Parisutha Amalorpava Matha Madhu Villaku Sodality

Parisutha Amalorpava Matha Madhu Villaku Sodality
Bishop's House, Tuticorin

Addiction to alcoholism has been a constant practice among the fisher folk. It maybe due to the nature of their work. Number of men died on account of cyclone or stormwas less than death to alcoholism: it was a proverbial statement in vogue among them. Aletter of St Francis Xavier, a great missionary in the Pearl Fishery Coast affectionatelycalled by the coastal community “Affectionate God Father,” is the definite evidence ofalcoholism prevailing there. While staying at Manapadu he wrote a letter on March 14,1544 and on June 16, 1544 to his companion Fr Francis Mansilas says, “I heard thatconsuming of toddy (liquor) continues at Punnaikayal. The addicts are likely to bepunished. Convey this to the entire population, especially to the Pattamkatties theheadmen.”

In 1912 the parish priest of Uvari a Jesuit priest Fr Magapet started the sodality ofour Lady Immaculate for men with a view to foster devotion to our Lady. However, therewere about 117 men had been members of the sodality. Mr AntonySamy, a member ofthe movement and awardees of the best culturist released the following message to anIndian daily newspaper, The Hindu Tamil: At the beginning of 1900 our village was indecadence. Distilling alcohol was a cottage industry in many households. Along the seashore there was plenty of sediments of alcohol found. Deaths due to the consuming ofalcohol distilled illegally were numerous. At that point of time the sodality of our Lady ofImmaculate Conception was founded in 1912. In 1921 Father Antony took charge ofUvari parish. He was shocked to see the pitiable condition of the village due toalcoholism. He tried to change the situation. He understood clearly that those men wereincorrigible but could be corrected in the name and guidance of our Blessed MotherMary. The youth movement was changed into the Sodality of Mary Immaculate againstalcoholism. He motivated members to take an oath not to drink and gamble in anycircumstances. At the beginning people were a bit dismayed but gradually they began toadhere to it in the name of our Mother Mary.

Sodality: Means of Social Transformation Ultimately, Fr Antony adopted the sodality and devotion to our Lady as a meansof social transformation. He modified the existing sodality with the goal of eradication ofaddiction to alcohol together with the original intention. He renamed it the sodality ofMary Immaculate for prohibition and made germination for alternative culture. Fatherintended that the youth give up drinking and to involve themselves in the church servicesand common welfare activities in the village too. They were expected to be exemplary to

others. Today women ardently encourage their children to be in the sodality. Now theinitiative of the sodality is echoed in many villages in and outside our diocese and thushas become a good model to our province Tamilnadu where strong voice is raised infavour of prohibition. The New Indian Express: 13 December 2012, on Wednesday,mainline political party MDMK general secretary Mr Vaiko began a padayatra(Marching) along with 1,200 party cadres at Uvari village in Tirunelveli districtdemanding total prohibition. Before he set off for the long march, Vaiko said that therewas a historical reason why he chose to start the total prohibition padayatra marches fromUvari, a coastal village. Father Antony Susainathar founded a prohibition associationAmalorpava Matha Maduvilaku Sabai (the Sodality of Mary Immaculate againstalcoholism) in 1912 in the village to push for prohibition and the association was stillfunctioning for over a century. Vaiko said that due to liquor, serious crimes had beenincreasing across the country. All religious orders were against liquor and Periyar,Kamaraj and Anna supported prohibition. Our aim is to implement total prohibition in theState to save Tamil society. However, when some people were found distilling alcohol inUvari, the sodality members with the co-operation of women put an end to it. The veryfact that the sodality continued for a century means, the action of the sodality was deeprooted. Karl Marx said: “Religion is the opium of the people,” but Father Antony usedreligion a wonderful means for annihilation of opium.

Fr Antony Susainather adopted the sodality and devotion to our Lady as a meansof social transformation. He modified the existing sodality with the goal of eradication ofaddiction to alcohol together with the original intention. He renamed it the sodality ofMary Immaculate for prohibition and made germination for alternative culture. Fatherintended that the youth give up drinking and to involve themselves in the church servicesand common welfare activities in the village too. They were expected to be exemplary toothers. Today women ardently encourage their children to be in the sodality.

Fr A. J. Rex who is passionately to take care of the addicted persons and beingprovided them with good medical facilities, psychological care and family counselling forsome years. The Amalorpava Madha Madhu Villaku Sodality was enhanced by thesodality of Uvari. During the time of Fr Barnabass at Uvari the sodality was encouragedand asked the sodality members of Uvari to spread other parishes. Bishop Yvon Ambroseappointed Fr Starwin, who was the parish priest of Arumuganeri as the first spiritualdirector of this sodality for some years. Subsequently, Fr John Selvam, who was thedirector of Lucia centre, coordinated the sodality in a better way. Eventually BishopStephen who realised the sodality as the commission appointed Fr Jeyanthan De Grace as

the Secretary. The sodality is being flourished almost 52 parishes. It created awareness tothe students, youth, and parents as well as to the diseased persons. Especially tying upwith the sodality of Society of Jesus, we do medical care, counselling, and follow-ups tothe diseased families. As the monument of diocese centenary celebration, the diocese laida foundation for Recovery Centre in the name of Servant of God Susainather.

Indeed, the Alcoholic Anonymous, AA Movement prevailing almost 187 countriesin the world since from 70 years. In fact, their main focus is to take care of the addictedpersons and being provided them with good medical facilities, psychological care andfamily counselling. As St Paul says, “Don"t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil bydoing good” (Rom 12:21). We need to become pro-active and go into the roots of thisproblem. We need to discover the sources of this evil infection and take drastic steps tocounteract it. The very fact of Servant of God Antony Susainather" sodality continued fora century means, the action of the sodality was deeply rooted in Christian faith throughMarian spirituality. It is a well-known fact; alcoholism is disastrous to the society atlarge, affecting the heart, mind and body of individuals. Father organized the youth into amovement to propagate largely the evil of alcoholism and to fight against it. It continueseven today as a proof of his ministry. Having served 29 years (1910-1939) as adiocesan priest in two dioceses in 8 parishes, in 1939, he joined the Rosarian monasteryin Srilanka (Ceylon) to become a monk in the Rosarian Congregation. He was called toeternal rest on 8 June, 1968. He has been declared "Servant of God" on 8 August, 2011.

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New Text prepared by : Rev.Fr. Jeyanthan A.
updated on May 24th 2023