History of CMI Congregation

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'.

Soon, some more priests and clerics joined the founding fathers and thus a small Religious Community took shape. On 8 December 1855, the Religious Congregation was canonically approved and the first eleven fathers made their Religious Profession. St. Chavara, the only surviving founder, was appointed the First Superior of the Congregation. Since, during the early period of the Religious Congregation, the Vicars Apostolic of Varapoly were Carmelites, the Congregation had come under the Carmelite influence; hence, the rules of the Carmelites with some modifications were given to them in 1855. In 1860, the Community was affiliated to the Order of Carmelites Discalced with the name, 'Third Order of the Carmelites Discalced' (TOCD). The Constitution was approved ad experimentum by the Apostolic See in 1855. In 1958 the name of the Congregation was changed to 'Carmelites of Mary Immaculate' (CMI). The congregation was granted Pontifical Exemption in 1967.

From the very beginning of the religious life the Congregation was rooted in the Indian, Oriental and Carmelite spiritual traditions. Being contemplatives in action, the members engaged in such activities as the Church in Kerala was in need of at particular times. They preached retreats, conducted seminaries for the training of the local clergy, met the challenge of educating the youth and disseminating Christian literature, laboured for the propagation of the faith and for the reunion of separated brethren, undertook woks of mercy and started charitable institutions.

The apostolate of the CMI Congregation gathered new dimension and momentum as Mission Areas were entrusted to it beyond the boundaries of Kerala. In 1962 Chanda became the first Mission Ordinariate of the Syro – Malabar Church and was entrusted to the Congregation. Since then, more Mission Dioceses and Regions were erected in Central and North India and six of them were entrusted to the Congregation. Now, Angamali-Ernakulam Arch-diocese and two dioceses in North India, viz., Jagadalpur and Rajkot are administered by CMI Bishops. The beginning of missionary work outside Kerala was indeed a milestone in the progress of the Congregation and the abiding evidence of the recognition and appreciation of the Congregations' ministries by the Apostolic See. Besides these Missions, many members are engaged in various kinds of apostolate in other parts of India and also in other countries.

At present, the Congregation has about 3000 members including 9 Bishops, 1994 Priests, 15 Brothers and 476 Scholastics, 166 Novices and 306 Aspirants in formation. More than half of the Priests are working outside Kerala of whom about 350 are doing pastoral services in 29 countries around the world.

The Prior General, assisted by four Councillors, is the Head of the Administration; the Prior General's House at Chavara Hills in Kochi is the headquarters of the Congregation. For the sake of administration, the Congregation is divided into 15 Provinces, and two Regions and six Sub- Regions.