MISSIONS

Catechumenate

Evangelization was an integral part of the CMI way of life. The first members of the Congregation were eagerly going around the parishes with various programmes of catechetics and faith formation. They were particularly interested in preaching the gospel and forming new Christian communities. Blessed Chavara started the first catechumanate in 1853 at Mannanam for the faith formation of new members to the Catholic Church. Later other monasteries too started catechumanates attached to the monasteries.

Efforts for Reunion

In 1921 Panthalam Mission was started in view of working among the Jacobites in the Diocese of Quilon. The fulfilment of the reunion efforts was the birth of the Syro Malankara Church in 1930 when a group of Orthodox Christians along with two bishops came into communion with the Catholic Church. The new bishops, their clergy and faithful were initiated into the Catholic faith by CMI missionaries who continued to give them spiritual guidance and faith formation. At the request of the Malankara Archbishop, Mar Ivanios, the CMIs extended their missionary service to Kanyakumari region where they brought hundreds of Nadar converts into the Catholic faith. 

High Range Mission 

After the first Word War many Christians from central Travencore migrated to the present Idukki region in search of fertile land for cultivation and thus make a better living. These migrant Christians had to face many hardships of life especially in their spiritual, sacramental and material needs. In this regard the role played by the CMIs were very important. The ashrams at Koduvely, Korandakad, Kaithapara, Nadukani, Vazhithala, Kattapana, Puliyanmala, Chakkupallam, Ponneduthamparappu etc, were instrumental in the alround development of the migrant settlers especially their spiritual growth. A special mention is needed about the Malanadu Missionary, Xavier Pulparambil(1868-1963) known as the Randamshaviriyar (Second Xavier) who toiled day and night of many years for the pastoral, social and material development of the people of Highrange. He was not only the veteran retreat preacher but also an organizer who could establish move than 12 churches coordinating poor settlers.

Beyond Boarders

The life and mission of the Syro Malabar Church and CMIs were confined to the central part of Kerala between the rivers Bharathapuzha and Pambanadi. It was only in 1955 that the Holy See extended the territories of the Syro Malabar Church beyond these boarders to South Travencore and Malabar regions. But there were already Syro Malabar migrants in these areas who had settled there. The CMIs were in the forefront to reach out to these faithful for their pastoral care and faith formation. 

CMI and the Nadar Community 

There were a good number of CMIs who could see the fruit of their missionary work among the Nadar Community. In 1955 through the decree, Multrorum Fidelium the Holy See attached the areas of the Latin dioceses of Kollam, Thriuvandathapuram and Kottar to the Archdiocese of Changancherry. To work there as missionaries, Archbishop Mar Kavukatt sought the help of the CMIs. Our members took keen interest and started several centers between Thriuvananthapuram and Kaniyakumary at Vizinjam, Kaliyal, Mandapathinkadavu, Azhakiyamandapam, Anchugram, Plankalayil etc and started working with the people especially with the Nadar community. Through our efforts many joined the Church and so we could form several Christian communities in the region. The zealous missionary efforts of our missionaries paved the way for the formation of the present diocese of Thakkala in 1999. 

CMI Malabar Mission 

Migration to Malabar started in the early 1920s and meanwhile the Latin diocese of Calicut also was established in 1923. Soon the Bishop of Calicut Msgr. Paul Prini SJ invited the CMI congregation to help the diocese by sending priests. He also requested the prior general to start a CMI monastery at Calicut. The first missionary to Malabar was Fr. Athanasius who started working as the parish priest of the Latin Parish of Cheruvannur and started the Ashram in 1935. But in 1936 the ashram was shifted to Kadalundy where the Congregation purchased some land. As the population of the Syro-Malabar migrants increased and their numerous needs, CMI fathers started taking care of them while helping different Latin parishes like Shornnur, Ottapaalam etc. Under the leadership of Fr. Bernardin the CMI missionaries gathered the Malabar migrants in various colonies and gave them spiritual retreats. Thus there were more than 25 colonies where the CMIs animated them and took their spiritual and physical needs as far as possible. In the year 1948 Bishop Pathroni of Calicut entrusted the parish church at Thariyodu exclusively for the Syro-Malabar Church. Thus the first parish beyond the proper territory was established and Fr. Cherubin CMI was appointed the first parish priest. Thereafter other seven parishes were established one after another at Koodarangi, Thriuvampadi, Kodancherry, Venapara, Kannoth, Nadavayal and Sulthan Battery and entrusted them to the CMI fathers according to the direction of the Holy See by 1951. At the time of the establishment of the Syro Malabar diocese of Thalassery in 1953 there were 10 Syro Malabar parishes, all administered by CMI priests. After the diocese was established the CMIs turned their attention to the new areas in Karnataka (present dioceses of Balthangady, Bhadravati, and Mandya) and Tamil Nadu (diocese of Ramanadhapuram). 

