Pilgrims of Hope: Swanthana's Journey in the Jubilee Year

In a remarkable gesture of compassion and spiritual outreach, Swanthana, a home for mentally and physically challenged female children located in Carmelaram, has become a growing centre of pilgrimage and grace.

On January 12, 2025, His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore, blessed the newly refurbished chapel at Swanthana and officially declared it a “Pilgrim Centre of Hope”. This declaration comes in light of the Jubilee Year, during which the Archbishop identified seven institutions across the Archdiocese—places where “hope is dim”—to be special sites of pilgrimage. Visiting these designated centres, including Swanthana, carries with it the opportunity to obtain spiritual indulgences, as a sign of renewal, compassion, and solidarity with the suffering.

Swanthana is run by the Daughters of St. Camillus, a religious congregation founded in 1892 by St. Josephine Vannini and Blessed Louis Tezza, inspired by St. Camillus de Lellis, Patron of the Sick, Nurses, and Hospitals. The sisters wear a red cross on their habit—a symbol of love and charity—and have been serving the most vulnerable with deep commitment.

Established in 2006, Swanthana provides a home and specialized care to 48 female children, aged between 2 and 25 years, many of whom are orphans, abandoned, or living with multiple disabilities. The blessing of the chapel and its new status as a pilgrim centre has drawn large numbers of visitors over the past three months.

Faithful from across Bangalore—including students, parish groups, religious congregations, and lay organizations—have made their way to Swanthana. Several congregations brought their novices to experience the mission firsthand. Even non-Catholics have visited, expressing a desire for prayer and blessings, and leaving deeply moved by the children’s lives and the joy they radiate despite their limitations.

Many pilgrims described their visits as moments of grace and transformation. Some were brought to tears by the silent witness of suffering and resilience. Others offered generous support, both materially and spiritually, and requested prayers for their families.

In addition to welcoming pilgrims, the sisters have continued their dedicated daily activities for the well-being of the children, including:

-        Recreational and indoor activities 

-        Physiotherapy sessions 

-        Wound care and medical support 

-        A Medical Camp organized by St. John’s Hospital, Bangalore

Sr. Monica, representing the Swanthana community, expressed her heartfelt gratitude. “We sincerely thank God for the marvellous graces received through these days. We are especially grateful to His Grace Archbishop Peter Machado for choosing our home as a place of hope during this Jubilee Year,” she said.

Swanthana stands today not only as a centre of care but as a beacon of hope, where every visit becomes a spiritual encounter with Christ in the poor and suffering. The invitation remains open to all to walk through its gates, encounter grace, and become part of a journey where hope is rekindled and love is lived.