Joseph Cardinal Parecattil Renewal centre is the Pastoral nerve-centre of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. Major Departments and Associations of the Archdiocese function from this centre. Besides, Departments and Associations conduct various programmes such as Retreats, Bible Courses, Courses on Liturgy and other spiritual topics.
This centre is the brain child of late Joseph Cardinal Parecattil who guided the Archdiocese, reading the signs of the time and needs of the people. Jesus’ teaching ‘Behold, I make everything new’ (Rev.21.5) and ‘I have come that they might have life, and they might have it more abundantly ‘(Jn.10.10), by which He promises life in abundance to everybody coupled with the teachings of Second Vatican Council that it is the wo/man to be saved and the wo/mankind to be renewed, inspired Cardinal Parecattil in establishing a “Renewal Centre” for saving and renewing the wo/man and wo/mankind.
Blessed John Paul II inaugurated this centre on 7^th February 1986 for actualizing the dreams of Joseph Cardinal Parecattil. The Renewal Centre was rechristened as Cardinal Parecattil memorial Renewal Centre on 1st April 1997 as a permanent monument to remember the yeomen services of the late Cardinal to the Archdioceses of Ernakulam-Angamaly and to the society as a whole. Renewal Centre has AC and Non AC conference halls and rooms with modern communication facilities for conducting socio-cultural programmes, and it provides homely food and accommodation to the participants.
The Centre is a very good service provider to the pilgrims visiting the city by giving food and accommodation, especially night stay at a very concessional rate. Around 68 devoted staff members serve the Centre to strengthen the hands of Rev.Fr. Thomas Pereppadan, its present Director.