Nestled in the heart of the Sahya Mountains, Kurisumala Ashram stands serene amidst the misty hills of Vagamon, Kerala. The ashram sits nearly 4,000ft above sea level on the border of Kottayam and Idukki districts, surrounded by lush tea plantations and forested slopes that evoke a sense of calm and otherworldly beauty.

Geography: The Mountain Sanctuary

Kurisumala literally means “Mountain of the Cross”—‘Kurisu’ (Cross) and ‘Mala’ (Mountain) in Malayalam. Established in 1958, the monastery rests in a land that provides rocky clefts for honeybee hives, gentle pastures for dairy cows, and solitary corners for meditation. The breeze carries whispers across the valley, mingling with birdsong and sanctifying the silence that pervades the land.

Members and Community

Kurisumala Ashram’s community consists of monks—sannyasis, brahmacharis, and sadhakas—spiritual seekers who have left their homes to embrace a life of simplicity and service. The numbers remain deliberately modest (often around twenty residents) to preserve the intimacy and spiritual focus of the group. Formation takes place communally under the guidance of experienced elders, and the lifestyle is rooted in monastic values: stability, poverty, chastity, simplicity, and obedience.

Prayer Life

A day here begins before sunrise. At 3:45a.m., the community gathers for a silent vigil and meditation followed by yoga, scripture reading, and reflection. The Eucharistic celebration marks the spiritual center of the day, often accompanied by meditative chanting—“Om Shri Yesu Bhagavate Namah” (“I bow before you, Jesus”)—blending Indian spiritual heritage with Christian devotion.

The prayer book, "Prayer with the Harp of the Spirit", compiled and translated by Francis Acharya from the ancient Syriac liturgical tradition, guides the day’s liturgical rhythm (Vespers and Vigils are in English). Monks maintain the spirit of prayer throughout their work, culminating in the evening Satsang: a gathering for bhajans, spiritual songs, and communal reflection. Silence is not just golden here; it is the cornerstone of spiritual pursuit.

The remainder of the day consists of studies, spiritual readings, meditation, and prayer.

Work in the Area

True to Gandhian principles of “bread-labor,” the monks dedicate working hours daily to farming, cooking, and upkeep. The ashram supports itself and nearby families with a dairy farm. This fresh milk nurtures both the monastery and the local population, symbolizing the biblical promise of “milk and honey” in tangible form. Food is treated as a gift, never wasted, and what is left is faithfully shared with the poor. There is also a modest tea-plantation that grows organic tea without pesticides. 

Hospitality: Sharing Life

Hospitality is the heartbeat of life at Kurisumala. Visitors are welcomed not as outsiders, but as fellow seekers and guests of the spirit. All are invited to join in prayer, meditation, and Satsang. Whether you are staying for an afternoon or a week, the ashram’s monks offer shelter, simple meals, and the invaluable gift of silence. Guests pray and share in the work of the community, extending the koinonia —the communion of souls—to all four corners of the earth. Hospitality at Kurisumala is not mere ritual; it is the daily practice of love and inclusion.

“The monastery houses a community of spiritual seekers who leave their home and are not allowed to go back,” commented one visitor. “Monks who stay here spend their time working, studying, and praying. A holy mass takes place here, the chants for which have been adapted from the Hindu form, embodying interfaith harmony." 

Kurisumala Ashram thus stands as a beacon of peace, inviting all—pilgrims, wanderers, and seekers—to find rest and transformation in its cool mountain embrace. To share life here is to join a rhythm of prayer, work, study, and communion with nature and with one another. In silence and hospitality, the spirit finds both home and freedom.

The Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing Manila Priory have set up their School of the Lord’s Service south of Metro Manila, in Tagaytay City, Cavite, Philippines.  Currently composed of 1 senior novice, 2 canonical novices, and 1 postulant, the formandees are being guided by the Formation House Community of 6 Perpetually Professed Sisters. The formation process has been a blend of classroom instruction, apostolate exposure, regular individual counselling and spiritual direction sessions, and participation in the community’s Liturgy of the Hours as part of the daily horarium.  In imbibing the Benedictine way of life of prayer and work, an area in the convent is also assigned to each formandee as part of her daily routine. 

As a monastic community, the daily horarium starts with praying Lauds, followed by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.  Each Sister then proceeds to her daily tasks which may include apostolate/outreach work, before coming together again as a community at Midday Prayer.  In-house classes on Liturgy, Church History, the Congregation’s Constitutions, learning the Rule of St. Benedict, among others, are usually done in the afternoon, before daily adoration and Lectio Divina.  These are being complemented with online Wisdom connections’ T4 classes. The community then prays Vespers together, spends some time in recreation, and ends the day with praying Compline. 

