The Aluva seminary students who got ordained in the year 2000 used to gather at times as it helped them build a thick friendship and solidarity amongst them. Gradually this gathering led to form a forum of five. The Holy Spirit led this young group of priests to cope up with the true realities in life. They realized that only ‘The Almighty’ and no one else in this World could cure the problems and difficulties faced by them. They spend more time for prayer than anything.

They gather together every three months for group prayer. They discuss the problems faced in their own personal life and that of their parish. Sometimes the prayer and meditation continued for hours. Morning they joined together for the Holy Mass with the people in the parish and formed prayer groups in almost every parish. Prior to the meeting of this prayer group would be informed to the people of that parish, so that they can join and pray for them. They concentrated more time for prayer and fast.

For the holiness and renewal of priests, various pious practices such as way of the cross, adoration, penance of fasting were initiated. It was an experience of spiritual revival for the group. Pilgrimage was conducted twice in a year. This gave new life in the parish and great enthusiasm in priestly ministry.

During a Lent in 2003, a priest expressed his experience in a gathering of priests held at Attapadi. In this the Holy Spirit touched everyone. There they decided to visit each and every parish in Attapadi to form prayer groups. They visited each and every corner of Attapadi with the Parish Priests. In spite of the difficulties faced by them in Attapadi, every one came with utmost interest. Rev Mar Jacob Manathodathu, Bishop of Palakkad encouraged and appreciated this group.

The priests began to feel that they needed more time and a fixed place for prayer. At this stage the Priests who were related to Sehion Retreat center thought of having a separate section for the Priests. During this time the Holy Spirit express its interest for Sehion through Rev. Mathew Naikkamparambil, Rev. Kochumathew, various prayer groups and other priests. Rev Mar Jacob Manathodathu appreciated this suggession. As a result a gathering was started informally and it was held once in a month which starts at 2 in the afternoon and ended at 2 the next day. Apart from the priests from Attapadi several other Priests took part in this. This prayer consisted of The Way of the Cross, meditation, sharing, counselling, Holy Mass, etc. But due to the transportation difficulty in Attapadi, they decided to form a fixed formal prayer group in Sehion itself. Along with this, lot of cell groups were formed for the Priests. As a result of this many, including nuns and lay people came forward to pray for them.

At the end of 2007, it was decided to conduct a 5 days ‘Power Conference’ for Priests. As a result, in 2008, the first retreat programme named ‘Sehion Priest conference’ was conducted from November 24 to 29. In this conference 161 priests joined from different parts of the country. In that Rev Mar Jacob Manathodathu gave an address explaining the importance and the need for prayer and retreat today. Most of the Priests who joined the conference suggested that such programmes should be conducted again in the coming years. Some of the Priests who took part in this retreat created a spiritual get together at Sehion and others formed various cell groups in their own places. After the discussion with the Rev Bishop, it was decided to conduct Retreat programme in 2009, from 19th to 24th July and from 22nd to 27th November for the next power conference. The strength of the monthly group prayer of Priests grew wide. It was at this time the Pope Benedict XVI declared the year as ‘Priests’ year’. As a result a Retreat for priests was planned in the first week of every month (Sunday to Friday) from June 2009 onwards. At the same time a special programme was organized for the parents and relatives of the priests on every second Saturday.

The Result of this Group Conference

• An intimacy grows between the Pope, Bishops and Priests.

• The seminary students overcome the problems of priesthood crises as a result of this.

• The Holy Spirit gives clear knowledge and idea about priesthood.

• This helped to concentrate more on the traditional prayers of ‘The Holy Church’ like observance of penance, deliverance prayer, lent observances, daily prayers etc.

• The Priests are led to spiritual revival. They pray for the purity and happiness of other priests.

• The Holy Spirit helps them to realize the work of the evil spirit against The Holy church.

• The Priests get more strength, vigour and inspiration from Apostles and fathers of the church.

• Pentecostal experience and increase of oneness and co-operation among the priests.