A Kerala counseling center led by Catholic nuns helps young women escape coercive relationships and rebuild their lives through faith and therapy.
Newsroom (26/02/2026 Gaudium Press) In a quiet corner of Kerala’s Kattangal town, the Lumina Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre hums with whispered prayers and consoling voices. It is here that a woman—now a mother of two—found the strength to end what she calls a “trap disguised as love.”
“Without the sisters, my life would have been destroyed,” she said, requesting anonymity. Once ensnared in a toxic relationship with a Muslim man she met after college, she credits the Medical Sisters of St. Joseph—also known as the Dharmagiri Sisters—for guiding her toward peace and a new beginning.
A Haven for the Broken
Lumina opened its doors on May 14, 2017, under the direction of Sr. Jinu Thomas Valavanolickal, a counseling psychologist with a doctorate and a passion for rescuing women from manipulative relationships.
Her mission, she says, is both spiritual and psychological. “I will say this clearly: Love jihad is real, although many will not agree with me,” she told Global Sisters Report. “I have handled 737 cases. Among them, 347 were Christian girls.”
The term “love jihad”—a charged phrase in India’s sociopolitical discourse—refers to alleged attempts by Muslim men to feign affection to convert women from other religions through marriage. For Sr. Jinu, the ideological debate is secondary to the suffering she encounters daily. “These men find out the girls’ weaknesses—loneliness, desire for affection, even their favorite foods—and use them to control them,” she said.
From Control to Courage
The woman who found refuge at Lumina remembers how subtly her love story turned sinister. “He was attentive, polite, and caring at first,” she recalled. “But soon he began asking for money, then jewelry. Finally, he took my certificates. He demanded that I convert and marry him.”
The breaking point came when she sought help from her parents. They, in turn, brought her to the counseling center. “During my six months at Lumina, Sister Jinu was like a mother to me. She listened, prayed, and showed me that I could start over.”
Sr. Jinu works alongside three other nuns—Srs. Reshma Choorakuzhiyil, Kripa Kozhikothickal, and Lillys Thenmala—who help manage the demanding caseload. Many girls arrive traumatized, resistant, or even violent. Thenmala recalls sleepless nights and escape attempts. “Some minors lash out, some try to run away,” she said.
Facing Threats and Persevering
Rescuing young women is not without risk. “The boys often come here shouting and threatening us,” Sr. Jinu said. “I have received threats many times.” Police visits are frequent, sometimes for protection, sometimes to enforce court orders when habeas corpus petitions are filed by aggrieved partners.
Despite the danger, Lumina has earned the trust of both law enforcement and clergy. “When the situation becomes difficult, Father Melvin Vellackakudiyil accompanies me to police stations and courts,” Sr. Jinu said. “Without his help, our work would be much harder.”
Fr. Vellackakudiyil confirmed that 143 cases have come from his diocese of Thamarassery. “She sits for hours with each girl,” he said. “Her compassion has reduced these ‘love trap’ cases remarkably.”
Fr. Mathew Puthukkallil, a member of the Missionary Society of St. Thomas, often joins the sisters in deliverance prayers. “She doesn’t stop at counseling,” he noted. “She fights for the soul of each child.”
The Power of Compassion
Behind Lumina’s doors, psychotherapy serves hand in hand with faith: counseling sessions blend with prayer, Eucharistic adoration, and confession. “Our founder gave us a charism of compassionate care,” Sr. Jinu said. “Here, that care is for girls whose lives have been broken.”
Parents of rescued women often describe the sisters as divine help. One father, whose daughter was drugged and blackmailed by her lover, said simply: “Sister Jinu stood with us. She prayed, counseled, and brought my daughter back to life. For us, she is a guardian angel.”
The Medical Sisters of St. Joseph, with over 700 members across India, continue to fund Lumina as part of their mission to serve the sick and the suffering. For the woman who rebuilt her life under their care, the center remains sacred ground.
“When I look back,” she said softly, “I don’t remember the pain anymore. Only the grace that saved me.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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