True to the Congregation’s missionary character, the formandees’ current apostolate exposure, aside from the annual community immersion, Advent and Lenten outreach, has now included a regular encounter with the neighboring community residents.  Dubbed Tiangge (“market”) ni Maria (“of Mary”), similar to a mom-and-pop store, this small fruits and vegetables “market” has been the channel by which the formandees learn the value of service and stewardship.  The formandees with baskets of affordable farm-fresh products open the “market” on Tuesdays at 8: 30 in the morning by the entrance of the Formation House, servicing the residents of the poor, the rich and working class alike.  With the Tiangge, the community is concretizing Benedictine hospitality by creating a welcoming space that fosters conversations and connections.  It also brings people from different social and religious backgrounds together.  It is an alternative to the dole-out system to the poor, promoting dignity and self-sufficiency.  It is where commerce meets compassion.  Proceeds are being used to hold the Kid’s Summer Camp of the Children of Mary, participated by the sons and daughters of the poor residents in the area. 

While formation is a life-long process, the formandees in their initial formation get a foretaste of the monastic and missionary life within and beyond the convent walls.

Fr Yesudasu Gorre is a Parish Priest at St John's Orphanage in Borrempalem, India. AIM-USA has worked with him to support his efforts in the community.

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I am happy to give you the details of my work and my mission. Borrampalem is 28 years mission parish in the diocese of Eluru.  It is a rural parish far away from diocesan headquarters and at the end of West Godavari district. People are very poor materially and financially but rich in faith.

This village was left behind and uncared for pastorally and sacramentally for the past few years. It is very clear when I look at the situation of present Catholics whose faith is at risk due to false preaching and heresies. Still, people are gathering to discuss and to pray over these situations, a sign of stability in their faith.
 
To build faith within the community, I organize pastoral programs to enrich faith.
 
Objectives
 

1. Create an atmosphere of God’s presence always amidst them

2. Teach the rich meaning of Catholicism

3. Enable individuals to be a living witness to the Body of Christ

4. Bring back the lost sheep

5. Generate a sense of community

6. Make individuals charismatic Christians in the modern world

7. Show the path that leads them to the Way, the Truth and the Life

8. Build confidence to feel the presence of Christ

9.  Educate regarding the real presence of Christ in Eucharist, the values of Catholicism, and holy mass

10.  Prepare people to receive all the sacraments

11.  Lead a life of grace through sacraments and sacramentals.

12.  Develop strength in the faith and teaching of catholic church

Children's Camps

Children lead very busy lives with their studies daily. Every morning at 8 A.M., they go to school and return twelve hours later. They have no time to learn about the Bible or catechism of Catholic Church. Some are studying in hostels and boarding homes due to a lack of educational facilities at their proper villages. They return home for holiday according to semester.

I take the opportunity that holidays provide to conduct three-day children's camps twice in a year. My goal is to teach the catechism of the Catholic Church, the holy mass prayers, the values of life, etc. During this time, I prepare children for first communion and confirmation and arrange time for them to make confessions.

All these activities are more fruitful in the lives of children. To encourage them every year to participate the camp, I provide items such as gifts, Bibles, notebooks, and school uniforms.

Gatherings for Families

Family is the first school where children are taught first catechism, Catholic faith, and Christian values. I observe many families with internal conflict, and young men and women enter marriage with a lack of understanding to the commitment they have made.

Twice a year, I organize gatherings for families with classes on faith and navigating married life. I screen documentaries to inspire them and conduct games to build unity and understanding.

 
Distributing Holy Bibles and Mokshadwarams (Liturgical Prayers and Songs)

People in my region are very poor. They depend on their daily wages for their livelihood and cannot buy religious texts.

Ashir Bhavan Priory is located in Bhopal, India.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, our congregation sisters are out surveying the local containment areas, to identify COVID patients.

We have distributed and continue to distribute provisions such as masks, gloves and hand wash to the poor and the needy.

All our communities and our NGO [Perana Service Society] also participate in this venture.

Photos show how the monastery has adapted its practices during COVID-19.

Please keep the Priory in your prayers and we assure you of our prayerful support.

Benedictine Sisters of St. Lioba, Ashir Bhavan Priory, Bhopal, India.

Click here to see how the monastery has adapted its practice during COVID-19.