St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara

St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara was born on February 8, 1805 in the village of Kainakary. His mother consecrated him to the Blessed Mother as a young boy. The piety and devotion of the young St. Chavara drew the attention of Fr. Thomas Palackal, the rector of a local seminary, who became his mentor and guide. St. Chavara joined the efforts of Fr. Thomas Palackal and Fr. Thomas Porukkara to establish the first indigenous religious community for men in India. He would become the canonical founder, first professed member, and first Superior General of this new congregation, the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate.  St. Chavara was also appointed Preceptor of all the Syrian clergy in the Apostolic Vicariate. Upon demonstrating his loyalty to the Holy Father in the midst of the attempted Syrian schism led by Bishop Rokos, St. Chavara was selected as the Vicar General for the Syrians. St. Chavara was especially dedicated to the pursuit of the education, advancement, and evangelization of the Malabar region. He created the first Catholic printing press in the region; he advocated for parish schools, and he established a house for the poor and destitute. With Fr. Leopold Beccaro, he founded the first indigenous religious congregation for women in India at the Koonamavu convent, dedicated to the uplift of women and children. Upon his death, he was revered as a great reformer and a holy priest. His example of holiness inspires all who work for the good of the Church in India and around the world.

St. Euphrasia

St. Euphrasia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was born Rosa Eluvathingal on October 17, 1877 in Edathuruthy, then part of the undivided diocese of Trichur. She was the eldest child of Anthony and Kunjethy Eluvathingal and had three brothers and a sister. She offered her virginity to God at the age of nine after experiencing a vision of the Blessed Mother teaching her how to pray with all the choirs of angels. She entered the Carmelite boarding at Koonammavu at twelve years old. She experienced many illnesses as a child and was often sent home for treatments, frustrating her desire to pursue religious life. She recovered from a serious sickness through a miraculous appearance of the Holy Family in 1889. She received the veil and her religious name in 1897 at the St. Joseph Convent in Ambazhakkad. On May 24, 1900 she made her perpetual profession on the same day of the founding of St. Mary’s Convent in Ollur. She served as the assistant superior and had charge of the novices from 1904 to 1910. She was officially appointed the first Novice Mistress from 1910 to 1913. She gave formation to Blessed Mariam Thresia during this time. She served as superior from 1913 to 1916. During her years in religious life, she faced much censure, abuse, and misunderstanding in the midst of severe temptations by the devil and continued illness. She clung to prayer and was often referred to as “the Praying Mother.” She died on August 29, 1952 at the age of seventy-five. St. Euphrasia attained the heights of sanctity by faithfully living out our CMC charism. Her spirituality was rooted in a deep relationship with the Mother of God, prayers and penances for the poor souls in Purgatory, humble service of others, devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, adoration of the Eucharistic Lord, a deep love for the Church, and a profound humility.

Servant of God Mother Mary Celine

Mother Mary Celine was the seventh child born on 4th July 1906, to Ouseph Payyappilly and Kochumariam in Muzhikulam, India. She had her education in the Govt. school at Vattapparambu and became a CMC sister in 1928. She did her B.A. in Maharajas College, Ernakulam. She was a teacher in Ollur, Karukutty. In 1963, the different wings of T.O.C.D. (at present CMC) were united into one Congregation under her leadership. She was elected first as the Superior General of Ernakulam and Kothamangalam Provinces and then the Superior General of the whole CMC Congregation. Her intense deep prayer life, spirit of sacrifice and foresight enabled her to overcome the difficulties and struggles of unification and the beginning of the Central House Generalate at Thaikattukara, Aluva. She began the juniorate there with the help of the seminary professors at Mangalappuzha. She also took initiative to begin the first prayer House Sanjoe Bhavan in Karukutty. It was she who planned and started the Nursery School, Primary School, Social Welfare Centre and Vocational Training Centre at Thaikattukara. In 1968 she was re-elected as Superior General. During her term as Superior General for 11years she was able to bring about a spirit of prayer and unity among the members. In 1974 she retired and entered into deep prayer life at Sanjoe Bhavan, Karukutty. She left all her dear ones on 23rd April 1993 to receive the Heavenly Bliss. She spent her whole time in prayer and sharing her God experience with the crucifix and rosary in her hand, speaking about God’s love. She was an inspiration and model to all.