News Update

Order of Carmelites

St Thomas Province of India is the fruit of the missionary zeal of the Upper German Province. During the Provincial Chapter held in 1973 a resolution was made on 13th June to start a foundation of the Order in India. Father Joseph Kotschner, the then Provincial, strove hard to learn the situations and realities of the Church and the people in India. He planned and organized the task of founding the Order in India with great zeal and long vision. As a result three batches of candidates from India reached Bamberg, Germany, in the years 1973, 1974 and 1976. On completion of their religious and priestly formation, the first Indian Carmelite Fathers Sunny Kodiyan and Thomas Kizhakemury, returned to India in 1982 and Fathers John Adapoor and Francis Pavartikaran in 1983.

In 1982 the first house of the Order in India, Carmel Nivas was canonically erected at Karukadam as the Minor Seminary in the diocese of Kothamangalam; in 1984 Karmel Nikethan was erected at Kartikulam as the Novitiate House in the diocese of Mananthavady and in 1988 Carmel Jyothi was erected as the study house in Bengaluru. Carmel Sadan was erected in 1994 at Chettupuzha, Trichur. It is the provincial house of the Province.

The foundation in India became a region in 1991 and was raised to the status of a Commissariate in 1993, which was officially approved by the General Council in 1994. Father Sunny Kodiyan was elected the first Commissary Provincial. Fathers John Adapoor and Mathew Neendoor respectively became the succeeding Commissary Provincials. In 1998 the Indian Commissariate started a mission in the diocese of Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. On 16th July 2007, the Indian Commissariate was declared an independent Province which was named "St. Thomas Province" by the then Prior General, Most Reverend Joseph Chalmers and Very Reverend Father Mathew Neendoor was appointed the first Prior Provincial and was later elected the Prior Provincial.

Today the Carmelites serve the Church in India and abroad by giving retreats, doing parish ministry and providing social and educational services for those in need.

Events

Newly elected Provincial team of Order of Carmelites (O.Carm.), St.Thomas Province, India.
Very. Rev. Fr. Sebastian (Thankachan ) Njaliath O.Carm. 

( Prior Provincial ), Rev. Fr. Thomas Kunnapilly O.Carm. (1st Councillor ), Rev.Fr. Shaji Mangalath O.Carm. (2nd Councillor ), Rev.Fr. Shiju Njaralampuzha O.Carm. (3rd Councillor ), Rev.Fr. Johnson Kunnath O.Carm. (4th Councillor ).
Congratulations to newly elected provincial team.

  Congratulations  

Fr. Shijin Akkara O.Carm. was ordained by Bishop Mar Raphael Thattil on 22 April 2023 & Fr. Jacob Pallippurath O.Carm. was ordained by Bishop Mar George Madathikandathil on 13 April 2023. 

 Congratulations to Newly Ordained Deacons 

Bro. Anson Ernakuzhiyil O.Carm.& Bro. Lucka Thekkemadathilparambil O.Carm

Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee Celebration of Very. Rev. Fr. Sebastian (Thankachan) Njaliath O.Carm., Prior Provincial Order of Carmelites (O.Carm.) St.Thomas Province and Rev. Fr. Thomas Kunnappilly O.Carm. First Councillor on 28 December 2023 at Carmel Sadan Provincial House, Chettupuzha, Thrissur.