HISTORY OF THE CARMELITE ORDER.

The Carmelites take their name and origin from Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land,  where  some seekers of Christian perfection who had come with the Crusaders, settled as hermits towards the end of the twelfth century.  They were gathered into a community  around 1209 by a Formula or rule of life given by Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem. This rule was approved by several popes, especially by Innocent IV with a few amendments,  in 1247, after these Carmelites had migrated to Western Europe.

 Taking the Prophet Elias  as their  inspiration and Mary, as their Queen,  Mother and Patroness, they spread rapidly especially in England and France.  The Order was opened  to women in the mid-fifteenth century, the feminine branch being known as the second order.  Their principal  role in the Church, like that of the first order, was to meditate day and night on the law of the Lord and watch in prayer..

St   Teresa of Jesus  1515-1582,  re-founded the feminine branch  in 1562  and extended her reform to the friars with the help of St. John of the Cross (1542-1591) in 1567.  She gave a decidedly apostolic thrust   to   the Carmelite way of life.    Her daughters and sons will henceforth be known as Discalced Carmelites.      St. Teresa   encouraged missionary activities among the friars, who – along with the Sisters – were also to be real contemplatives.

The first Teresian cloistered Carmel in India was founded in Pondicherry  in the seventeenth  and absorbed into the mainstream second order in the middle of the  nineteenth.  This was followed by Mangalore in 1870.  Today    there are about 30 Teresian cloistered Carmels in India.    

CARMEL OF THE SACRED HEART, KANKANADY, MANGALORE.

If it is true that every Teresian Carmel must be derived from one or more previously exiting Teresian foundations, then, the Carmel of the Sacred Heart, at Kankanady, Mangalore, has the honour of being the first Teresian  Cloistered Carmel on Indian soil. This first foundation was planned by the last Carmelite Bishop of Mangalore, Mgr. Marie Ephrem, who transplanted from southern France to India the life of Teresian contemplation. Bishop Marie Ephrem, the only child of his parents had been ordained Bishop after having served in Quilon, Calicut, Tellicherry, Cannanore and Mangalore and had gone to Europe soon afterwards to take part in the First Vatican Council. It was then that he made arrangements with the Carmel of Pau in France that some of the nuns be sent to make a foundation in Mangalore, where he had recently been appointed Vicar Apostolic.

The Carmel of Pau was ready to offer six of its Religious for a foundation in the missions and the Bishop was glad. The next problem that had to be tackled was the financing of the project. They had to search for benefactors.

There happened to be at that time in the community at Pau, an Arab Novice who was rather extraordinary. She too was asked to pray in a special way that the problem of financing this foundation in the mission might be solved. And something extraordinary happened! A young girl appeared to the Novice, telling her that a certain George whose daughter she was, would subsidize the project. When she reported this vision to those in authority, they made every effort to verify who this George might be, till they discovered that the girl who had appeared to the Novice was Matilda who had died  some years previously, and her father was George count de Nedonchelle from Belgium!(Picture below) When the Sisters approached him, he was found most willing to meet the expenses  necessary for the journey and the foundation.  

The next thing was to start. The Bishop himself accompanied the six Sisters on the first leg of their long trip-from Pau to Marseilles. At Marseilles three more Carmelite Sisters joined them, and these were destined for the active apostolate. The bishop had foreseen the needs of his diocese. He had understood that Mangalore was in need, not only of a power house of prayer, but also a community to be involved in the Christian education of youth.

 On 18^th August, 1870, the nine Sisters and two Carmelite Fathers borded the ship ”LA GUINNE”. The six Discalced nuns were Rev. Mother Elias (Prioress), Mother Mary of Jesus, Mother Mary of the Saviour, Sr. Stephanie and Sr. Euphrasia and last, but not least, the Extraordinary Novice of whom mention has already been made. The sailing was smooth till they reached the Red sea. There was excessive heat which became a torture to some of the Sisters. Sr. Stephanie expired just before the  ship reached Aden. In Aden she was laid to rest. And as her body was being laid to rest, cannons boomed 19 times ….as though to pay her homage that is due to soldiers who fall in battle. (Actually the cannons were to greet a French Admiral who was visiting Aden. It is difficult as yet to say whether the Admiral was more deserving than the Carmelite!)

