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News & Events

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

News Update (02-09-2018)

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News Update (02-09-2018)

1. Flood relief camps organized by CMI houses and institutions won the appreciation and gratitude of the people. Our members took keen interest to provide the best facilities, food and other support services like medical checkup and counseling. Almost 35-40 of our institutions and houses were used as relief camps, both government and non-government, through which we were able to reach out to 40-50 thousand people. The whole congregation took up the challenge to overcome the difficult situation and help came from all corners. People left the camps for their houses with a kit to take care of their immediate rehabilitation needs. In the Kuttanad area, the water has not receded fully. Our fathers who were taken to Punnapra are back in the houses and have started cleaning the buildings and the premises.

2. At CSR the cleaning of the premises is going on after the flood water receded. Fathers, staff and youth from different parishes and our houses like Kormala, Devamatha, Koduveli, Angamaly etc., brothers from Dharmaram, CPM volunteers from Kannur, the Chavara Hills Community and staff, neighbors and the members of CSR gave their best in the cleaning work.

3. Dharmaram and its constituent units are actively involved in the flood relief work. The parishes, schools and University are generously supplying food, clothes, medicines and other necessary items. DASS (Dharmaram Association of Social Services) under the leadership of Fr. John Marius, coordinated and contributed many resources towards flood relief. The Dharmaram College community undertook one week special adoration and raised funds through contributions, fasting and abstinence from food. Apart from these they supported and are supporting the relief work with manpower and necessary supplies. Around 100 of our scholastics in two batches went to different flood affected areas for relief and rehabilitation works. The first batch in four teams did a marvelous job at Thrissur, Kochi, Muvattupuzha provinces and at CSR, Pariyaram. At Thrissur under the leadership of Fr. Blessen Pettikkal and Fr. Wilson Chakkyath our brothers did the relief works at Chalakudy, Pulakkattukara, Eravakkad, Karur, Paliyekkara and Edathuruthy parish guided by Fr. Joy Vattoly; at Kochi under the leadership of Fr. James Kunthara the brothers undertook relief work at Kochal, Valluvali, Divine Retreat Centre, and Vatsalyam (Children’s home at Kalamassery) guided by Fr. Mathew Kiriyanthan; at Muvatupuzha under the leadership of Fr. Fenil Karikkakunnel our brothers did a great job at Muvattupuzha town, Kainakary – Chavara Bhavan and KE Carmel School under the guidance of Fr. Mathew Manjakunnel; and a team of brothers led by the CSR community did a great work in cleaning CSR, Pariyaram. The second batch is in action at different parts of Kuttanad led by Fr. Rajesh Kavalackal, especially at Chambakulam, Kainakary; and under Sargakshetra at Kidangoor, as the water is receding slowly all over Kuttanad. A few brothers from the campus communities of DVK are also involved in the relief works. A group of volunteers led by Fr. John Marius is serving at Kodagu and nearby affected areas of Karnataka. And a group of students and staff from Christ University had come to help at Kainakary after the first flood. All these activities were being coordinated by a team of Fathers, Sebastian Edathikavil, Rajesh Kavalackal and Fenil Karikkakunnel under the Supervision of Fr. Rector. Congratulations to the Dharmaram community for the selfless support and work.

4. Meeting of the Provincials and Councillors of Social Apostolate of the South Indian Provinces was held along with General Council and Consulters of the General Social Apostolate Department at 10.30 am to plan the future course of action for the flood-affected people. Provincials and councilors shared their rescue and relief operations and their projects for rehabilitation of the affected people and all provinces will come out with projects of rehabilitation in two phases in terms of addressing the immediate and long terms programs and reconstruction. Apart from the direct support interventions by our congregation in different provinces, it was also decided to contribute one month salary of all CMIs working in institutions to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. A comprehensive rehabilitation program will be evolved out of the projects of the different provinces based on the local needs and contexts.

5. The renewal program for the members under Prior General House was held from 29-31 August 2018, at Chavara Hills, Kakkanad. Including 26 CMIs from different provinces, 47 members attended the programme. In the inaugural session, Fr. Paul Chakkanikunnel, Prefect, Chavara Hills, welcomed the members and the Coordinator Fr. Antony Elamthottam explained the dynamics of the programme and Rev. Fr. Prior General gave the orientation talk. Fr. Saju Chackalackal, Fr. Sunny Punneliparambil, Fr. Varghese Vithayathil, Fr. Antony Urulianickal, Fr. Paulose Kidangan and Mr. Litto Palathinkal presented the topics and the participants were seriously involved in the discussions. On 31 August 2018 a family gathering was held and the members from different centres under Prior General’s House shared their ministry and experiences.

6. The annual general body meeting of CEVA was held at Chavara Hills on 01 September 2018 in which 35 members participated. Rev. Fr. George Pittappillil CMI director of Mithradham gave an input session on the relevance of the non-conventional energy in India and he was awarded a memento by Rev. Fr. Prior General for his outstanding contributions in the field of non-conventional energy. In the context of the natural calamities and as per the recommendation of the general body the board of directors of CEVA has decided to start a disaster management cell. The general body appreciated the rescue and rehabilitation works conducted by the Generalate and the provinces of our congregation.

7. 106 Postulants of our congregation are in their immediate preparations for the novitiate entrance on 8 September 2018, the Nativity of Bl. Virgin Mary at six novitiates. Let’s remember them in our prayers and thank God for his abundant graces.

