CARMEL ASHRAM
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History of the South Kerala Province St. Joseph's OCD
On 8th July 1967, our mother province Malabar was raised to the status of a province by the General Chapter. In the course of time, there were internal problems regarding the manner of vocation promotion. For a long time, it remained as a mere wishful dream of the Latin friars of the Malabar province to have the freedom to promote more candidates of the Latin rite. There were 20 members of the Latin Rite in the Province. On 11th march 1980, ten members petitioned for separation from the Malabar Province. Fr.Angel Mary Chemmayath, Fr.Andrew Fernandez, Fr.Vincent, Fr. Antony Pullichira, Fr.Clement D’Cruz, Fr.Wilfred Miranda), Bro.Francis Koduveliparambil, Bro.Policarp, Bro. GeorgePandaraparambil and deacon (Deacon Elias Kalathil On 10th April 1981 Very. Rev. Fr. Philip Sainz de Baranda, the former Prior General of our Order effected a visible internal arrangement based on the rite and region of the members and they were separated and placed in the Varapuzha monastery. The first aspirants’ house was built at St. Andrews in the Archdiocese of Trivandrum in 1984. A Novitiate was opened on 8th December, 1983 at St.Joseph’s Monastery, Varapuzha The Novitiate was eventually shifted to Perumkulam in the Diocese of Punalur on 4th December 1989. The Varapuzha Unit was raised to the status of Provincial Delegation on December 28, 1987. In March 1996 St.Joseph’s Philosophy College at Ambalapuzha was inaugurated. On 29th May 1996, the General Delegation was raised to a General Commissariat. On 29th May 2001 the Commissariat of South Kerala was made a full-fledged Province by the General Definitory. Statistics Now we have altogether 25 houses, both erected and non - erected in our Province : 11 in Kerala, 10 in the Regional vicariate of West bengal and North East, 2 in Germany and 2 iItlay. There are 102 Priests, 14 solemnly professed brothers, eight novices, and 103 candidates in various stages of formations. We have 38 secular Carmel units consisting of 3000 members approximately and we also have started a Carmel youth wing to impart our Charism to the youth. We have one retreat center and a V-guard unit for empowering women. Mission The Regional Vicariate of West Bengal and North East is a part of South Kerala Province. This mission that was opened in 1998 was declared a Regional Vicariate on 27th October 2008. At present together with ten religious houses, we have four schools, six orphanages (three for boys, three for girls), four parishes and two tailoring centers within the jurisdiction of the Regional Vicariate.
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CARMEL ASHRAM

Carmel Ashram, Chittattumukku P.O.,
Thiruvananthapuram – 695 588
Ph: 0091.471. 2705426
Email. ocdchittattumukku@gmail. com
BRIEF HISTORY
In 1986 the Manjummel Province decided to start a monastery in the Diocese of Trivandrum and thereby in the year 1987- 1989 the land was purchased in the name of Rev. Fr. LenusOCD who then was the Provincial of Manjummel Province. In 1992 it was handed over to South Kerala and the new Monastery foundation stone was blessed and laid down by Very. Rev. Fr. Camilo Maccise OCD, the Superior General on 1st March 1992. The monastery was blessed by Rt. Rev. Dr. Mathias Kappil, the Bishop of Punalur and inaugurated by Very. Rev. Fr. Andrew Fernandez OCD, the Delegate General on 16th July 1994. And at present we have a Retreat Center and a Shrine at Pulinkudy.
MEMBERS
Fr. Joseph Manuval – Superior
Fr. Augustine Shiju – Director of aspirants
(Plus One and Plus Two)
Fr. Joseph Sebastian
Fr. Thomas – Procurator