1. The first session of the Ordinary General Synaxis XXXVIII was held at Jerusalem Retreat Centre, Thalore, from 9 to 15 March, 2020. Ninety-two delegates attended the session. Fr. Thomas Chathamparampil was elected as the Prior General. In the election for the new General Council during the Synaxis, Fr. Josey Thamarassery (Vicar General and General Councillor for Evangelization and Pastoral Ministry), Fr. Martin Mallathu (General Councillor for Education and Communication Media), Fr. Biju Vadakkel (General Councillor for Social Apostolate), Fr. Paulson Paliakkara (General Councillor for Finance and Agriculture) and Fr. Babu Mattathil (General Auditor) were elected.

2. In the event of new General Council assuming office, members of the General Synaxis XXXVIII and the Congregation in general thanked the outgoing General Council of Rev. Fr. Paul Achandy CMI (Prior General), Rev. Fr. Varghese Vithayathil CMI (Vicar General, General Councillor for Social Apostolate), Rev. Fr. Saju Chackalackal CMI (General Councillor for Evangelization & Pastoral Ministry), Rev. Fr. Sebastian Thekkedathu CMI (General Councillor for Education and Media), Rev. Fr. Antony Elamthottam CMI (General Councillor for Finance), and Rev. Fr. Johny Edapulavan CMI (General Auditor).

3. On 16 March 2020, new General Council visited Mar George Alencherry, Major Arch Bishop and Mar Sebastian Vaniapurackal, Curia Bishop at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad. They were also welcomed by Arch Bishop Mar Antony Kariyil CMI, Metropolitan Vicar of Ernakulam-Angamaly arch diocese on the same day and had dinner together at the Arch Bishop’s house, Ernakulam.

4. Farewell gatherings were arranged for the previous General Team at Chavara Hills, Kakkanadu. 17 March 2020 was commemorated as ‘Thanksgiving Prayer Day’ along with the Eucharistic community at General House. Mar Antony Kariyil CMI, Metropolitan Arch Bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly arch diocese was also present in the occasion. During the farewell gathering on 19 March 2020, Rev. Fr. Thomas Chathamparampil, Prior General thanked them for their incredible contributions to the Congregation. Mar George Alencherry, Major Arch Bishop and Mar Sebastian Vaniapurackal, Curia Bishop also spoke on the day. On 21 March 2020, Rev. Fr. Paul Achandy, former Prior General bid farewell to Chavara Hills and left to St. Theresa’s Monastery, Ambazhakad. Prayerful wishes to his future ministries!

5. The Second Session of the Provincial Synaxis scheduled from March 27 to April 04 2020, has been postponed to a future date on the basis of the directives from the Congregation for Institutions of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Rome and civil government instructions in social distancing and its relevance in the present Covid-19 outbreak.

6. The General Department of Social Apostolate, in collaboration with all the provinces took up various measures to face the challenges at the time of the ‘lockdown’ due to COVID 19. Accordingly following are the programs implemented:

• Food Distribution & Provision Kits to 4012 families for an average of 21 Days

• Distribution of masks, sanitizers and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to 22392 persons

• Availed our Health Institutions & Buildings to 543 persons for Isolation & Treatment, Quarantine and Accommodation for Patients, Health Workers and Migrants

• Financial Assistance to 827patients from poor families

• Telephone Counseling Services to 660 affected families and the public

• Awareness Generation to the public on the prevention of COVID 19 through Print and Social Media.

7. Beginning from the evening of Palm Sunday, 05 April 2020, Chavara Hills community had its annual retreat during Holy Week, which concluded on Saturday noon. The inputs were given by each member of the community. It was a time for prayer and recollection.

8. Fr. Varghese Kummananchery CMI of St. Paul Province, Bhopal, has successfully defended his PhD thesis on "The Model of Eugenics in Bernard Shaw's Major Plays" in English literature held on 25 February, 2020, at Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur. The President of India will confer the PhD degree to him on 20 March, 2020. The Congregation extends its hearty congratulations to Fr. Varghese Kummananchery.

9. Latest CMI Obituary (1831-2019) book was published under the auspices of Department of Education and Communication Media. Hearty congratulations to Rev. Fr. Sebastian Thekkedathu, former General Councillor and team.


† Let’s Remember the Departed Souls

1. Mrs. Mary Mathai (86), beloved mother of Rev. Fr. George Kalambukatt CMI (Carmel Province, Muvattupuzha) and Rev. Fr. Cyriac Kalambukatt CMI (St. John’s Province, Bijnor) was called to eternal reward on 28 February 2020.

2. Mr. M. J. Abraham Nedumparambil(88), beloved elder brother of Rev. Fr. Joseph Mathew Nedumparambil and Rev. Fr. James Nedumparambil (St. Joseph Province, Kottayam) was called to eternal reward and the funeral was on 11 March 2020.

3. Mr. Mathew Arimattathil (85), beloved father of Rev. Fr. Saji Arimattathil CMI (Carmel Province, Muvattupuzha) was called to eternal reward on 22 March 2020.

4. Mr. Chacko Pedickattukunnel (97), beloved father of Rev. Fr. Mathew Pedickattukunnel CMI (St. John’s Province, Bijnor) was called to eternal reward on 24 March 2020.

5. Mrs. T. D. Reetha (84), beloved mother of Rev. Fr. Jose Kidangan CMI (Devamatha Province, Thrissur) was called to eternal reward on 25 March 2020.

6. Mr. Anto Thottiyan (68), beloved elder brother of Fr. Jose Thottiyan (St. Paul Province, Bhopal) was called to eternal reward on 25 March 2020.

7. Mrs. Leelamma Mathew Valiyaparabmil (83), beloved elder sister of Rev. Fr. Isaac Arickappallil CMI (Carmel Province, Muvattupuzha) was called to eternal reward on 28 March 2020.

8. Mr. Chacko Alanolickal (Kuriachan) (87), beloved father of Rev. Fr. Geo Alanolickal CMI (Devamatha Province, Thrissur) was called to eternal reward on 01 April 2020.

9. Mr. Joseph Ullattikunnel, beloved father of Rev. Fr. Sony Ullattikunnel CMI (St. Joseph’s Province, Thiruvanthapuram) was called to eternal reward on 02 April 2020.

10. Mrs. Elsy Cherian (69), beloved elder sister of Rev. Fr. Johnson Vadakumcherry CMI (St. Paul's Province, Bhopal) was called to eternal reward on 07 April 2020.

11. Mrs. Mariam Kuriakose (82), beloved mother of Rev. Fr. Tomy Chellankandathil CMI (St. Xavier's Province, Rajkot) was called to eternal reward on 11 April 2020.