.; ICSE, CBSE and State Board.