The discalced nuns had to break journey at Aden. Three of them were ill and the other two had to attend to their sick Sisters. The “active” Sisters proceeded on their way to India in the company of Fr. Lazarus OCD. One of the two Discalced Nuns, who seems not to have been affected by the inclemency of the weather, was the extraordinary Novice. After all she was an Arab!  At Aden Sr. Euphrasia expired after a few days. When Bishop Marie Ephrem heard of the calamities that had befallen his little flock, he hastened from France to catch up with them as swiftly as he could. He cheered them, and soon they were once again sailing this time over the Indian Ocean. They reached Madras (Chennai ) and went on to Vellore where their companions were awaiting them and altogether once again, they journeyed to Calicut. And here, Mother Elias became very sick and departed this life on the 5^th of November 1870, after exhorting the Arab Novice to be obedient to her Superiors.

On 19^th November, the Sisters reached Mangalore after three months of travel and travail. On the way three of their number had gone to their Reward- Stephanie in her twenties; Euphrasia, in her thirties; the able and experienced Mother Elias, almost within sight of Mangalore. The two professed Sisters and the extraordinary Novice were lodged in the residence of the Tertiaries since the cloister had yet to be built. Obviously they were too few to form a community. Mgr. Marie Ephrem therefore wrote to the Bishop of Bayonne, France, for fresh recruits. And four Sisters from the Bayonne Carmel accepted  the challenge and started for India. After a brief halt in Aden to visit the graves of the Sisters there, they arrived in Mangalore in March 1871, safe and sound. Shortly afterwards the extraordinary novice was joined in the novitiate by the Sister of one of the tertiaries, to whom we have previously referred to as the ‘active’ Carmelites. Finally, on 21 November 1871 the first Carmelite to make her religious profession on Indian soil was the Arab Novice Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified.

 For the first seven Months , the Discalced Nuns as well as the ‘active’ Sisters lived together forming a single community in St. Ann’s Convent. Later they moved into separate apartments prepared for them. Only is June 1879 was the site for the Kankanady foundation purchased. And the foundation stone was laid on August 15, 1880. A Gothic church and a spacious two-storied Carmel were built which cost Rs.80, 000. The expenses were all met by the Belgian nobleman, George, Count of Nodenchelle, in memory of his daughter Matilda who had offered her life for Pope Pius IX. On March 18, 1882, the community was transferred to Kankanady and the new Carmel was solemnly opened on the feast of St. Joseph on March 19^th.

BANGALORE CARMEL

            PHOTO TAKEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF COIMBATORE.

               BANGALORE CARMEL (1932) 
        OUR FOUNDRESSES(highlighted in bold) 
In 1601, St. Teresa appeared to Madam Acarie, a deeply pious, mother of a large family, and told her that God wished her to found monasteries of the Carmelite Order in France. One of the Carmels in France was Cholet, which was founded with the intention of recruiting vocations, to be formed and sent to the missions. In 1931, the Bishop of Mysore / Bangalore, Mgr. Maurice Despatures M.E.P. requested this Carmel to make a foundation in his diocese. Thus was founded the Carmel of Bangalore on 29^th January 1932.


CHICALIM CARMEL...FOUNDED IN 1947

THIRUVALLA CARMEL Founded in(1948)

     

                       MUMBAI CARMEL. Founde in 1964

                                      
                                   

                                      
                                           NOVICES OF KURNOOL CARMEL. (1974)