8. Gathering of Jubilarians: Get together and Golden Jubilee celebration of priestly ordination will be on 15, 16 and 17 January 2019 and of the first Profession will be on 22, 23 and 24 January 2019 at Chavara Hills, Kakkanad.
Get together and Silver Jubilee celebration of priestly ordination will be on 18, 19 and 20 January 2019 and of the first profession will be on 25, 26 and 27 January 2019 at Chavara Hills, Kakkand.

9. PG Diary
In September Rev. Fr. Prior General will be attending the Renewal programme in Australia and the Pan-African Meeting and Renewal in Kenya.

10. Congratulations and Best wishes to
? Rev. Fr. Devasiachan Mukulath for successfully defending his doctoral thesis titled The significance of the Mystery of Trinity: The Relevance and Importance of the Holy Trinity in the Christian Arena Based on the Writings of Hans Urs von Balthasar on 27 August 2018 under Dr. Sebastian Athappilly from the faculty of Theology at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram.
? Rev. Fr. Sony Chundattu for the Fellowship award from International Benevolent Research Foundation for the contribution towards Academic administration.
? Rev. Fr. Davis Panadan for his book Legal Method Practicals Volume I: A Handbook for Law Students and Law Faculties which is the sixth book in the Christ Academy Institute of Law (CAIL) series.
? Rev. Fr. Joseph Vayalil for the publication of his new book Enne Vilikkuka Njan Utharamarulum from Sophia Books, Kozhikode.
? Rev. Fr. Shaji Puthenpurackal for the publication of his new book Anandavalli from Theo Books, Kochi.
? Rev. Fr. Paul Kalluveetil for the publication of his new book Queen Mariyum Aqueen Mariyum.
? Rev. Fr. Thomas Ambookan for the publication of his new book Soochiyude Suvisesham.

11. Upcoming Events (Evangelization and Pastoral Ministry)
? Preparation for Constitution Retreat on 27-28 September 2018.
? Updating on the Bible and Teachings of the Church: At Poornodaya, Bhopal from 12-16 November 2018.
? Updating on the Bible and Teachings of the Church: At Chavara Hills, Kakkanad, from 14-16 December 2018.
? CMI Retreat Preachers’ Meet: Get-together of CMI retreat preachers during 21-25 January 2019, at CSR, Pariyaram.
? CMI Mission Year: 1 October 2018 – 31 October 2019.
? CMI Mission Congress: Friday, 27 September 2019 – Tuesday, 1 October 2019.

12. Upcoming Events (Education and Mass Media)
? CMI Alumni of Christ Deemed to be University meet on 18 October 2018, at the Engineering faculty, Kengeri Campus, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.
? CMI School Educational Summit on 19-21 October 2018 at the Christ Deemed to be University Engineering faculty, Kengeri Campus.

13. Upcoming Events (Formation Coordination)
? Formators’ In-Service Training: 28-30 September 2018, at Chavara Hills, Kakkanad.
? College going brothers meet for North Indian Provinces: 03-04 November 2018, at Poornodaya Training Centre, Bhopal.
? Freshers’ Meet: Gathering of First-year aspirants on 17 November 2018, at Chavara Hills, Kakkanad.
? Regents Meet, at Chavara Hills on November 27-30
? Mission Provincials Meet: on 7 December 2018, at Chavara Dham, Budhni.


14. † Let’s Remember the Departed Souls
? Mrs. Mariyamma Mathew (97), beloved mother of Fr. Jose Thumbelettu (Chavara Vice-Province, Bhavnagar) expired on Thursday, 16 August 2018. Her funeral was on Sunday, 19 August 2018 at 2 pm, at St. Francis Church, Marangattupally, Pala Diocese.

? Mrs. Mary (94), beloved mother of Fr. Jose Pariyadan, (St. Paul Province, Bhopal) slept in the Lord on 17 August 2018 at 11 am at Pariyram. Her funeral was on Monday, 20 August 2018 at St. Mary's Church, Thazhoor, at 3.30 pm.

? Mr. K. S. Philip (Rtd. PWD Executive Engineer) beloved father of Fr. Josey Kollammalil CMI (St. Joseph's Province, Thiruvananthapuram) slept in the Lord on 20 August 2018 afternoon. His funeral was on Monday, 27 August 2018 at 3.00 pm at Amalolbhava Parish Church, Muttar.

? Mr. Tint Mathew (28), the beloved brother of Rev. Fr. Clint Karkamthottiyil CMI (Carmel Province, Muvattupuzha) passed away in the heavy landslide at Cheruthoni – Upputhodu. The funeral was held on 21 August 2018 at 5.00 pm at St. Joseph’s Church, Upputhodu.

? Mr. Lonappan (66),elder brother of Fr. Jacob Njerinjampilly CMI (Devamatha Province, Thrissur), slept in our Lord on 18 August 2018 at 1.00 a.m. His funeral was on 21 August(Tuesday) at 3 pm at Little Flower Church, Vellarampadam (near Mupliyam/Varandarapilly).

? Mrs. Mary (83) beloved sister of Rev. Fr. George Naipurayidam CMI (St. Joseph Province, Kottayam), slept in the Lord on 24 August 2018. The funeral was on Sunday, 26 August 2018 at 03.00 pm at St. Mary's Forane Church, Bharananganam.

? Mr. Mathew (77) beloved brother of Rev. Fr. Zacharias Nadackal CMI (St. Joseph Province, Kottayam), slept in the Lord, today 26 August 2018. His funeral was on Tuesday 28 August 2018 at 09.00 am at Holy Family Church, Inchiyani.