C.M.I. MISSIONS IN NORTH INDIA 

-Ambikapur Mission

The expansion of CMI Mission beyond Kerala got momentum in the second half of the twentieth century. When the celebration of the 19th centenary of the martyrdom of St. Thomas the Apostle was held in Kerala in 1952 several bishops from North India came to attend the function. One of them, Bp. Oscar Sevarin S.J., Bishop of Raigarh-Ambikapur, was highly impressed by the vibrant Syro Malbar Church in Kerala with its missionary potential. He then invited the CMIs to for mission work in his diocese with the understanding that some territory of the diocese would eventually be entrusted to the CMIs for evangelization. Thus the first CMI North Indian missionaries set out for Raigrah-Amibikapur Mission in 1955. The missionaries worked hard in various parishes engaging in pastoral care, catechesis, formation of new Christian communities etc. A CMI house was established in Ambikapur for the occasional gathering of the missionaries and the formation of future miaaionaries. After 22 years of mission work, when the new diocese of Ambikapur was established in 1977, the CMIs moved to their own other missions.

Chanda: First CMI Mission Diocese

Though the promise of Bp. Oscar Sevarin to give a separate territory to the CMIs was not fulfilled in Raigarh-Amibikapur another door was opened through the generous initiative of Msgr. Eugene D’Souza, the Archbishop of Nagpur. Seeing the missionary zeal and enthusiasm of CMIs he offered to cede a territory from the large uncommitted areas of his archdiocese to the CMI fathers for mission work in the Syro- Malabar Rite. This paved the way for the establishment of the Ordinariat of Chanda in 1962. Pope John XXIII erected Chanda, the first Syro-Malabar Mission, through the Decree “Ad Lucem Sancti Evangelii” (Prot N81/61, dated March31, 1962) and entrusted it to the CMI Congregation on August 15, 1962. Msgr Januarius Palathuruthy CMI was appoitnted the Ordinary. The Ordinariate was raised to the status of an Exarchate in 1968 and a diocese in 1977 with Mar Januarius Palathuruthy CMI as the first bishop. Mar.Vijay Anand Nedumpuram CMI succeeded Mar Januarius on July 3, 1990.

After many years of work in Chanda mission, and after establishing many institutions, parishes and mission stations, CMIs started building religious houses and thus became a mission province in 1978 with the name Mar Thoma Province.

Sagar: CMI Second Mission

It was through the initiative of the late Eugene De Souza, the then Archbishop of Bhopal that the Eparchy of Sagar came into being. On 29 July 1968 the Exarchate Sagar was constituted and entrusted to the CMI Congregation and Msgr. Clement Thottungal CMI was appointed as the Exarch. The districts Sagar, Raisen, and Vidisha of the Bhopal diocese constituted the new exarchate in 1973, The district of Guna from Ajmir-Jaipur diocese was added to the Sagar Diocese on 26 February 1977. Sagar became a diocese by the “Divine Verba” and Msgr Clement Thottungal CMI was appointed its bishop in 1977. He was retired and Msgr. Joseph Pastor Neelankavil CMI was appointed his successor on 22 February 1987. When Bishop Pastor Neelankavil retired, Msgr. Antony Chriyath, a diocesan priest, was appointed the new bishop of Sagar diocese on 25 March 2006. 

After developing the Sagar diocese with various institutions and Christian communities the members of Deva Matha province, Trissur slowly began to establishes many religious and secular institutions, in other dioceses especially in the diocese of Bhopal. In 1977, the vice province of Sagar became a province with its provincial house at Govinda Garden.

