Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I.)
The congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I.) was started by three illustrious priests of the Apostolic Church of St. Thomas Christians in India. These Founders were Rev. Fathers Thomas Palackal, Thomas Porukara and Kuriakose Elias Chavara.
Theywere assisted by Jacob Kanianthara who joined the Congregation as a brother co-operator. The Italian Latin Carmelite Bishop Maurilius Stabilini O.C.D., who was governing the St. Thomas Christians of Kerala at that time, gave permission to start this religious Congregation. The foundation stone for the first monastery at Mannanam was laid on 11th May 1831. The first two of the Founding Fathers passed away in 1841 and 1846 respectively.
Canonical Erection
On 8th December 1855 the Religious Community at Mannanam became a canonically recognised Religious Congregation with the religious profession of the first batch of eleven priests headed by Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara. On this occasion the name assumed by the Religious Community at Mannanam was "Congregation of the Servants of Mary Immaculate of Mount Carmel". Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the first "Prior" of the Congregation passed away with the odour of sanctity on 3rd January 1871. He was declared "Blessed" by Pope John Paul II on 8th February 1986.
Since the Latin missionaries of the Order of Carmelites Discalced (O. C. D.) were guiding the Congregation started at Mannanam during its early period, Carmelite influence was there from the very outset. In 1860 the General Chapter of O.C.D. in Rome affiliated this new Religious Congregation of the Oriental Rite to itself and gave it the designation T.O.C.D.(Third Order of Carmelites Discalced). It was granted Pontifical status in 1885.
The name of the Congregation was changed to C.M.I. (Carmelites of Mary Immaculate) with the approval of its revised Constitution by the Holy See in 1958. C.M.I. was given Pontifical Exemption in 1967.
Activities
This Congregation was involved from its beginning, in such activities as the Church in Kerala was in need of at particular times. It started with preaching retreats and conducting seminaries for training priests. The members met the challenge of educating the youth and disseminating Christian literature, laboured for the conversion of non-Christians and for the reunion of the separated brethren among St. Thomas Christians and undertook works of mercy and started charitable institutions.
The Mission work of the C.M.I. Congregation gathered new dimension and momentum as mission territories were entrusted to it beyond the boundaries of Kerala from 1962 onwards to expand the Syro-Malabar Church.
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