Saint Thomas Province
CMSF IN INDIA AND ITS MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES IN KERALA, SOUTH INDIA ‘’Go into the all world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) In AD 52 St. Thomas the Apostle came to India and preached the good news in Kerala and in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu and died a martyr’s death and was buried at Mylapore, in Tamil Nadu, which is today called St. Thomas Mount. From AD 52 the St. Thomas Christians practised their Christian Faith and life according to the teaching of Christ propagated by the Apostles especially by St. Thomas. The followers of Christ, known as St. Thomas Christians from Kerala are spread now all over the world. They continue the practices of their Christian faith and worship and try to give witness to their tradition and faith and thus carry on the mission of Christ all over the world.
As years passed by Kerala became a Christian cradle in a majority-Hindu country of India. Thus, in the year 1329 Pope John XXII constituted Quilon a sea-coast area, as an Episcopal see. Then from 1500 onwards the Portuguese missionaries (Franciscan Friars) were working as missionaries at Cochin, Kerala. Then Jesuits 1542, Dominicans 1553, Augustinians 1579, and Carmelites 1778 started to work following the Franciscans.
From 1886 onwards, diocesan Portuguese Bishops governed almost till 1950. From 1500 at the arrival of the Portuguese, the Christians in Cochin joined the Roman rite (Latin Rite) and in 1514 the Diocese of Goa was established by PP Leo X and Cochin became part of the new Diocese of Goa.
In the year 1557 the DIOCESE OF COCHIN was established. In the year 1924 As years passed by cochin became a cosmopolitan City. The invitation of Bishop Dom Jose Martin Robero, two of the Franciscan Missionary Brothers along with their Superior General and Founder, Very Rev. Bro. Paulus Moritz, came to the Cochin Diocese. Bro. Clement Krieg and Bro. Michael Buecker were the first brothers who came to Cochin Diocese to explore the possibility of starting the work of evangelization along with their founder. And they started the first mission at Kalavoor in the year 1924. And in 1927 the Brothers purchased a plot of land for their residence at Kalavoor, cochin diocese, the southern part of Kerala.
And at the invitation of Bishop Maria Aloysius Bensigar of QUILON DIOCESE Bro. Paulus Moritz, Founder and the Superior General of CMSF, met the Bishop of Quilon in the year 1930. The brothers established the Holy Family Church in the year 1934 at Kunnumma. Under the leadership of Bro. Elias Kannath and Bro. Aqninas, also they started Mission centres at Thakazhi, Kelamangalam, Thottappally and Kuruvatta in the diocese of Quilon. They have churches, Schools, Dispensaries etc. Thus many people received the catholic faith.
To another diocese of Kerala ALLEPPEY, also the Brothers were invited. So at Vandanam, Alleppey, the brothers started a house and a Mission Hospital. Now in that area when the Brothers started their work. These stand a dispensary known as Mary Queen Dispensary and the Govt. Medical College is in a rented house. Brothers also opened Mission centres at Ambalapuzha, Thoppil and Kakkazham, etc. The people remember the generous Services and contributions of the late brothers especially Bros. Jacob Thottam, Bertholomeus Varkey, Giles Essaruzhattu, Sergius Kottaram, Lazar Pillai, Joseh Almeida, Ulric, Antonine and Pacomius Vettacattil etc. Around the year 1965 onwards the Brothers handed over eighteen Missions Centres to the Diocese of Alleppey. The Brothers were working earlier at Thottappally in the 1930 and later at Thankaserry and Kadakkal in the Diocese of Quilon.
THE MALANKARA MISSION
The CMSF Extended their services and activities in the Malankara Catholic Church from its very beginning. In the year 1926 the Jacobite Synod at Parumala of Thiruvalla, Kerala, empowered Bishop Mar Ivanios to make negotiations with the Roman Catholic Church keeping its venerable traditions intact. Pope Pius XI graciously accepted the conditions and welcomed the the orthodox church to the catholic fold.
On September 20, 1930 the Holy see deputed Bishop Aloysius Maria Bensigar of the Quilon Diocese to receive Arch Bishop Mar Ivanios, Mar Theophilus and a few others to the Catholic Church. In the year 1932, Holy Father Pius XI invested sacred pallium to the Arch Bishop Mar Ivanios at Rome and Holy Father declared and established the Syro-Malankara Hierarchy, comprising the Arch Diocese of Trivandrum and the Diocese of Thiruvalla. Which were the places of the crest while orthodox Christians.