Jagdalpur: CMI Third Mission 

On 23rd of March, 1972 Pope Paul VI established the Apostolic Exarchate of Jagdalpur and entrusted it to the CMI Congregation. Msgr. Paulinus Jeerakath CMI was the first Exarch. In1977 Jagdalpur was raised to the status of diocese and Msgr. Paulinus CMI was made the first bishop on 11, May, 1977. Bishop Paulinus slept in the Lord on 6, August 1990, Msgr. Simon Stock Palathara CMI took charge as the Bishop of Jagdalpur on 19 March 1993 as the second bishop. 

District of Bastar in Chatisgar State, the homeland of aborginals or adivasis is a vast area with little development. Catholic mission in Bastar was initiated by the Pilar fathers of Goa from 1966 onwards. In 1972 undivided St. Joseph’s province was entrusted with the mission and only after 30 years of service to the diocese, Nirmal province was established in 2002. 

Bijnor: CMI Fourth Mission

“Beatorum Apostolorum” on 23 March 1972 and entrusted to the CMI congregation. Mgr. Gratian Mundadan CMI of the Sacred Heart province, Kalamaserry was appointed its first Apostolic Exarch. The new Exarchate was previously part of the Diocese of Meerut and it consists of the Bijnor, except Dhampur division in Uttar Pradesh, and the five hill districts of Pauri, Garhwal, Tehri, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Uttar Kashi in Uttrachal. On 26 February 1977, Bijnor was raised to the status of an Eparchy and Msgr. Gratian Mundadan was appointed its first Bishop.

Under the leadership of Bishop Gratian CMI, CMI fathers worked hard and developed about 45 stations were established in the diocese of Bijnor. Gradually some religious houses also were started in the area. By the request of the bishop of Meerut number of CMI institutions were started outside the territory of Bijnor. In 2002 Bijnor province was erected. 

Bhavnagar: Seventh CMI Mission

At the request of bishop Gregory Karotumprel CMI, Kottayam province took up mission work in Bhavanagar and Amreli, two districts in Rajkot diocese in 1985. Junagad and Porbandar were also added and Chavara sub region was constituted with Bhavnagar its headquarters. In 2010 Bhavnagar was raised to a province. 

PERU MISSION

The CMI Peru Mission was started in 1975 when three CMI priests (Mathew Alphonse Chakkamkunnel, Jose Mundackal and Jospeh Malayampuram) went to work in the Prelature of Chuquibamba at the invitation of Bishop Redento M. Gauci O. S.B. In 1987 the mission was entrusted to St. Joseph’s Province, Kottayam. New team of missionaries under the leadership of Fr. Mathew Alphonse was sent to the mission in September 1989. They started working in Arequipa diocese. During the period of 1990-2003 a few more fathers were sent to different parishes of various dioceses in Peru. At present 14 priests work in 3 dioceses and are involved very actively in pastoral and social ministry. In 2003 the mission was erected a subregion (San Mateo Sub Region) which has got legal identity in Peru. 

Papua New Guinea (Estd. 1991)

In 1991 the province took up a new mission in Papua New Guinea sending Frs. Joseph Pullanappallil, Mathew Palithottam, Kurian Perumpallikunnel, Joy Nirappil and Modest Purathayil, Francis Njallampuzha and some others later. After a few years of experiments the mission was discontinued.

Chavara Mission, Dhule 

Chavara Mission, comprising the civil districts of Dhule, Jalgaon and Nandurbagh within the territory of Kalyan diocese, was formally inaugurated by Mar Paul Chittilapilly, the then bishop of Kalyan, on 2 February 1993. The first missionary to work in this region was Fr. Sebastian Vazhapilly, who was followed by Fr. Francis John. The former invited the CMC sisters of Ernakulam Province to start an English medium school, which was opened in 1990. CMI Devamatha Province, Thrissur, was given the care of this area in 1992. Frs. Diego Kodankandath and Raphael Kurian were the pioneers of this mission. They started staying in a rented house at Jalgaon. The present regional house was erected at Dhule in July1994. Chavara English Medium School was started at Walwadi village, Dhule. A rural health centre was started in view of extending our services to the poor and adivasis. Later, the following institutions were also established here: St. Mary’s Parish Church, constructed in 2002through the special efforts of Fr. Jerome Cherussery and the cooperation of the Syro-Malabar faithful in the locality; Chavara Nivas, Walwadi, a house for the CMI members, completed in June 2002, Chavara Hospital, started in 1995 as a rural health centre in view of extending the services to the poor adivasi villages in and around Dhule town. A home for the aged was also started here in 2005.

