Sr Lizzy Chakkalakal Tower of Hope for the Homeless

Sister Lizzy Chakkalakal has become a symbol of hope through her dedicated work and compassion for the homeless and hopeless. Her dream of giving everything to Jesus began at the age of 12 in her parish, Infant Jesus Church in Meladoor, in the diocese of Irinjalakuda. One day, while gazing at the Cross during the Holy Mass, she was deeply moved by the wounds on the body of young and handsome Jesus. On that day, she made a promise to Jesus to offer her life in response to His Great Sacrifice of giving Himself to us.

Her vocational journey began nearly three decades ago. Though Sr Lizzy served as a teacher at several schools across South India, her heart was always drawn to the poor. She often felt a stirring within her: "This is not enough. Jesus wants something more from me; I need to do more for the poor." This thought troubled her even during prayer: "How can I reach out to the poor?"

During this time, the parish priest of Infant Jesus Church proposed the reconstruction of the old parish church, emphasizing that it should be built by the hands of the parish community. He announced the date of the blessing on the day the reconstruction was announced. This determination and conviction inspired Sr Lizzy to begin building homes for the homeless. With one hand tightly holding onto Jesus and the other reaching out to those in need, she continues to build homes for the homeless, bringing the total to 215. Sr Lizzy, who always seeks to do unique and different things, remains committed to her distinctive mission.

Called to be Hands of Jesus

Sr. Lizzy is the sixth child among eight siblings. At the age of 12, while praying in her parish church, Infant Jesus Church in Meladoor, she experienced a divine calling. Immersed in the sacrifice of Jesus, she felt compelled to do something for Christ and received a message in her mind: "It is for you I lived and died. I gave my life for you; you give your life for me." Sr. Lizzy spoke to Jesus in her heart, saying, "Jesus, You gave Yourself to me; I will give myself, my life, in return." From that moment on, her heart was dedicated to the poor, always urging her to wipe the tears of those who suffer. For twenty years, Sister served as a teacher in various schools. Then, feeling inspired to create homes for the homeless, she shared her vision with Sr. Pushpa FMM, her Provincial. With Sr. Pushpa's support, the project of building homes for the homeless began.

Mission and Vision

Sr. Lizzy was placed in the education ministry, where she served as an educator for 22 years. For 8 years, she was Principal of Our Lady's Convent Girls' Higher Secondary School Thoppumpady, Kerala. She actualized the FMM Vision of Education -- Education for Social Transformation by transforming the school into a Socio-Friendly School. She could integrate her charism with the Charism of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) based on the principle of the early Christian community, which promoted a culture of sharing and caring. It is in this context that she started the ‘House Challenge’ project. 

After her retirement, she began her second innings in Socio-Pastoral ministry. In collaboration with like-minded people, she created a new platform called KESSIA HOPE CENTRE to address the needs of the differently-abled persons and their families, along with the marginalized, homeless and helpless people. She reaches out to the most needy through her special style of intervention. Blessed Mary, our mother, is the example and inspiration for her mission of intervention. She says, “Think, speak and do everything in Jesus’ name.” Her slogan is Think Good, Speak Good and Do Good. So far, she has completed 215 houses through her ‘House Challenge’ project, and five houses are under construction.

Twenty years ago, it all started during a BCC meeting in the hut of an elderly woman before Christmas. She asked the group members to build a house as a Christmas gift for the following year, resulting in the first house in Thiruvananthapuram. Afterwards, Sister Lizzy was transferred to Thoppumpadi in Kochi, where she continues her mission of providing homes for the homeless.

While she was in school, she began visiting the homes of her students in the Chellanam area of Kochi, spreading her mission and vision to build houses for the poor. It all began with requests to people, visiting houses and shops, following the footsteps of Mother Teresa. 

Sr. Lizzy says, "It is a call to communion with God and the poor. Pastoral accompaniment allows me to reach out to those in need. I live my vocation entirely for the poor and the needy. God sends me to the peripheries to provide shelter. I hear His words resonating in my ears: ‘I was homeless, and you gave me shelter.’”

Pilgrim of Hope

‘A roof over one's head’ is a basic need and a dream for millions in our society. Hence, Sr Lizzy adopted "Home to the Homeless, Hope to the Homeless" as her motto. This is deeply rooted in the call of Pope Francis, announced during the Year of Hope. When nothing is in hand, I move forward, trusting in God and seeking help from many people.

The inauguration of each house is scheduled on the very day its construction begins. She states that she has never stood against the Church but rather for the Church and with the Church. She expresses her gratitude to her congregation, which has helped her grow to fullness and give a hundred per cent to God and the poor, saying, "My congregation is my identity. I join the Universal Sisterhood each day by becoming someone for the hopeless. There is no difference of religion or colour; there is only the need of the person. If someone is truly deserving, help goes to them.”

School to the Shelters

The mission began in Trivandrum in 2006, with Rs. 25,000 provided by Franciscan Priest Fr. Johny Antony OFM. Within six months, a house was completed. Over the last two decades, Sr. Lizzy has touched the lives of hundreds of families. The project, named "House Challenge," is inspired by the wedding at Cana with the motto "Do What He Tells You." Of the 215 houses built, 80% are located in Chellanam.

With a mobile phone in one hand and a rosary in the other, she connects with people and brings wonders through her network of charity. The inauguration of each house celebrates the joy of sharing and caring and witnesses the realization of hope through compassion. There are challenges: "If it is God's will, it will flourish; whereas if it is my wish, it will not." She sees the unseen hand of God in every house.

Source of Strength

The daily Holy Mass and the Holy Rosary are her weapons in undertaking this ‘house challenge.’ The intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Cana inspires her mission. She participates in the daily Holy Mass, receiving all graces from it. St. Joseph, the carpenter, is the patron of every house she builds. Every encounter is a blessing and a celebration of joy. Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is her source of hope and grace. The exaltation at the end of the Holy Mass, "Go! The Mass is ended," is lived out every day. He provides strength in times of difficulty and uncertainty. It is God who occupies the central place in this journey.

Through her work in education and charity, she finds her purpose in life. Because many people see God's hand in the House Challenge, political leaders like Hiby Eden, MP, and Chandi Oommen, MLA, have adopted similar approaches to building houses for the poor and homeless.

Message of Hope

Sr. Lizzy is deeply convinced of her life, vocation, and mission. She often says, "We are like rivers flowing from one end to the other; our duty is to water and bring greenness and fruitfulness in all the paths we cross." We pass by those roads only once, so let every step we take be a memory in our lives and in others.

She is an instrument of God, wiping away the tears of countless individuals. When we place ourselves in the hands of God, He works miracles in our lives. Every smile on her face reflects her inner joy of total giving and the providence of God. Each house has an untold story of providence, sharing, love, compassion, care, and humanity.

Blurb

With one hand tightly holding onto Jesus and the other reaching out to those in need, she continues to build homes for the homeless.

“I live my vocation entirely for the poor and the needy. God sends me to the peripheries to provide shelter. I hear His words resonating in my ears: ‘I was homeless, and you gave me shelter.’”