News Update
1. The feast of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara was celebrated in Chavara Hills along with the priests and religious of the nearby parishes and communities on 13th January, 2016. The program commenced with a prayer service and novena to St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara followed by festal dinner. There was a good participation of the priests and religious.
2. Rev. Fr. Sebastian Thekkedathu left for USA on 20th January in connection with the taking over of the Chapel in Mall Ministry in Boston. He visited Brooklyn and CMI Centre for Spirituality, Liberty, and met with our members.
3. Rev. Fr. Prior General visited Ghana mission from 23rd to 26th January, 2016. He met with all CMI missionaries working in Ghana in CMI Carmel House, Bechem. He attended the Sunday liturgical services in Kumarsi. He met with the staff and students of CMI Carmel School, Bechem and laid the foundation stone of the new building of the School. The Prior General met with the present bishop and bishop emeritus of Kumarsi diocese and bishops expressed great appreciation for the contribution given by our missionaries in the diocese. Congratulations to all the pioneering missionaries and the present team under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Jose Mundadan.
4. Rev. Fr. Prior General reached Namibia on 27th January for canonical visitation. He met with CMI staff members in St. Charles Lwanga Major Seminary and our members serving in Namibian Catholic Bishops' Conference. He also met with students and gave the keynote address for the inauguration of the new academic year on 1st February, 2016. Rev. Fr. Prior General had a session with the Bishops' Conference. The Namibian Catholic Bishops' Conference appreciates the service of our members and they requested our continued service for the administration of the seminary. Congratulations to Rev. Fr. Benny Karuvelil, the Rector, Rev. Fr. John Ettaniel, Rev. Fr. Cyriac Kannezhath and Rev. Fr. Pradeep Aerthayil, the members of the formation team. NCBC acknowledged the service of Rev. Fr. Thomas Manninezhath with gratitude as the first rector of the seminary and the present secretary general of NCBC. The Conference congratulated the service of Rev. Fr. Oliver Inchodey, the director of Caritas, Namibia and director of the Department of Catechetics and requested his continued service. The Archbishop and the bishops requested for our service in the parishes and in the administration of schools in their dioceses and it is a good opening for the provinces to take up new initiatives.
5. CMI community in USA has taken up a new mission by taking charge of the Carmelite Mall Chapel and St. Teresa Gift shop in Boston. Rev. Fr. Davy Kavungal is appointed as the director. Transfer of the chapel and gift shop was held on January 30, 2016 with Mass at 4 pm. Episcopal Vicar of the archdiocese of Boston, Rev. Gerald Petringa, O.Carm fathers and five CMI fathers were present. The chapel was packed with over three hundred people. This 65 year old chapel is the first chapel in a mall in the United States. Rev. Fr. Sebastian Thekkedathu, General Councillor represented CMI congregation and signed the contract with the diocese of Boston. Congratulations to Rev. Fr. Davy Kavungal and team for the timely initiative taken to take up the new mission in USA. Carmelite Mall Chapel is a dedicated centre for Holy Mass, Adoration to the Blessed Sacrament and confession.. Let us pray for the success of our new ministry in Boston.
6. The feast of St. Kuriakose Elias will be celebrated in Chavara Bhavan, Kainakary on 7th February, 2016. Mar George Rajendran, Bishop of Thuckalay will be the main celebrant. During the days of Novena from 29th January to 6th February, provincials and other members from different provinces led the services.
7. The formal inauguration of Rajagiri Hosptial, Chunangamvely will be held at 5 p.m. on 7th February, 2016.
8. The second batch of Brazil missionaries will leave on 8th February, 2016 from Chavara Hills. Let us pray for our new missionaries in Brazil.
9. The Annual Regents Meet will be held in Chavara Hills from 11th to 13th February.
10. The official inauguration of Kuriakose Elias Chavara Chair at M. G. University, Kottayam will be held at 10 a.m. on 12th February. A National Seminar on the Contributions of Kuriakose Elias Chavara for the Renaissance of Kerala Society also will be held on the same day at K.E. College, Mannanam. All are cordially invited.
11. The diaconate of 12 scholastics in Samnvaya, Bhopal was held on 30th January, 2016. Congratulations to the new deacons.
12. The diaconate of Rev. Bros. Akhil Kavungal and Jinto Kuttukaran will be held on 6th February, 2016 at Hekima University College, Chapel, Nairobi. Best wishes to the new deacons.
13. Rev Rajesh Minj was ordained a priest on 23rd January, 2016 at St. Peter's Church, Dugoli, Jagadalpur. The ordination of Rev. Deacon Jain Kalaparambil will be held on 7th February, 2016 by Mar John Vadakel CMI, in the Provincial House Chapel, Najibabad, Bijnor.
14. Pranamam, the group for the Elders founded and supported by CEVA, initiated "Bhupalana" - a nature farming to produce poison free fruits and vegetables at CEVA Bhavan, St. Joseph's Monastery, Karikkamuri. This initiative of the elders aims to create awareness on healthy living for families, society and the future generations. The programme was inaugurated in a gathering of the Pranamam group on 6th January 2015 by Mararikulam Grama Panchayath President, Adv. D. Priyesh, himself a pioneer in nature farming in his own Panchayat, which was presided over by Rev. Fr. Varghese Vithayathil CMI, Vicar General of the CMI Congregation. Mr. K.V.P. Krishnakumar, Chairman, Standing Committee for tax, Cochin Corporation, Mr. Benny Joseph, Convener, Janapaksham, Rev. Fr. Jose Thachil CMI, Vice President, CEVA, attended the programme. We appreciate Fr. Jince Padinjareyil and the CEVA team for this new initiative which manifests the creative and dynamic aspects of "Being Merciful as Our Heavenly Father" who wants His elderly children to be usefully occupied and become gracefully old.
15. Let us remember our departed souls:
. Mrs. Mariyamma (95), the paternal grandmother of Fr. Limson Puthur (studying at Christ University, Bangalore, St. Paul Province, BHO), was called to eternal rest on 14.01.2016
. Mrs. Elykutty, beloved mother of Rev. Fr. Vincechan Kochuparambil CMI (Carmel Province, Muvattupuzha), slept in the Lord on 19.01.2016.
. Mr. Jose Thekkiniyath (62), beloved father of Rev. Fr. Renju Thekkiniyath CMI (Devamatha Province, Thrissur) slept in the Lord on 27.01.2016.
. Rev. Fr. Paul Kariamadam VC, beloved elder brother of Rev. Fr. Jose Kariamadam CMI (Carmel Province, Muvattupuzha), slept in the Lord on 27.01.2016.
. Mr. Poulose Pengiparambil (79), beloved father of Rev. Fr. Benni Pengiparambil (Devamatha Province, TSR) slept in the Lord on 31.01.2016).
. Mr. Poulose Kachappilly (97), beloved father of Rev. Fr. James Kachappilly CMI (councillor for Finance, St. Xavier's Province, Rajkot), was called to his eternal reward on 02.02.2016.
. Mr Mathew, the elder brother of Rev Fr. Jose Kadookunnel (working in USA, St. Thomas Province, KOZ) slept in the Lord on 03.02.2016.
. Mr Joy Cheruvandoor, younger brother of Rev Fr Sebastian Kochupurackal CMI (USA, St. Joseph's Province, KTM), slept in the Lord on 03.02.2016.