The Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), the first extant indigenous Congregation in India was founded on 11 May, 1831. The Founding Fathers were Fr Thomas Palackal, Fr Thomas Porukara and St Kuriakose Elias Chavara. On 8th December 1855 the community at Mannanam was canonically recognized. The first eleven fathers did their first profession headed by St Kuriakose Elias Chavara who was the first Prior General. The name given for the congregation was Congregation of the Servants of Mary Immaculate of Mount Carmel. St Chavara passed away after an eventful life with an odour of sanctity. Pope St John Paul II beatified him in 1986 and Pope Francis canonized him in 2014. In 1860 the congregation was affiliated to the Carmelite Order and assumed the name T.O.C.D. (Third Order of Carmelites Discalced). The name of the congregation was further changed to CMI (Carmelites of Mary Immaculate) in 1958. Over the years from its inception the CMI Congregation with a far reaching prophetic vision involved n many pioneering activities in Kerala and in other parts of the World. St Chavara initiated to adopt main practices that was practiced by the global Church, namely, the Eucharistic devotion, Rosary, Way of the Cross etc. The first seminary for training the clergy was established in Mannanam. The first school of the Catholic Church in Kerala was started at Mannanam in 1846. Later the first English medium school was started in Mannanam in 1885 by the Congregation. The often called ‘Plantain Revolution’ of printing press was yet another initiative by St Chavara and the first Malayalam daily Deepika was printed in Mannanam in 1887. As a part of evangelization St Chavara was involved in the reunion of separated brethren. Based on the charism of the founding fathers, the members of the Congregation were involved in many apostolic activities. Panthalam mission and the houses at Ayroor and Puthuppally were started for a special mission of the reunion of Jacobites in 1930s. Mar Ivanios and Mar Theophilos were assisted by 40 CMI priests for building up of the Syro-Malankara Church. Later the evangelization mission was expanded beyond the Syro-Malabar Territory especially in Kadalundy, and even in the diocese of the present day Thalasserry. 10 CMI priests were the vicars in different parishes when the diocese was started. The North Indian mission started in 1955 in Raigarh-Ambikapur region. Later Chanda mission (Maharastra) was entrusted to CMI congregation in 1962. Already 15 of its membershave been consecrated as bishops in different mission dioceses. The concern and care of the poor and marginalized was also a mission of the Congregation. St Chavara started its first charitable institution in Kerala in 1869. He was instrumental in collaboration with Fr Leopold Beccaro OCD to start the first Congregation for women in 1866. It was called Congregation of the Mother of Carmel. The second half of the 20th century witnessed a rapid growth of the CMI Congregation. One of the decisive moments was the division of the Congregati n into three provinces. It also undertook the mission in Northern India and outside the country as well. Today CMI bishops take care of the Diocese of Jagadalpur, Bijnor, Rajkot, and Mandya. Four of our CMI study houses for training of the seminarians were established in mission territories as well. CMI educational institutions are the most sought after institutions in this country in terms of its quality. Today it has 15 provinces, around 3000 members including 10 bishops, 1840 priests, 22 lay brothers and 1226 scholastics. 900 CMIs are working outside Kerala and 400 are outside India. The congregation became international when the first batch of students from Kenya took the first profession in 2005 and were ordained in 2012. Today by keeping the legacy of St Chavara the CMI congregation is marching in creative fidelity towards the charism of its founding fathers responding to the signs of time. Responding to the call of God to serve God and humanity in a creative existential way the 37th general synaxis of the congregation opened up yet another window of the prophetic call for a global mission. With much enthusiasm many of our young priests are opting for global mission. Much thrust has been given to these new pastures like Equador and Brazil missions. As we have seen the Congregation was divided into three Provinces on 2nd March 1953 for administrative efficiency. Later as members and activities increased, further divisions became necessary. The St Joseph’s Province which was spread in the whole diocese of Changanaserry and Palai was bifurcated into St Josephs’ Provinces of Kottayam and Thiruvanthapuram in 1979. St Joseph’s Monastery, the mother house at Mannanam is radiating the legacy of St Chavara and other founding fathers. The Monastery of Mannanam has become a hub of pilgrims in Kerala. The sacredhill has now developed into a showcase of institutions in different spheres following the legacy of St Chavara. The Sanskrit school established by St Chavara in 1846 got developed into a big school of St Ephrem s High School from 1885. The Monastery has entered into higher education and it is evident in the establishment of the Arts and Science College of Kuriakose Elias College. One of the oldest boarding schools for boys is attached to the St Ephrem’s School known as St Aloysious Boarding House. It was established in 1887 transmitting and imparting Christian values to school children. The wooden press established by St Chavara in 1846 is developed into a sophisticated and technologically advanced press. The first Catholic magazine of Kerala, Karmalakusumam (Flower of Carmel) commenced in 1903 is still published and owned by the monastery. The souvenir of the new evangelization is evident in the parish attached to the monastery for the new catechumens and newly baptized Christians. The mission inherited from St Chavara is heading towards a new vigour on the hill. St Chavara intercede for all our missions
