Congregation of Mother of Carmel

Congregation of the Mother of Carmel

Suore della Madre del Carmelo
Formation	February 13, 1866; 160 years ago (February 13, 1866)
Founder	Kuriakose Elias Chavara
Founded at	Koonammavu, Kerala, India
Type	Religious Institute of Consecrated Life
Headquarters	Mount Carmel Road, Thaikkattukara P.O., Aluva 683106, Kerala, India
Membership	7000

The Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (C.M.C.) is a Syro-Malabar holic^{[further explanation needed]} centralized religious congregation founded by Kuriakose Elias Chavara on February 13 1866 at Koonammavu, Kochi, India.

History

The congregation was founded as the Sisters of the Third Order of Carmelites Discalced by Kuriakose Elias Chavara, on 13 February 1866 at Koonammavu in the southern state of Kerala.^[1]

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

Elias Chavara, founder of the community was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1986, along with Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception in the course of 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.

References

1. "Religious Congregations". Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council. Archived from the original on 2012-02-29.
2. "About the Congregation". Congregation of the Mother of Carmel. Archived from the original on 2010-03-27. Retrieved 2012-03-26.