PUNE CARMEL FOUNDED IN 1979

CARMEL OF MARY CAUSE OF OUR JOY AND OF ST. JOSEPH

PREM JYOT CARMEL ASHRAM

MAKARPURA ROAD, VADODARA – 390 010

GUJARAT

Ph: 0265-2638616

premjyotcarmel@gmail.com

FOUNDED : 1982 by the Carmels of Mumbai and Goa

This Carmel in Vadodara, nestled in one of the cities of Gujarat, was born of a dream lodged in the heart of its first holy bishop: the Rt. Rev. Ignatius S. ’Souza in 1966 from the moment of his Episcopal ordination. Maybe it was the dream of our Holy Foundress St. Teresa of Avila too who was always overjoyed to place JESUS in a new tabernacle. However, it was only in 1975 that the Carmel of Andheri, Mumbai was able to respond when Mother Elizabeth of the Trinity with a companion Sister, (the niece of the dear Bishop) accepting the Bishop’s invitation travelled with him by road to Baroda, to visit sites. Finally and providentially on the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, December 3, 1980 the foundation stone was laid by the Bishop, a sure sign that this was to be a missionary Carmel. An unexpected grace was the visit of the Superior General Fr. Philip Sainz de Baranda who on 19th April celebrated Mass at the site.

By the end of 1982, the construction was reaching its last phase when Mother Elizabeth was elected Prioress of Carmel Andheri, Mumbai and responsibility for the foundation was transferred to Carmel Chicalim, Goa who generously accepted it.

Sr. Marie Gemma [later elected prioress] headed the group of 8 Sisters.

On 15th Sept. 1983 the Carmel was blessed and inaugurated by the apostolic Pro Nuncio Rev. A. Cacciavillan. There is an interesting and symbolic  feature in the location of this Carmel. It stands opposite the factory of the Novino, now Panasonic Batteries and daily thick black smoke emanates from its chimneys while from the belfry of Carmel peal bells for prayer and invisible white smoke rises like incense; a sign of what Carmel stands for – a constant pointer to God amidst this worlds seeming godlessness! From its inception the Carmel was lovingly cared for by the Bishop and his staff and the Sisters in turn inserted themselves whole heartedly into the local church making their own its joys, sorrows and concerns.

At Prem Jyot Carmel, everyone feels welcomed; for Christians and people of other faiths, it has become a well known presence – a presence that speaks of God’s love, compassion, understanding and acceptance and a presence of prayer. Through the year the guest rooms become “solitary places” for those seeking prayer and silence in times of retreat.

May God increase and multiply this flame of love – Prem Jyot to draw all people to Himself. 

If HE the Great ALONE calls you to spend your life alone with Him and if you are drawn to pray for the people of this land of Gujarat and for the whole world offering your life as a living sacrifice of love as St. Paul says, you are most welcome to write to us or visit us here at the Carmel of Prem Jyot. 

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CARMEL OF ST. JOSEPH AND ST. TERESA

                                   BOGADI, MYSORE – 570 026.

                                                  (1985)

The Carmel of St. Joseph and St. Teresa situated at Bogadi, 6 kms. From the heart of the city of Mysore, is the first of its kind in Mysore,.third in the state of Karnataka, seventh in the O.C.D.Province of  Karnataka- Goa and the twenty fifth in India. Bishop Mathias Fernandes of happy memory had invited the Carmel of Kottayam to make a foundation in his diocese, in the year 1970.They could not accept it immediately, as they and already given nine sisters for the foundation of the Carmel of Kottiyam.The Bishop had to wait for 12 years for the Carmel of Kottaym to show interest in founding a Carmel in Mysore

  In the year 1982 the Mothers of Kottayam began to search for a suitable place to build the Carmel. They chose the place that Fr.Joseph D’SouzaOCD, the then Provincial showed them at Bogadi.

On the 17th January, 1983, the foundation stone was blessed by the Bishop and was laid by our Father General, Philip Sainz de Baranda in the presence of our Carmelite Fathers and the CSST Sisters who were of great help to us from the start. The building work was guided and supervised by our Carmelite fathers   - Fr. Joseph D’Souza and Br.Baptist Rodrigues. The Prioress from Kottayam used to come to visit the site as and when needed.

