Over 150 years of Mission with a Vision
OCD Manjummel Province is the biggest Province in the Order of Disclaced Carmelites with 214 friars and 109 Seminarians. We are a missionary Province with a vision ahead in spreading the gospel of Christ in the spirit of Carmel far and wide of our planet. The fruits of Manjummel Mission gave birth to Karnataka Goa Province, Tamil Nadu Province, Andhra Pradesh Province, Indonesian Province, Odish Vicariate and now launched two new missions in Zambia and Bangladesh.
Fr. Cyril Bernard Papali OCD
Last Superior General of TOCD, Konnamavu-Manjummel
Professor of Hinduism in Rome; Peritus to II Vatican Council.
Fr. Cyril was born on September 26, 1902, at Kara, in Ernakulum, Kerala, India. He made his Religious Profession as Third Order Discalced Carmelite (T.OCD) of the Archdiocese of Verapoly, on May 15,1924. He was ordained to Priesthood on May 30, 1931. He was the Prior General of the Congregation when the efforts were initiated, with the help of the Servant of God, to amalgamate it to the First Order of the Discalced Carmelites (OCD). In 1950, he came to Rome and was Professor of ‘Hinduism’ at Collegio Urbaniano, Rome, until his retirement in 1972. He was one of the ‘Peritus’ at the Ecumenical Council, Vatican Il. Fr. Papali is the author of several books like ‘Hinduismus’ (2, vols.). ‘Madonna’, ‘Mental Prayer’ etc … He died on 14th September, 1981, at ‘Teresianum’, the International College of the Discalced Carmelites, Rome.
Venerable Fr. Zacharias of the Saint Teresa OCD
Commissar General of OCD Manjummel Province
Fr. Zacharias of the Saint Teresa OCD was the Commissar General of OCD Manjumel Province from 1951 to 1957. He was born in 1887, in Spain and had been sent to India as a missionary. Out of his 70 years of life he lived and spent his 45 years in India. His missionary life and work were a pure and transparent concretization of the teachings of Jesus. His missionary tradition is a criterion and a point of reference for understanding the missionary path to be tread by the Church in India in a multi-religious and pluri-cultural context. He is a model of vision and a springboard for the evangelizing mission today.
Though his carrier was dedicated to the formation and teaching of the young generations of the Indian priests, he had been an ideal Discalced Carmelite who has been burning with zeal of the Living Lord. This can be clearly noticed from his multi-faceted personality as a professor (from 1812 in Puthenpally and Aluva), Spiritual Director, Writer ,Missionary who promoted the missionary spirit in the seminarians and for this purpose he founded “Mission Circle” to encourage increasing need to take up missionary activities in different parts of India . He was convinced that the Kerala Church can be a real missionary resource to render missionary activities in different part of India and for this purpose he founded Sacred Heart League and the magazine Prashitha Keralam and introduced missiology as an academic curriculum and he himself was the professor of the mentioned subject from the beginning. And he had introduced “Crusade of Love” for non-Catholics who invested their interested in the search of truth.
He was a prolific writer especially on Hindu religion. Religious-Philosophic History of India, a study on Hinduism, Christianity and Indian Mentality are most noted writing. In 1932 the “All India Oriental Conference” invited him to present a paper on Upanishad in Trivandrum and in 1949 the International Philosophic Conference conducted in Barcelona, Spain on “Creation and Sree Sankara”. A short History of the Ancient World, Ancient Greek History, Is there a God-synopsis of Lectures on Dogmatic theology; Ethology, Character and Good Manners Christianity Vindicated are some other works of Fr. Zacharias.
Fr. Zacharias’ multi-faceted personality is seen not only in the spiritual matters but also social worker. Intervention Fr Zacharias could solve the problems with factory owners and the laborers and to settle the long term strike that has been existing in Aluva and Kalamassery. He was a member in “Kerala Round Table Group” intended to inform the Central Government regarding problems of Kerala people. He also worked unceasingly for the unity of the people.
He breathed his last on 23rd May in 1957 and was buried in Mangalappuzha. On 14th January 1987, he was declared as Servant of God. The mortal remains of was transferred to Immaculate Conception Church Manjummel on 8th June 2000. The Venerable Fr. Zacharias stills assist many through his intercession.
Late Archbishop of the Diocese of Varapoly (1996–2009)
A MEMBER FRIAR OF OCD MANJUMMEL PROVINCE
Daniel Acharuparambil, the Archbishop of Verapoly, was a member of Discalced Carmelite Order, Manjummel Province, Kerala, India. He was born of Rocky and Monica Acharuparambil in Palliport, in Kerala, India, on 12 May 1939.
After his School-Leaving Examination he joined the Carmelite order at Ernakulam in May 1956. He completed his philosophy and theology courses at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye and was ordained priest on 14 March 1966. He acquired a bachelor-degree in Economics, Licentiate in Philosophy and a Master-degree in Indian Philosophy from University of Kerala, Pontifical Athenaeum in Poona and Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi respectively.
In 1972 he started teaching at Pontifical Urbaniana University (P.U.U), Rome. In 1978 Acharuparambil was awarded a Ph.D. from Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum, Rome with an dissertation entitled The destiny of man in the evolutionary thought of Sri Aurobindo.
In 1986 he became Dean of the Faculty of Missiology at P.U.U. From 1988 to 1994, i.e. for two terms, he also served as rector magnificus at P.U.U.
He was consulter of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue for 5 years from 1990. He was also consulter of the Congregation for Evangelization of the Peoples, a member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Duologue.
He was nominated Archbishop on 5 August 1996 and was consecrated at Ernakulam on 3 November 1996 by Josef Cardinal Tomko, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Rome. The same day he received the Pallium.
He was the Founder and the First President of Kerala Regional Latin Catholic Council (KLCC), President of K. C. B. C, Chairman of Kerala Catholic Bishops Council, President of Kerala Catholic Bishops Council.
Life through years
12 May 1939 – Born at Palliport
14 Mar 1966 – Ordained Priest – Priest of Order of Discalced Carmelites
14 Jun 1996 – Appointed Archbishop of Verapoly, India
3 Nov 1996 – Ordained Bishop – Archbishop of Verapoly, India
24 Oct 2008 – Appointed Apostolic – Administrator of Cochin, India
8 May 2009 – Resigned Apostolic – Administrator of Cochin, India
Teaching responsibilities
1972 to 1996 Pontificia Universita Urbaniana
1 March 1994 Ordinary Professor
13 May 1981 Extraordinary Professor
1973 – 1983 Pontificia Universita Lateranense
1976 Pontificia Facolta Teologica,”Teresianum”
1980 Visiting Professor, Teresian Institute of Spirituality, Kalamasery
1977 Instituto Studi Asiatici, of P.I.M.E. Fathers Milano;
1977 Seminario Vescovile di Padova; Intensive course on Hinduism .
Other higher responsibilities
1986 – 1988 Dean of the Faculty of Missiology, P.U.U.
1988 – 1991 Rettore Magnifico of P.U.U.
1990 – 1995 Consultor of the Pontificial Council – for Inter-religious Dialogue
1991 – 1996 Consultor of the Congregation – for Evangelization of Peoples
1996- Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Diologue
Fr. Sebastian Mundanchery OCD
FOUNDER OFCHARASMATIC MOVEMENT IN KERALA
Fr. Jerome Payappilly OCD
FOUNDER OF SOCIAL SERVICE IN VERAPOLY