Founder's Day 2020

St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara is considered the patron of CMI institutions. His birthday; January 3rd  is commemorated every year with prayerful thoughts and recollections of his indomitable spirit by CMI priests or CMC nuns, who share their knowledge and history of the saint. This year as the spokesperson was not available on the same day, we had the celebration of the founders day on the 9th of January 2020. 

This year, instead of having guest faculty speaking on the history of St. Chavara, we had our dear teacher Fr.Sony Sebastian CMI and two of our seniors, Sr. Delna Jose CMC and Sr. Linda CMC to take sessions for us on the life, history and contributions of St. Chavara. The three of them briefed us on the various stages of the life of the saint and reflected on the incomparable qualities that we ought to imbibe from his life, deeds and vision for a better world.

St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara was born on 10th February 1805 at Kainakary, Kerala. St. Chavara was instrumental in founding two Catholic religious congregations – one for men, Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) and the other for women, Congregation of Mother of Carmel (CMC), for the spiritual renewal and all round development of the society.

Starting seven ashrams and a convent in different parts of Kerala, Chavara initiated a spiritual movement among the people of Kerala. He established the first Catholic Sanskrit School, a major seminary and a printing and publishing house at Mannanam. He directed that every church should start a school attached to it and encouraged children even poorer section to attend that schools by supplying mid day meal and dress for them. 

  

Essentially St. Chavara was a man of prayer and great charity. He lived for 65 years and died on 3rd January 1871. His Sanctity was officially recognized by the church, when Pope Francis declared him 'Saint on Nov 23, 2014. Saint Chavara is the heavenly patron of all CMI institutions.

A sketch of St. Chavara by Sr. Delna Jose CMC

Session by Fr.Sony Sebastian CMI, Sr. Delna Jose CMC and Sr. Linda CMC