Congregation of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI)
The Congregation of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) is the first indigenous religious congregation in the Catholic Church of India. Fr. Thomas Palackal, Fr. Thomas Porukara and Fr. Kuriakose Chavara of the Syro-Malabar Church of apostolic origin, who felt that “a lot of good had not been done due to the absence of a Thapasu Bhavanam (House of Discipline) and a Darsana Veedu (House of Vision)”, had the challenging vision of providing spiritual leadership and fostering unity and growth in the Church. With the permission of Bishop Maurelius Stabilini, the then Vicar Apostolic of Verapoly, they founded a religious house at Mannanam on 11 May 1831.
On 8 December 1855, the religious Congregation was canonically approved and Saint Chavara, the only surviving founder, was appointed the first superior of the Congregation. The Constitutions were approved ad experimentum by the Apostolic See in 1885. From the very beginning, the religious life in the congregation was rooted in the Indian, Oriental and Carmelite spiritual traditions.
The Prior General, assisted by four Councillors, is at the head of the administration; the Prior General’s House at Chavara Hills in Kochi is the headquarters of the Congregation. At present the Congregation has about 3000 members including 10 bishops and 2000 priests. More than half of the priests are working outside Kerala, of whom about 500 are doing pastoral services in 31 countries around the world.
Our Founder: Saint Kuriakose (Cyriac) Chavara
Saint Father Kuriakose Chavara, the founder of the Congregation of the CMI, "is a living inspiration for thousands and thousands of persons. He is gratefully remembered as a profound scholar, an educationist, a builder of institutions of the underprivileged, the illiterate, the destitute and the needy"
- His Excellency the President of India: R. Venkitaraman.
Kuriakose (Cyriac) Chavara was born in 1805, of pious and devout Catholic parents of Syro-Malabar Church, at Kainakary, Kerala, India. After his early schooling in the native village and priestly studies under Fr. Thomas Palackal at Pallippuram, he was ordained priest in 1829.
In 1831, co-operating with Fr. Thomas Palackal and Fr. Thomas Porukara, he founded the first indigenous religious congregation for men, now known as the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). In 1871, on January 3, Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, after a short illness, passed away at Koonammavu preserving his baptismal innocence unto death. He died on 3rd January, 1871 and was canonised by his Holiness Pope Francis on 23rd November, 2014.
St. Chavara was a visionary leader of the time who envisaged many plans for the spiritual and social progress of the Church and society. He was a man who took the road less travelled. His educational contributions laid a strong foundation for a just society in which all human beings were worthy of erudition, justice, respect and dignity.
In 1846, Fr. Kuriakose started St. Josephs Press at Mannanam which was the third printing press in Kerala. He started the first Sanskrit School at Mannanam in the same year. He implemented the concept, ‘A School for a Church’ (Pallikudam) when he was the Vicar General of Kerala.
He introduced the free noon meals in schools, a practice later adopted by the rulers of Travancore and then by the Indian Government.
He is credited with the founding of two religious congregations, indigenous printing press and publications, a sanskrit School, schools adjoined to every parish church, boarding school attached to convents and initiation of women empowerment programmes. St. Chavara’s education vision envisaged inclusion, expansion, equity, excellence and a comprehensive outlook.
CMI Educational Institutions
Education is the most socially visible apostolate of CMI Congregation today. In terms of the involvement of the personnel (more than 30% of CMI Priests) and the investment of material resources, it is the most important apostolate. CMI Congregation has a huge and wide network of various types of educational institutions; according to the latest statistics, we have 127 Kindergartens, 150 Lower Primary Schools, 132 Upper Primary Schools, 109 High Schools, 69 Higher Secondary Schools, 24 Arts, Science, Commerce and Education Colleges of varying sizes and enrolments; 1 Polytechnic, 12 Industrial Training Centres, 2 Engineering Colleges, 1 Medical College and 1 Deemed University. We have also entered into other “forms and areas of education demanded by the special needs of our times, like training of the handicapped, adult education and various types of non-formal education” (D120); today, we run 12 institutions for the training of the differently challenged and have 55 non-formal education centres.
Historical Background
Christ College, Anand Nagar, Bhopal, founded in 2001, is run by CMI Seva Sangh (Registered Society) of St. Paul Province, Bhopal, belonging to the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), the first indigenous Congregation in India with its foundation at Mannanam, Kottayam, Kerala. This Catholic Religious Congregation is the embodiment of the dream and vision of Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara who was a nineteenth century visionary, educationist and social reformer in India.
The long cherished dream of the members of the St. Paul Province, Bhopal, began to sprout up in 2001, when Fr. Louis Malieckal was the Provincial and Fr. John Ollukaran was Education Councillor. His Grace Most Rev. Pascal Topno S.J. then Archbishop of Bhopal gave consent to start the college and the province gathering which assembled at CMI Bhavan Padariya, Bhopal on May 30, 2001 suggested the name “Christ College”. It was on 13-08-2001 that Christ College, Bhopal was formally inaugurated, with two courses- B. Sc and B.C.A., at a simple ceremony when Fr. John Ollukaran, the principal of the college, lit the lamp and Fr. N.K. Dominic, the Principal of St. Paul School felicitated.
Education Department Activated:
Reading the signs of the times, Christ College activated B.Ed and M.Ed Courses in 2004 and 2010 respectively. Fr. Johnson Kannanaickal joined the college in 2006, giving new vibration and vitality to the college. He opened IGNOU Study Centre at Christ College in the same year. Christ College of Education is the only teacher training college in Barkatullah University, Bhopal accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC with CGPA of 3.21 on a 4 point scale in 2014. Fr. Sany Kannanpuzha, Fr. Peter Muttungal, Fr. Jaison Puthur and Fr. Saju Kollannur served as assistant professors. Prof. (Dr.) Fr. Johnson Kannanaickal was appointed Principal of Christ College in 2014.
Relocation of Christ College:
The Provincial Synaxis in 2014 and 2017 discussed the relocation of Christ College from St. Paul School campus, Anandnagar to CMI Bhavan, Padariya and the Synaxis appointed commissions to study its viability and necessity. Considering the recommendation of the committee and visualizing the growth of the college, Provincial Synaxis-2017 decided to relocate the college to Padariya within three years. By God’s grace, the renovated CMI Bhavan, Padariya, the new college building, was blessed by Fr. Justin, the Provincial, in the gracious presence of Provincial Councilors and neighboring religious communities, on 24th October 2019. We gratefully acknowledge the inspiration and guidance by Rev. Fr. Justin Akkara, Provincial, Fr. Joby. P., Education Councilor, other Councilors and Fr. Johnson Kannanaickal. Fr. John Shibu extended his sincere service to settle the land issues and to get diversion of the land. Fr. Domnic Natunillath joined Christ College as staff in January 2020, giving new vitality to the college administration. The new sprawling campus offers immense scope for development and extension.
Arts and Commerce Department
Christ College activated Arts and Commerce departments in 2019. It was a new pivotal development in the history of Christ College.
Our Staff
Christ College has to its credit a committed team of teachers and supporting staff, an excellent workforce, dedicated to the profession, exceptionally qualified and experienced. Every teacher is a bountiful resource person who leaves no stones unturned to notch up higher standards in imparting world class education to our students.