On December 2^nd 1985, the first of five sisters who were destined for this foundation came to Mysore.They were Mother Rosario Teresa of Jesus, Sr.Imelda of Jesus Mary, Sr.Anne of

St. Bartholomew, Sr. Ines of O.L.of Fatima and Sr.Mary Magdalene (Extern Sister) with Miss Maria Joseph, (our aspirant who returned to Kottayam Carmel  for her postulancy in February ‘86)  They occupied the extern quarters the work of which was completed by this time .The Capuchin Fathers were building their theologate next to our monastery at the same time and they were of much help for us. As Bishop Mathias was called to his eternal rest on the 9^th May, the Diocesan Administrator and Vicar General, Fr. Joseph Roy, blessed the outside quarters and celebrated the first Mass along with Fr. Nemesio OCD, Fr.JosephD’souzaOCD and Fr.Patrick Crasta OFM.Cap., in the improvised chapel. Since then until he died as bishop of the diocese he came regularly for Mass to Carmel on the first Friday of every month.

   Our Carmelite fathers literally slogged for this foundation. All the wiring and electrification was done by Fr.Jossy Rodrigues and the Philosophy Students of Pushpashrama (specially Brs.John Sequeira, Pius James D’Souza and Joseph D’ Souza –Junior) under the guidance of Fr.Rudolf

  By this time, dear Mother Rosario’s health began to give way. Her cancer was spreading and she went to Kottayam for treatment in April 1986 and remained there till July. The date of the canonical erection was fixed for 20^th December 1986.So five more sisters from Kottayam arrived on the 19^th December. They were Srs.Maria Teresa of Jesus, Veronica of the Holy Face, Celine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Carmen Maria of St. Joseph (Extern Sister) and Maria of St.Joseph and St.Teresa (Novice).Sr. Carmen Maria was to replace Sr.Mary Magdalene who returned to Kottayam.They were welcomed with great love.

  The next day there was a lot scrubbing and cleaning. Our philosophy students from Pushpashrama were of great help to us. By evening everything was ready for the Eucharistic Sacrifice. So on Saturday, 20^th December, at 3-30 P.M.was the blessing and the canonical erection of our monastery.Rev.Msgr.Joeph Roy, the Diocesan Administrator concelebrated the Holy Mass with our Delegate General, Rev. Fr.Nemesio Alzola OCD and many other Priests.

   In the elections that took place on 18^th January, Mother Rosario Teresa was chosen Prioress and Srs..Imelda and Maria Teresa were chosen first and second councilors respectively. As days went on, Rev.Mother Rosario’s health was going from bad to worse. On Maundy Thursday she was so sick that she was anointed. Later, she recovered a bit and we grandly celebrated the Golden Jubilee of her Profession on16th May 1987.Our Mother appreciated with much love and gratitude all that was done for her. On May 22^nd Mother Rosario’s condition worsened. She lost her power of speech and was in agony.  On the 25^th morning in the presence of her daughters and Fr.Patrick Crasta ofm.cap. our chaplain gave up her soul to the Lord.

After Mother Rosario’s death, there remained only five chapter sisters in our Carmel and so they asked for a chapter sister from Kottayam Carmel but she (Sr.Sara Maria) arrived only in January 1988.In the meantime Sr. Imelda presided over the community and supervised the construction work. On the 2^nd of June, Miss Sally Joseph, our first postulant arrived. Our Fr.General’s visit on the 14^th of December was a source of comfort and great joy to the bereaved sisters.

 On 23^rd January 1988 Sr.Imelda was elected Prioress with Srs.Maria Teresa and Veronica as 1^st and 2^nd councilors respectively. By this time the construction of our enclosure wall was completed and we had a little more privacy than before even though the workers were all over. On 20^th July we grandly celebrated the Silver Jubilee of Sr.Maria Teresa’s Profession.

  From August 1988 Mother. Imelda’s health declined. She developed dry cough for which she was treated. On 3^rd October she had a severe heart attack but with treatment she looked better. On the 5^th of November Mother had a mild heart attack at 1p.m.and a massive one at 4.30p.m.In spite of their efforts the doctors could not save her life and Mother Imelda peacefully fell asleep in the Lord.

