About Us

The Congregation of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) is the first Indigenous Religious Congregation in the Catholic Church of India. Fr. Thomas Palackal, Fr. Thomas Porukara and Fr. Kuriakose Chavara of the Syro- Malabar Church of apostolic origin, who felt that - “A lot of good had not been done due to the absence of a Thapasu Bhavanam ( house of Discipline) and a Darsana Veedu ( house of Vision)” had the challenging vision of providing spiritual leadership and fostering unity and growth in the Kerala Church.

With the permission of Bishop Maurelius Stabilini, the then Vicar Apostolic of Verapoly, they founded a religious house at Mannanam on 11 May 1831 . Jacob Kanianthara, who later became the first professed brother in the Congregation, cooperated with the founding fathers from the beginning. The name of the Congregation was 'Servants of Mary Immaculate'. More....