Vision & Mission

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

Vision

The founding fathers of CMI Congregation (Fr Thomas Palackal, Fr Thomas Porukara, St Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Bro Jacob Kanianthara) have bequeathed the noble tradition of carrying on the spiritual movement they started at Mannanam. Their fervent, recollected prayer life which activated their apostolate and the apostolate which enriched their prayer life, their leadership in prayer and apostolic activity, their community life centered around the liturgical celebration, their spirit of sacrifice, their unreserved dedication to the preaching of the Word of God and work for the salvation and welfare of the people, their keen sensitivity to orientate life according to the needs and signs of times, their tender devotion to the Immaculate Mother of Carmel and Saint Joseph, their acceptance of the spiritual tradition of the Carmelite religious family, their filial attachment to the Church and its authorities, and their concern for the preservation of the identity and development of the Syro Malabar Church are the main elements of the precious heritage they left for posterity.

Mission

The profession of the evangelical counsels are inseparably belong to the life and holiness of the Church (LG 44) which is the sacrament of intimate union with God and has the mission in history to serve the divine plan by proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. Hence we co-operate in this mission of the Church through evangelization of peoples and through the specific ministries of the pastoral and sacramental guidance of all people to salvation. The basic condition and efficacious means for the fulfillment of this mission is the living witness of evangelical life. The founding fathers, activated by an intense prayer life, undertook every form of activity required by the actual needs of the Church, and those apostolic works enriched their prayer life. Following their example our apostolic efforts have the ring of religious authenticity about them, and the living testimony of the presence of Christ. Our preaching and other apostolic activities are the outpouring of an exemplary life and the fruit of the yearning of our soul to communicate God-experience to others.

Charism

The founding fathers of the CMI congregation strived to grow into the discipleship of Jesus Christ and engaged in every service for the spiritual renewal of the Kerala Church. Members of the CMI congregation carry out the same historical mission inherited from the founding fathers considering the changes of the time and the mode of service to the society. Our members now extend their service in the fields of Global mission, Formation of the Priests through Theological training, Pastoral Ministry, Education, Social Apostolate and Health Care.