  Now the community consisted of 4 chapter sisters, 2 Novices, One postulant and one extern sister – all inexperienced and strangers to Mysore.We felt helpless to continue our life here without the support of our two mothers. Our Chaplain and confessor helped us to go on in spite of the sorrow and void caused by their untimely demise. The good God heard our prayers and tears when Fr.Joseph found one sister in the person of Sr.Camelia of Jesus and Mary of the Carmel of the Bl.Trinity, Chicalim, Goa. Grown up under the shadow and spiritual guidance of our Carmelite Fathers, she had no misgivings regarding her call to Mysore Carmel as the will of God for her. In a spirit of great generosity and sacrifice, the Carmel of Chicalim consented to her leaving them to help the Carmel of Bogadi, sorely tried and tested. So it was that she arrived at Bogadi Carmel on 16^th February 1989 accompanied by her Prioress – Mother Yvonne of the Child Jesus and our Fr.Delegate General, ready for any service that take Lord may ask of her.

On the 11^th March 1989,as settled before, our elections took place. Mother Camelia was elected Prioress with Srs. Veronica and Ines as 1^st and 2^nd councilors respectively.

 Two postulants – Eliza D’Souza and Teresa Lobo entered our Carmel this year. The work of building the choir and the chapel went on and was completed in March 1990.

The blessing of the choir and the chapel took place on the 19^th of March, the feast of St. Joseph, our Father and Protector. During the concelebrated Mass presided over by Bishop Michaelappa

 Sr Carmen Maria our extern sister made her perpetual profession. All our friends, families and benefactors who could be present that day were there for the function. They came even from far away Goa, Mangalore, Kerala and Karwar.They were there to share our joy and render us help.

  Soon more postulants joined us and today we are 17 sisters in all, including two extern sisters, one postulant and one candidate.

We have known God’s faithful love throughout these years

His oneness with us in joys and tears

Endless times He has helped us through

Has answered prayers and given us strength anew;

To him our voice in gratitude we raise

And for His blessings give Him praise
***********************************************

                  

                                                HASSAN CARMEL FOUNDED IN 1992

                    MALAYATOOR CARMEL FOUNDED IN 2009

                                               

                                                  

A NEW CARMELITE INTERCESSOR IN HEAVEN - belonging to the Sts. Teresa and Joseph Monastery, Argentina

A young holy Carmelite belonging to our Order of Discalced Carmelites a conventual of the Saints Teresa and Joseph Monastery in Santa Fe, Argentina - 

a great inspiration to us all

 These photos of a dying nun went viral – and here's why 

Sister Cecilia Maria in her final days. Credit: Curia Generalizia Carmelitani Scalzi

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jun 27, 2016 / 05:03 pm (CNA).- Pictures of a young Argentinian nun – smiling and serene though dying from a devastating battle with cancer – have erupted on social media, with thousands sharing the images and heartfelt prayers.

Sister Cecilia Maria lived in Saints Teresa and Joseph Monastery in Santa Fe, Argentina, dedicated to prayer and the contemplative life.

She passed away early on June 22 at age 43.

After graduating as a nurse at 26 years of age, Sister Cecilia Maria made her first vows as a discalced Carmelite. In 2003, she made her final profession. Six months ago, she was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue and the disease metastasized into her lungs.

In her time living at the monastery, she played the violin and was known for her sweetness and constant smile. In the final weeks of her illness, her condition worsened and she had to be hospitalized. From her bed she never stopped praying and offering up her sufferings with the certainty that her encounter with God was near.

She wrote her last wish on a piece of paper: “I was thinking about how I would like my funeral to be. First, some intense prayer and then a great celebration for everyone. Don't forget to pray but don't forget to celebrate either!”

The discalced Carmelites announced her death as follows: “Jesus! Just two lines to let you know that our dearly beloved sister gently fell asleep in the Lord, after such a painful illness, always borne with joy and her surrender to her Divine Spouse. We send you all our love, grateful for your support and prayer during this entire time, so painful yet so wonderful at the same time. We believe she flew directly to heaven, but we also ask you to not cease commending her to your prayers, so from heaven she may repay you. A big hug from her Sisters in Santa Fe.”

The recent meeting of the Association of Cloistered Carmelites S.W. India Region at Sadbhavana.

