Congregation of Mother of Carmel

The Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (C.M.C.) is a Syro-Malabar Catholic religious institute of pontifical right for women, with its origins linked to the founding of the Third Order of Discalced Carmelites (TOCD) by Mother Eliswa Vakayil on 13 February 1866 at Koonammavu, near Kochi, Kerala, India. The TOCD was the first indigenous Carmelite congregation for women in India. The CMC, which later emerged from the original TOCD foundation, adopted a distinct identity under the Syro-Malabar Church and continues to follow Carmelite spirituality in its apostolic mission.

Congregation of the Mother of Carmel

Suore della Madre del Carmelo
Abbreviation	CMC
Formation	February 13, 1866; 159 years ago
Founder	Mother Eliswa Vakayil
Founded at	Koonammavu, Kerala, India
Type	Religious Institute of Consecrated Life
Headquarters	Mount Carmel Road, Thaikkattukara P.O., Aluva 683106, Kerala, India
Membership	7000
Superior General	Mother Grace Therese CMC

The community was established under the authority of Bernardine Baccinelli, the Archbishop of Verapoly, and with the spiritual guidance of Italian missionary Fr. Leopold Beccaro, OCD. The sisters were given the Rule of the Discalced Third Order of Carmel. The congregation initially welcomed members from both the Latin and Syro-Malabar rites. In 1890, the original TOCD congregation was divided along liturgical lines, giving rise to two independent branches: the Latin-rite Congregation of Teresian Carmelites (CTC) and the Syro-Malabar-rite Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC).

^[1]

The first convent of the new community was opened in Koonammavu with three women: Eliswa, a widow, her daughter Anna, Eliswa's sister Thresia and another young lady named Clara came as the fourth member on the next day. They were given the rules of the Discalced Third Order under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Verapoly, Bernardine Baccinelli. Leopold Beccaro was their spiritual director.

Division

Originally the congregation was open to women of both the Latin and Syro-Malabar rites, the Sisters lived together in unity for nearly twenty-five years. However, following the reorganization of the Catholic hierarchy in India and the establishment of the Syro-Malabar Church as a distinct entity in 1887, administrative complications arose over ecclesiastical jurisdiction. In 1890, the Holy See decreed a separation of the congregation along liturgical lines. The Latin-rite Sisters continued as the Congregation of Teresian Carmelites (CTC), while the Syro-Malabar-rite Sisters became the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC), both tracing their origin to the original TOCD community founded by Mother Eliswa.

With the eventual reorganization of the Syro-Malabar hierarchy, the Sisters found themselves divided among five different congregations, each under a different bishop and led by its own Superior General. The first foundation outside of Kerala from among the different groups was to the Punjab in 1958.

Union

Full union of the disparate congregations did not take place until November 16, 1963, when they were recognized by the Holy See as a congregation of the Eastern Church, at which time the congregation took the name of Congregation of Mother of Carmel, by which it is currently known.

Current

The congregation today is divided among 25 Provinces and six regions throughout India and Africa. They also serve in Germany, Italy, Nepal,Peru,Canada,Iraq,UK and the United States.^[2]

Saints of the congregation

Kuriakose Elias Chavara, a key supporter in the establishment of the community, was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1986, along with Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, during his visit to India. One of the congregation's early members, Euphrasia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. Chavara and Euphrasia were canonised by Pope Francis on 24 November 2014.

Mary Celine Payyappilly, the first Superior General of the united C.M.C. congregation was declared as Servant of God by George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church on 9 April 2018.