Faith meets fitness: The Keralam church where prayers come with pull-ups

Parishioners work out at the open gym on the premises of St. Joseph’s Church in Kuriachira, Thrissur.

At St. Joseph’s Church in Kuriachira, Thrissur, Keralam, faith and fitness go hand in hand. An open gym on the church premises is drawing parishioners of all ages to stretch, sweat and stay fit. The unusual initiative is adding a healthy new dimension to church life.

Set up in a corner of the church campus, the facility has quickly become a meeting point for fitness enthusiasts. With no fixed timings, parishioners can drop in at their convenience, with many heading to the gym after attending Holy Mass. The altar boys, numbering around 60, are among its regular users. Parents also bring their young children, while senior citizens use the basic equipment to stay active.

The initiative has its roots in the personal fitness routine of the church’s vicar, Fr. Frederick Eluvathingal, 69. A footballer and basketball player during his student days, he has never allowed age or a demanding schedule to come in the way of exercise.

“I have been working out for the past 51 years, ever since my days at the Papal Seminary in Pune,” he says. His fitness routine continued during his higher studies in Rome and Jerusalem and his church assignments in Australia.

When he arrived at Kuriachira more than a year ago, he began looking for a suitable space to continue his regular exercises, including push-ups and pull-ups. Parallel bars were installed first, followed by a basketball hoop. The idea gradually grew into a community gym.

“I wanted to create a space where people could develop the habit of working out. We generally do not have a strong workout culture. If people can fit in some basic exercise when they come to church, they may gradually make fitness part of their lives,” he says.

The need is particularly pressing at a time when lifestyle diseases and obesity are on the rise. The initiative also seeks to draw more youngsters into church activities and channel their energy into constructive pursuits.

The parish welcomed the proposal, and a space around a well on the church premises was chosen for the facility. The limited space available in Kuriachira meant that the gym had to be modest, but the response has been encouraging.

“Within a week of starting the gym, quite a few people began coming here. If the demand grows, we will have to think about expanding the facility,” says P.R. Wilson, one of the church trustees.

For regular user John Vazhappilly, a real estate broker who lives nearby, the gym has come as a timely help. “I have been coming here every evening for the past week. After an accident and surgery, the muscles in my leg became weak. I want to strengthen them. This is a comfortable place to exercise, with fresh air and an open campus,” he says.

The church sees the initiative as more than a fitness facility. “We want to groom a healthy generation. Many people suffer from lifestyle diseases, while youngsters often turn to private fitness centres. We felt that providing basic facilities here would benefit the community. Spirituality is also about nurturing a healthy mind and body. We consider this a form of spiritual service,” says assistant vicar Fr. Jees Akkara.

For Fr. Eluvathingal, there is another purpose. “Youngsters rarely come to church or participate in its activities these days. This is also an opportunity to bring more of them into the church community,” he says.