The CMI Congregation started
as a spiritual
movement
out of the intense God-experience of three zealous diocesan
priests of the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala, India, viz.,
Blessed Chavara Kuriakose Elias, Fr. Thomas Palackal and Fr.
Thomas Porukara, who were assisted by Bro. Jacob Kanianthara.
Till the middle of the 19th century, there was not a single
indigenous religious society in the Indian Church that has its
roots in the direct evangelisation by St. Thomas the Apostle.
Being aware of the spiritual benefits of having a religious
community, the three zealous founding fathers wanted to bring a
spiritual renewal and vibrancy to the local Church, through such
a community.
To achieve this goal, assimilating the
patrimony of the 19-century old Syro-Malabar Church into the
age-old heritage of the Indian spiritual traditions, they began
a spiritual movement in 1831, at Mannanam, in Kerala, India.
After the death of the other two, Bl. Kuriakose Elias Chavara of
the Holy Family, guided the Congregation and the Syro-Malabar
church, as its Vicar General, till his death. Imbibing the
spirit of the great saints and sages of Carmel starting from
Prophet Elijah and other great Carmelite saints the CMI
congregation grew to the expectations of her founders. At
present, with its 2800 members the CMI Congregation is involved
in the areas of Pastoral Ministry, Formation of Priests,
Evangelization, Education, Communication Media and Social
Apostolate, all with the sole aim of the spiritual and social
renewal and reformation of the church and the society.