ST THOMAS PROVINCE

A New Province

The Carmelites who first established a presence in India came from the Carmelite Upper German Province in the 1960’s. Over time, enough young Indian men were drawn to the Carmelites’ spirituality that it was decided India should be its own province. As St. Thomas the Apostle is believed to have proselytized India in the 1st century, the Province of St. Thomas was formed in July, 2007.

The Carmelite Community Today

Ministries undertaken by missionary priests have a better chance of achieving their goals if they are carried out by people who are part of the culture. The Carmelite community in India today is dominated by young, enthusiastic Indians. There are 77 Carmelite priests, 6 seminarians in Solemn Profession and 18 seminarians in Simple Profession. Very Rev. Fr. Robert Thomas Puthussery O.Carm., the Prior Provincial with his Team is leading the Province in to its heights. .

Working for a Just Society

The Carmelites in India are engaged in education, pastoral work, retreats, homes for the aged, disaster relief, women and child health, rural community development, and ministry on child labor with the support of the government. As the drop-off in numbers from Simple to Solemnly Professed shows, every effort is made to discern those with a true calling to the Carmelite life of poverty, chastity and obedience. These young men give their lives as a witness to Christ-among-us.

Locus of Carmelite Activity

The Carmelite friars conduct their ministry from spread across three Indian states (Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka) and overseas as well (Canada, USA, Germany, Ireland and Italy).

The History of Progression

The Order of the Brothers of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (O. Carm.) was originated on Mount Carmel in Palestine in the beginning of the 13th century and the Order made known its presence in different parts of the world since then. At present the Order is blessed with 21 Provinces and a few delegations over thirty different countries of the world.

St Thomas Province of India is a 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. Fr Joseph Koetschner, 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 Carmelites Frs Sunny Kodiyan and Thomas Kizhakemury returned to India in 1982 and Frs 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 Jyoti was erected as the study house in Bengaluru. Carmel Sadan was erected in 1994 at Chettupuzha, Thrissur. It is the provincial house of the Province.

In 1991 the foundation in India was made a region and a Commissariat in 1993, which was officially approved by the General Council with the rescript dt. 30.12.1994. Frs Sunny Kodiyan, John Adapoor and Mathew Neendoor were the Commissary Provincials during this period. It started a mission in 1998 in the diocese of Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. On 16th July 2007, the Indian Commissariat was eventually declared an independent Province by the then Prior General, Most Rev Joseph Chalmers and Very Rev Fr Mathew Neendoor was elected as the Prior Provincial of St Thomas Province of India and he was re-elected and continued until 2014. On 14 February 2014 Very Rev Fr Robert Thomas Puthussery was elected as the new Prior Provincial.

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

The Order in India was involved from its beginning, in such ministries as the Church in Kerala and South of India was in need of at particular times. It started with seminaries for training priests such as Minor Seminary, Novitiate, and Major Study House etc...

The Order in India met the challenge of starting a new mission in Andhra Pradesh with parish ministry and educational ministry. Fr Sunny Jacob Thuruthippilly is the pioneer and visionary behind the mission. Along with the parish ministry Fr Sunny sowed the seeds of educational institutions which are the pressing need of the time then and now.

The service in the field of charismatic retreat began with the foundation of Carmel Bhavan, a residential retreat centre at Karukutty, Angamaly in the Arch-diocese of Ernakulam- Angamaly. Fr Bosco Njaliath is the man behind this spiritual reawakening centre that provides spiritual nourishment and faith formation to hundreds of people from various parts of Kerala.

The friars render their service in seven parishes in various dioceses in and outside Kerala. Our friars are also engaged in parish ministries in the dioceses of Germany, Italy, Ireland and Canada seeing the needs of time.

Our charitable and social commitment is embodied in the form of an old age home at Kartikulam in the diocese of Mananthavady for the destitute men. The Order made its entry to the ministry of Media by starting a Book Stall named Carmel Book Stall at Kothamangalam. It is a new venture that makes a new area of ministry for our friars. Fr Roji Pullolickal is the pioneer and the first director of the Book Stall.

Another important area of ministry of the friars is education. It spread across Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Mount Carmel College at Karukadom opens the platform for the youth to acquire the qualitative education synchronized with modern technology and moral values. Mount Carmel School at Kosigi which started on 2000 offers the smart education for the poor children in remote and back villages of Kosigi, Sunkeswary and Kowthalam Mandalams. Carmel Academy started in the year of 2012 at Bangalore calls the children for an excellent and challenging education. On 10 June 2014 Rev Fr Robert Thomas Puthussery inaugurated the new opening for the poor and dropout children called Carmel Boys Home as a part of Andhra Mission.

PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION

PRIOR PROVINCIAL

Very Rev Fr Mathew Neendoor O.CARM.

PROVINCIAL COUNCILORS AND PORTFOLIOS

Fr Paul Poovan O.CARM.

First Councilor

(Finance)

Fr Martin Pulickal O.CARM.

Second Councilor

(Social Work, Justice and Peace)

Fr Thankachan Njaliath O.CARM.

Third Councilor

(Apostolic Work and Mission)

Fr.John Mariadas Neerolickal O.CARM.

Fourth Councilor

(Spirituality and Formation)

Fr Paul Poovan O.CARM.

Province Bursar and Internal Auditor

Fr Shiju Njaralampuzha O.CARM.

Province Assistant Bursar

Fr Shyju Chollamadam O.CARM.

Secretary to the Provincial

Fr Alexander George Chundattu O.CARM.

Vocation Director

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