KOCHI: ‘Spirit in Jesus’, the cult-like group claiming to ‘evoke’ souls of the dead on earth and free them of their sins, was formed in 1989 with the objective of ‘saving mankind’. And thereby, ensuring peace and prosperity in every household deposing their faith in the cult.
Tom Zacharia’s family, one of the most influential in Idukki, reportedly founded ‘Spirit in Jesus’ in Suryanelli under the local Church authorities.
According to insiders, they obtained permission from Fr Peter Mathirappally, a Vicar in Suryanelli, to venerate Virgin Mary in the month of May with special prayers, the rosary and a brief proclamation of the Word of God in the church which usually celebrated only a Holy Mass on Sundays.
Initially, some Tamil labourers working in the tea estates near Suryanelli were the followers.
Later, it took the shape of a spiritual movement adding followers from other sects and now, according to the organisers of the movement, it has followers not only in Kerala but also in overseas locations like the UK and Dubai. Besides, the Catholics of Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara rites, Jacobites, Marthomites and Protestants of various denominations who believe in Mother Mary work together in this ministry.
They also claim the ‘Spirit in Jesus’ gathered 4.5 million Rosary prayers as part of their Rosary revolution launched in 2007 from about 30,000 Marian devotees in the span of a few months in 2010, indicating the quick growth of the outfit. In the meantime, the Catholic Bishops in South India had come forward and cautioned the believers against joining the group.
The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC), a body of the heads of the 27 dioceses in Kerala belonging to the three Catholic rites - Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara - admonished Catholics in Kerala saying attending spiritual revival meetings of the group could “misplace” Catholic beliefs and theological positions.
Fr Mathew Kuttikkottayil, chancellor of the Thrissur Archdiocese, said a lot of cult-like groups, for instance Emperor Emmanuel and Amma, have sprung up during this period promising physical and internal healing, deviating from the Catholic doctrines.
"Spirit in Jesus’ had been organising revival meetings in which the evangelists of the group were preaching about the Holy Communion with the the soul of dead people, which is against the basic tenets of Bible and Christianity,” he said.
So, its almost impossible to accept the retreat centres of these groups and that is why the Church had to distance itself from such teachings and cautioned the people against falling prey to the designs of such groups, he said. The funding process of the group is also not known.
There were reports the family of Tom Zacharia was planning to develop Pappathichola as an international pilgrim centre by claiming divine powers for the cross set up at the place.
Babu P T, Idukki coordinator of the group, said the land in controversy at Pappathichola belonged to one Maria Susai.
“It is a fact the land does not have any title deed, but it is not a valid reason for eviction as there are hundreds of people living on nearby land without patta,” he said.
Wondering whether the government has the will to evict those people from their land, he stressed the teachings and working of the ‘Spirit in Jesus’ ministry was cent per cent based on the Bible and Jesus Christ.