Navajeevan Bethany Integrated Research and Development Society

(Navajeevan BIRDS) 

Navajeevan Birds is the social service wing of Bethany Navajeevan Province of the Order of the imitation of Christ, which was founded by Rev. Fr. P.T. Geevarghese Panickeruveetil, later Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios Panickaruveetil OIC in the Jacobite Church on August 15, 1919, at Mundanmala, Ranni, Perunad in Kerala. 

Fr. P.T. Geevarghese had a noble vision of doing good to all people irrespective of caste, creed, and religion.  He wanted to start charitable institutions (Dharma Sthapanangal) for poor and the destitute people. The schools started for the ignored ones in society is the best example of his social commitment.  Bethany and its founder gave great priority to social apostolate from the very inception of the establishment of Ashram at Mundanmala and thus Bethany Ashram became a place of consolation for scores of people soon after its foundation. In 1925 Fr. P.T. Geevarghese was ordained a Bishop with the name Mar Ivanios OIC.  The orphanage at Mundanmala and the visits of Bethany Fathers to help the poor in the neighborhood has attracted many people to follow the simple bethanian lifestyle.  In 1930, Mar Ivanios and his followers left Mundanmala. Bethany and its mission continued with the blessings of the founder.  Bethany Ashram became the cradle of the historic re-union movement. 

Along with the reunion movement, Bethanians began to undertake a wide range of apostolic activities with an “All India Missionary Vision”. In 1966 the congregation was raised to pontifical status. On 24th April 2000 two provinces namely Bethany Navajeeven Province and Bethany Navajyothi Province were erected in the Bethany Congregation. At present, the Bethany Congregation is having 216 members and 73 students. There are 56 Bethany Ashrams and 70 different apostolates and educational institutions. 

NAVAJEEVAN BETHANY SOCIAL SERVICE was founded in the year 2000 with the erection of the Bethany Navajeevan Province of the Order of the imitation of Christ.  NAVAJEEVAN BETHANY SOCIAL SERVICE is rechristened as NAVAJEEVAN BIRDS in 2018 and is driven by the spirit and dynamism of 100 years of history that narrates the beginning of Bethany from August 15, 1919, at Mundanmala. It has ever been inspired by the faith and social teachings of the Catholic Church. It has an extensive reach to the poor and marginalized communities and has initiated many grass-root development interventions during its 18 years of existence.