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At a Glance

The Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) is the first indigenous religious congregation in India.

CMI AT A GLANCE 2023

The Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) is the first indigenous religious congregation in the Catholic Church of India. Malpan Thomas Palackal, Malpan Thomas Porukara and St 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. Saint 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 Verapoly 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 Constitutions were approved ad experimentum by the Apostolic See in 1885. In 1958, the name was changed to ‘Carmelites of Mary Immaculate’ (CMI). The Congregation was granted pontifical exemption in 1967. From the very beginning, the religious life in 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 works 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, many mission dioceses and regions were erected in Central and North India. This is indeed a milestone in the progress of the CMI missions and an abiding evidence of the recognition by the Apostolic See. Besides, many members are engaged in various kinds of apostolate in other parts of India and also in other countries. The Prior General, assisted by four Councillors, is at 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, two regions and 6 sub-regions.




MEMBERS

Priests

2004

Bishops

09

Permanent Lay Brothers

14

Scholastics

604

Novices First Year

60

Novices Second Year

77

Aspirants

299

Deceased Members

918



Houses / Institutions

Canonical Houses

45

Houses

60

Novitiate Houses

10

Aspirants Houses

30

Residences

143

Residences

104



PASTORAL INSTITUTIONS

Parishes along with our Monasteries and Houses

116

Other Parishes with CMI Parish Priests in India

32

Parishes with CMI Parish Priests in Abroad

100

Mission Stations

203

Retreat/Renewal Centres

23

Counselling Centres

17



GENERAL EDUCATION CENTERS

Schools with STD I to XII

110

Schools with STD I to X only

113

Schools with STD I to VII only

78

Schools with STD I to IV only

73

Kindergartens along with schools

155

Separate Kindergarten Schools alone

26



PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CENTERS

Deemed University

01

Autonomous Colleges

07

Engineering Colleges

03

Schools/Colleges of Nursing

07

Physical Education Colleges

02

BEd Colleges

09

Poly Technic

01

ITC/Technical Institutes

05

Research Centres

04

Colleges of Law

02

University Recognized Media and Communication Colleges

01

University Recognized Any other Colleges

21



HEALTH, SOCIAL AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS

Medical Colleges

01

Hospitals

10

Dispensaries & Alternative Medicine Clinics

09

Institutions for differently Abled

21

De-Addiction, HIV/ AIDS Rehabilitation

07

Non – Formal Education Centres

18

Children’s Homes

16

Home for the Aged

09

Small Scale and Cottage Industries

17

Social Research Centres

01

If any Other

20

Registered NGOs/Social Work Centres

27

Registered organization, Self Help Groups, CBOs etc.

255



CULTURAL AND COMMUNIATION CENTRES

Printing and Publication

10

Electronic Media Communication & Production Houses/Recording Studios

06

Books and Religious Articles Centres

13

Socio-Cultural Centres

13

Inter-religious Centres

06

Public Libraries

03

Registered Regular Periodicals and Magazines

08

Registered Journals

01

Agricultural Farm

49