Potta-Divine Retreat Ministry is part of the renewal movement of the Vincentian Congregation in India, based on the spiritual traditions bequeathed by St. Vincent de Paul.

In 1977, Potta Ashram was established as the center to direct and to coordinate retreats. Many people who were sick, troubled, broken-hearted, and afflicted with alcohol and drug addictions, started visiting the Ashram. The good news was preached to all, and our Lord Jesus Christ manifested himself as the one who was present to heal, to save and to deliver.

As time passed, large crowds were attracted to the week-long residential retreats and the premises proved to be too small. A sprawling locale was acquired at Muringoor, on the banks of Chalakudy River, six kilometers away from Potta and was named Divine Retreat Center. The news of the mighty works of God spread far and pilgrims from all over the world poured in. Retreats began to be conducted in English, Konkani, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Hindi. It was at one such retreat that the Lord touched some members of the Community of the Risen Lord, which went on to become a significant milestone in the history of the community.

Today, Divine Retreat Center is the largest retreat center in the world. Since 1990, over 10 million pilgrims from all over the world have attended retreats here. Weekly retreats in seven languages are held back-to-back, non-stop, 365 days of the year.

The web site of the Divine Retreat Center is http://www.drcm.org/