Kenya Mission

The CMI Kenya mission was started on 11 November 1981 in Machakos Diocese. Fr. Edward Padikkala reached Kenya and began to stay in the cathedral church of Machakos to help the parish priest. Later he was transferred to Kenya High School, where he taught for 11 years. In 1983 Fr. Jose Kallely reached Kenya and stayed in Mubiuni Parish as an assistant parish priest. He became the parish priest of Mubiuni when the former priest left for his country. These two CMI missionaries have served in four parishes of the Machakos Diocese: Mubiuni, Ngunga, Mitaboni and Kola. At Mitaboni Fr. Edward was appointed acting parish priest for six months. Then the bishop transferred him to Kola, where he served as a parish priest for six years. Then the CMIs gave back the parish to African priests due to the lack of CMI members. During the period of their ministry, the CMIs constructed five churches, and a polytechnic for girls. When more CMI priests joined the mission, more parishes (Mubiuni and Ngunga) in the diocese of Machakos were given to the CMIs.

Mibiuni is the parish where the CMI members started the missionary apostolate in Kenya. From 15 June 1983 Fr. Jose Kallely is the parish priest. St. Joseph Primary School

Madagascar Mission

Madagascar Mission was started in 1987 when three priests from Devamatha Province, Thrissur, Fr. Kuriakose Cheeran, Fr. Paul Moses Chakkalackal and Fr. Davis Kolengadan, were sent to the Diocese of Morondava for pastoral work. Two parishes of the diocese, Mahaboo and Ankilzato . The first missionaries focused their attention on pastoral care, education, boarding houses and medical services. Presently they have Chavara School, Chavara Dispensary and a boarding school at Ankilzato. Now there are six priests working in the mission. A new centre was started in the capital city, Antananarivo in 2009.

Poonch-Rajouri Mission

Bishop Hippolytus Kunnumkal of Jammu-Kashmir invited the CMI Congregation to work in his diocese and entrusted Poonch and Rajouri Districts of the diocese to CMI St. Thomas Province, Kozhikode, for mission work in 1989. The CMI fathers began the mission work together with the CMC sisters and Nazareth sisters of Thalassery. Now, there are six centres in the mission: Jammu, Nowshera, Lamberi, Rajouri, Sunderbeni and Poonch.

The pioneering missionaries, Frs. Jacob Keekarikat and Joseph Paikada, started working among the converts from the Valmiki community in Poonch, 240 km away from Jammu. The establishment of a parish and Christ School paved the way for their integral development. Similar activities are undertaken in Nowshera, Lamberi and Rajouri. In Jammu there is a special school for the mentally challenged. In Sunderbani there is an Ashram where interreligious and spiritual services are conducted.

Christ Catholic Mission, Kamuwongo, 

Christ the King Catholic Parish, Kamuwongo, in the diocese of Kitui in Kenya, was erected in 1999 by Bishop Boniface Lele. Since there was no parish residence, Fr. Antony Vadakkekara stayed in a rented room in Kamuwongo market and started organizing new parish. With the co-operation of the parishioners and other well wishers he built a beautiful church in 2002. The arrival of the Clarist Sisters from Thrissur brought in great changes in the pastoral, social and educational field. A dispensary with essential facilities renders medical service to the people around. Fr. Antony started a primary school in 2004. After his pioneering pastoral work the parish was handed over to the diocese in 2008.

