Brief History of the CMI Congregation

The Carmelite of Mary Immaculate CMI is the first indigenous religious congregation of India, 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 St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara. They were assisted by Jacob Kanianthara who joined the congregation as brother co-operator. The then Archbishop of Verapoly Mar Maurilius Stabilini O.C.D., who was governing the St. Thomas Christians of Kerala, granted permission to establish this religious congregation. The foundation stone for the first Monastery at Mannanam, Kerala was laid on 11 may 1831. Before the fulfilment of their long cherished dream of canonically starting religious life among the St. Thomas Christians, the two Acharyas, Fr. Thomas Palacjal and Fr Thomas Porukara were called to eternal rest in 1841 respectively.

Later under the charismatic leadership of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, many dedicated priests of the Kerala church joined this spiritual movement.On December 8, 1855 the religious community received full ecclesiastical recognition and the first eleven father under the leadership of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara made the first profession of religious vows. They were given Carmelite rules with certain modifications and were known as ‘Servants of Mary Immaculate of Mount Carmel’. Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the first ‘Prior’ of the congregation passed away after a fruitful life of sanctity on 3 January 1871.

He was declared ‘Blessed’ by Pope John Paul II on 8 February 1986 at Kottayam, Kerala and was canonized by His Holiness Pope Francis I on 23 November 2014 at Vatican. Since the ordinaries of Verapoly were Carmelites, under whose jurisdiction and guidance was the congregation in its early days, a Carmelite influence was obvious.

In 1860, the general chapter of the OCD named Religious Institute as ‘Third Order of the Discalced Carmelites’ (TOCD). In 1958 the name was changed to ‘Carmelites of Mary Immaculate’ [CMI] with the approval of its revised constitution by the Holy See. It was granted pontifical status in 1885 and was declared exempted pontifical religious congregation in 1967.