Chavara & CMI
Bl. Chavara
Kuriakose (Cyriac) Chavara was born in 1805, of pious and devout catholic parents of Syro-MalabarChurch, in Kainakary, Kerala, India. In baptism he was given the name Kuriakose (Cyriac). After his early schooling in the native village and priestly studies under Fr.Thomas Palackal at Pallippuram, he was ordained priest in 1829.
Co-operating with Fathers Thomas Palackal and Thomas Porukara, he founded the indigenous religious congregation for men, (1831) now known as the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I). It was after the death of the senior companions in the foundation that Fr.Kuriakose with the first members, made the religious profession in 1855. In religion he took the name Kuriakose Elias of the Holy Family.
CMI CONGREGATION
Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) is an indigenous Religious congregation for men founded by Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara in May11, 1831 at Mannanam.
Statistical abstract of the Members(CMI)
Bishops 06
Priests 1345
Permanent Deacons 11
Brothers Co-Operators 42
Scholastics 603
Novices 197
Total 2204
CHARISM OF THE CONGREGATION Charism of our Congregation is Contemplation and Action. Ours is a life of communion with the triune God: experiencing the freedom of the spirit, and making “the Word our sole food and drink” and of total availability urging us to undertake with zeal for the sake of the church and according to the needs of the times the preaching of the gospel to the faithful, catechizing the new Christians , evangelizing the non Christians, working for the well being of the Saint Thomas Christians and for the reunion of the dissident groups among them and labouring for the all round building up of Christ’s Body, the church. (CMI Constitution Article3.)
APOSTOLATES Our members, considering the signs of the time and needs of the people, are involved in Parishes, Hospitals, Dispensaries, Social Service Centres, Educational institutions, Missions Stations in India and abroad.
Statistical abstract of the Institutions(CMI)
Parishes 77
Hospitals and Dispensaries 48
Social service Centres 99
Educational Institutions 478
Mission stations 140
Women’s welfare centres 53
Cultural and Dialogue centres 17
Total 912
PROVINCES The Congregation is divided into 14 Provinces for the administrative purpose considering the needs, culture, and language of the people. Six Provinces are in Kerala and seven outside Kerala. Our missionaries are working in third world and first world countries also.
Kuriakose (Cyriac) Chavara was born in 1805, of pious and devout catholic parents of Syro-MalabarChurch, in Kainakary, Kerala, India. In baptism he was given the name Kuriakose (Cyriac). After his early schooling in the native village and priestly studies under Fr.Thomas Palackal at Pallippuram, he was ordained priest in 1829.
Co-operating with Fathers Thomas Palackal and Thomas Porukara, he founded the indigenous religious congregation for men, (1831) now known as the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I). It was after the death of the senior companions in the foundation that Fr.Kuriakose with the first members, made the religious profession in 1855. In religion he took the name Kuriakose Elias of the Holy Family.
CMI CONGREGATION
Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) is an indigenous Religious congregation for men founded by Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara in May11, 1831 at Mannanam.
Statistical abstract of the Members(CMI)
Bishops 06
Priests 1345
Permanent Deacons 11
Brothers Co-Operators 42
Scholastics 603
Novices 197
Total 2204
CHARISM OF THE CONGREGATION Charism of our Congregation is Contemplation and Action. Ours is a life of communion with the triune God: experiencing the freedom of the spirit, and making “the Word our sole food and drink” and of total availability urging us to undertake with zeal for the sake of the church and according to the needs of the times the preaching of the gospel to the faithful, catechizing the new Christians , evangelizing the non Christians, working for the well being of the Saint Thomas Christians and for the reunion of the dissident groups among them and labouring for the all round building up of Christ’s Body, the church. (CMI Constitution Article3.)
APOSTOLATES Our members, considering the signs of the time and needs of the people, are involved in Parishes, Hospitals, Dispensaries, Social Service Centres, Educational institutions, Missions Stations in India and abroad.
Statistical abstract of the Institutions(CMI)
Parishes 77
Hospitals and Dispensaries 48
Social service Centres 99
Educational Institutions 478
Mission stations 140
Women’s welfare centres 53
Cultural and Dialogue centres 17
Total 912
PROVINCES The Congregation is divided into 14 Provinces for the administrative purpose considering the needs, culture, and language of the people. Six Provinces are in Kerala and seven outside Kerala. Our missionaries are working in third world and first world countries also.