The Association of Cloistered Nuns of the South West Indian Region just completed their 8th General Assembly Meeting at Sadbhavana, Bangalore. This Association of Cloistered Nuns began about 23 years ago to help the Nuns have a wider outlook through a sharing of views, and news among their different monasteries.

Fr. Augustine Mulloor O.C.D. 

the previous Definitor General of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, currently serving in the missions in Odisha, is the new Religious Assistant of 

the Association of Our Lady of Mount Carmel South-West India

The South-West Association comprises the following Monasteries:

1. Cloistered Carmel Convent of Christ the King,

14, Ali Asker Road,

Bangalore 560 052

Tel: (080) 22268759

 blrccc@gmail.com

2. Cloistered Carmel

Chicalim Post

Goa – 403 711,

Tel: (0832) 2540213; 

ocdchicalim@gmail.com

3. St. Joseph‟s Convent,

Discalced Carmelites, Chertalai, Alleppey Dt.

Eramalloor – 688537,

Tel: (0478) 2879875; 

mountcarmelemr@gmail.com

4. Carmel Matha Ashram

Bagadare Koppal Salagame Road

Hassan 5732101

Tel (08172) 245892; 

cma.hsn@rediffmail.com

5. Cordis Jesu Convent

Kottiyam,

Kollam- 691571,

Tel: (0474) 2531821; 

cordisjesukottiyam@gmail.com

6. Carmel of St. Joseph

Venkayapally, Nandanapally,

P. O. (via) Gargeypuram, Kurnool -5184527

Tel: (08518) 271203; 

kurnoolcarmel@gmail.com

7. Mount Carmel Cloistered Convent

Adivaram P. O.

Malayattoor – Ernakulam Dt. 683 587

Tel: (0484) 2469350; 

mountcccocd@gmail.com

8. Cloistered Carmel,

Kankanady,

Mangalore 575 002

Tel: (0824) 2437552: 

carmelmangalore@gmail.com

 

9.Carmelite Monastery, Mahakali Rd,

Andheri East, Mumbai – 400 093

Tel: (022) 28205303: 

mumbai.carmel@gmail.com

10. Carmelite Monastery,

Bogadi,

Mysore 570 026

Tel: (0821) 2598214: 

carmelmysore26@gmail.com

11. Carmel of God the Father

Off Nagar Road,

KMN Galande Patel Road,

Ramwadi, Pune 411 014

Tel: (020) 65215609 

carmelpune@gmail.com

12. Holy Rosary Carmel

Swagath Nagar

Vengannoor, P. O.

Thiruvananthapuram 695 523

Tel: (0471) 2483827 

ocd.holyrosarycarmel@yahoo.co.in

13. Discalced Carmelites,

St. Joseph‟s Convent

Tiruvalla – 689 101

Tel: (0469) 263 1998; 

carmeltiruvalla@rediffmail.com

14. Carmel Ashram,

Makarpura Rd.,

Vadodara 390 010;

Tel: (0265) 2638616; 

premjyotcarmel@gmail.com

                                                    (Kunnoor under construction)

                   ( Dr.)  SR. BENEDICTA, PhD. a 1st. year Novice from Pune Carmel,

       finds her joy and fulfillment in her VOCATION as a Discalced Carmelite,

                             
                                       and a daughter of St. Teresa of Avila,
                              
                       wholly dedicated to God, in a hidden life of Silence and Solitude,
            
                             praying for the Church and the sanctification of souls.

                         
                     We wish her Joy, Peace and Perseverance in her holy Vocation.

JESUS draws a Doctor in aerospace engineering to belong totally to Him at the Pune Carmel!

SR. BENEDICTA - Carmel of Pune

HE CALLS, CALLS, EVER CALLS!!!

Is your heart yearning to give all to GOD? Is your heart thirsting for God daily more and more and you feel you have to make a choice of a vocation that suits this inner thirst?

Whatever your qualifications be, if you are suitably mature, sociable, generous desiring to give all of yourself without counting the cost - through a life of contemplative prayer, self-denial, silence where all you do is an offering for the good and salvation of the world then the contemplative vocation is for you. You can check out the address of any of the Carmel closest to you and write or visit them to see if this where JESUS wants YOU!