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“The congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I) was started by three priests of the Apostolic Church of St. Thomas Christians in India. These founders were Rev. Father Thomas Palackal, Thomas Porukara and Kuriakose Elias Chavara. They were assisted by Jacob Kanianthara who joined the congregation as a lay brother. The Italian Latin Carmelite Bishop Maurelius Stabilini O.C.D, who was governing the St. Thomas Christian of Kerala at that time, gave permission to start this religious Congregation. The foundation stone for the first monastery Mannanam was laid on 11th may 1931. The first two of the Founding Fathers passed away 1841 and 1846 respectively.”

“On 8th December 1855 the religious community at Mannanam became a canonically recognized Religious Congregation with the religious profession of the first batch of eleven priests headed by Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara. On this occasion the name assumed by the religious community as Mannanam was a Congregation of the Servants of Mary Immaculate of Mount Carmelae. Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the first Prior of the Congregation passed away with the order of sanctity on 3rd January 1971. He was declared “Blessed” by St.John Paul II on 8th February 1986.”

“On 23rd November 2014 , at a special mass at St Peter’s Square at Vatican, Pope Francis declared Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sister Euphrasia Eluventhinkal as saints, worthy of worship at altars in all Catholic and sister churches across the world.”