Jammu-Kashmir Mission

Bishop Hippolytus Kunnumkal of Jammu-Kashmir invited the CMI Congregation to work in his diocese and entrusted Poonch and Rajouri Districts of the diocese to CMI St. Thomas Province, Kozhikode, for mission work in 1989. The CMI fathers began the mission work together with the CMC sisters and Nazareth sisters of Thalassery. Now, there are six centres in the mission: Jammu, Nowshera, Lamberi, Rajouri, Sunderbeni and Poonch.

The pioneering missionaries, Frs. Jacob Keekarikat and Joseph Paikada, started working among the converts from the Valmiki community in Poonch, 240 km away from Jammu. The establishment of a parish and Christ School paved the way for their integral development. Similar activities are undertaken in Nowshera, Lamberi and Rajouri. In Jammu there is a special school for the mentally challenged. In Sunderbani there is an Ashram where interreligious and spiritual services are conducted.

Kanyakumari mission

CMI missionaries were active in Kanyakumai district in the first half of the 20th century itself. They worked in collaboration with the local parishes for the conversion of local people. However, CMI institutions were started only in 1970 when St. Thomas Church, Netta, was entrusted to the CMIs by the Archdiocese of Chenganassery. Following this several centres were established in Pilamkalai, Kutchapuram,Nagarkovil, Kanyakumari, Kaliyal, Anjugram and Muzhukode. Several mission stations also developed around these centres. There are about 15 priests working in this mission which is a subregion under St. Joseph Province, Trivandrum.

Ghana Mission

In 1991 the members of St. John’s Province, Bijnor, started working in the diocese of Kumasi in Ghana. They were involved in pastoral, educational and social activities. Later the services were extended to the neighbouring diocese of Goaso. A CMI house and school were established in Bechem in 2010. Today there are six priests working in Ghana Mission.

Chavara Mission, Dhule

Chavara Mission, comprising the civil districts of Dhule, Jalgaon and Nandurbagh within the territory of Kalyan diocese, was formally inaugurated by Mar Paul Chittilapilly, the then bishop of Kalyan, on 2 February 1993. The first missionary to work in this region was Fr. Sebastian Vazhapilly, who was followed by Fr. Francis John. The former invited the CMC sisters of Ernakulam Province to start an English medium school, which was opened in 1990. CMI Devamatha Province, Thrissur, was given the care of this area in 1992. Frs. Diego Kodankandath and Raphael Kurian were the pioneers of this mission. They started staying in a rented house at Jalgaon. The present regional house was erected at Dhule in July1994. Chavara English Medium School was started at Walwadi village, Dhule. A rural health centre was started in view of extending our services to the poor and adivasis. Later, the following institutions were also established here: St. Mary’s Parish Church, constructed in 2002through the special efforts of Fr. Jerome Cherussery and the cooperation of the Syro-Malabar faithful in the locality; Chavara Nivas, Walwadi, a house for the CMI members, completed in June 2002, Chavara Hospital, started in 1995 as a rural health centre in view of extending the services to the poor adivasi villages in and around Dhule town. A home for the aged was also started here in 2005.

Kolkata Mission

In 1988 a new centre, ‘CMI Dharmanikethan’, was established in the town of Kolkata. In 1993 Kuriakose Elias Carmel School was opened there; a boarding house was annexed in 1999. Later, a branch of this school was opened at Diamond Harbour. CMI Dharmanikethan is now a Syro-Malabar parish recognized by the Archdiocese of Kolkata, thanks to the vision, efforts and social activities of Fr.Ludovic Pathickal. Today Kolkata Mission is a sub regionof St. Joseph Province, Trivandrum. The mission has five centers with pastoral, educational and social activities. 

Nepal Mission

Nepal was a forbidden land for Christian missionaries until the country became a democratic republic in 2005. Since then missionaries could work openly in Nepal. The CMI Mission was started in 2010 in Tribuvan Nagar in Mahendra Nagar district of Nepal which is 700 kilometers away from the country’s capital city, Kathmandu. There were a few Christians without pastors. The presence of CMI missionaries has been a boost to the small Christian community in Mahendra Nagar and a number of people are showing interest to receive the message of Christ. The mission is progressing well under the leadership of Fr. Gerard Padinjarepeedika CMI and with the blessing and support of Msgr. Antony Sharma, the bishop of Nepal.

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CMI Mission Policy; PG Circular