THOTTAPPALLY MISSION
In the year 1932 while our Franciscan Brothers were working as pioneering missionaries in the Quilon Diocese; The Arch Bishop Mar Ivanios heard about the congregation of the Missionary Brothers of St. Francis of Assisi (CMSF) and their pioneering missionary activities met Bro. Clement Krieg the guardian of the community of the Brothers in the southern missions in the year 1934. Through Bro. Clement Arch Bishop Mar Ivanios met Bro. Paulus Moritz the Founder and the Superior general of the CMSF at Mount Poinsur, the Generalate and the Mother house of CMSF at Borivali, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Bro. Paulus gladly accepted the invitation of the Arch Bishop and sent some of his brothers to work in the newly established Malankara Arch Dioceses of Trivandrum and Thiruvalla.
Bishop Benziger of Quilon gave permission to hand over the residence of the Brothers to the Malankara Catholic Church after developing the Mission centres under Karuvatta and Thottappally. In the year 1935 brothers started other Mission centres at Pandalam, Karthikappally, Karakkad, Karichal and Cheruthana. In the year 1949 Brothers developed and handed over those centres with the Churches, Schools, Boys Homes and Dispensaries to the Malankara Arch Diocese of Trivandrum.In the year 1936 Brothers started to work at Balaramapuram in the same diocese.
In the year 1938 Brothers started the mission centres around Kanjirampara. Brothers started the Catholic Relief Service (CRS), Misereor, C.C.F, housing schemes, Day care centres, village adoption schemes in collaboration with various agencies. Brothers devoted their time to evangelization activities. They preached Christ, Christian values and principles. Brothers Aquinas Kadavil, Eliyas Kammath, Urban, Sixtus, Sergius, Pacomius, Peter Kochuparmabil, Gregory Thottupuram, Evangelist, Primius, Malchus and many others toiled here. Brothers have developed about 28 mission centres and handed them over to the Malankara Catholic Church at Trivandrum during the years up to 1968. About six thousand people received catholic faith in the Malankara Catholic Church, and the work of the brothers continued unabated.
In the year 1949 Mundela Missions were started for the Evangelization and for the social and integral welfare activities. In the year 1963, the then Inter Nunzio visited Mundela Mission.
A church named St. Francis of Assisi, was blessed at Aryanad in the year 1975. About four thousand people received Catholic faith through the Malankara Catholic Church. The Brothers and the Priests worked hand in hand to uplift the poor, and bring them to the mainstream of life, providing houses and education for the poor. In the year 1978 all the centres were handed over to the Malankara Arch Diocese of Trivandrum.
JAYAMATHA, NALANCHIRA
In the year 1952 Bro. Elias Kannath Sixtus Pazhanilath and Jacob Thottam were sent to Nalanchira to initiate the apostolate of the Boys’ Home. The then Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios donated around 20 acres of land for the Brothers. On 28th April 1954 the foundation stone was laid by Dr. Martin Lucas the Apostatlic inter nuncio and Sri BVK Menon the Chief Secretary to the Government of Travancore-Cochin respectively for the Jayamatha Ashram and Boys’ Home. The Brothers named the Boys’ Home “Jayamatha”, meaning, Our Lady of victory. The New Chapel at Jayamatha was designed by Bro. Florian and constructed by Bro. James Kochu Pallathuserry and inaugurated by the Arch Bishop Benedict Mar Gregorios in the year 1966.
In the year 1967 the Brothers started Kilimannoor Mission centre under the leadership of Salvodore Puthukatt. In the beginning Bros Gabriel and Berthold were there to assist to him. Later Bros. John Paul, Crispin, Pio, Aloysius, Ulric, Fabian, Egidius, Sales, Edwin, Cyriac, Damian and Bro. Peter also worked there, a promising mission centre.
In the year 1968 the Brothers started the mission centre at Thonnackal after handing over the centers at Kanjirampara Missions. Brothers purchased a good plot of land at Karamood and started the work. Bros. Maxmin Vanchipura, Sabas Poovanthuruthil and Samuel Kakkanatt are the one who initiated the work there
The Centre near Kulathupuzha in the Trivandrum Archdiocese was started in the year 1971 and Bros. John Paul, Sixtus, Damian, Dennis, Louis, Francis K. worked there.
VATTEKKARIKAM MISSION started in the year 1972 but since it was near the forest so many people were sick, and brothers served the people by providing medicines and succour to them. There were no proper transport facilities. People were collecting fire wood to sell and earn their livelihood. Brothers helped the people to collect the firewood and sent it to the shops and people directly sold it without any agency. So, people could get good price for the firewood. They were managed to dig 85 wells to avail drinking water with the help of the politicians of the area and support of the Government, Roads were made, and Bus services have been started. To educate the children schools were started; primary health centres and Houses were built and given to people. An average 7000 people gained from the Dispensary services. MCH programs through CRS also was initiated at this place by the efforts of the Brothers.
MANJAVILAKAM MISSION
This centre was started in the year 1978 for the Evangelization and for the Social upliftment of the people. Brothers John Paul and Benjamin initiated the work there and it progressed well and then was handed over to the diocese.
CHEMBOORE MISSION
In the year 1982 St. Joseph Mission at Chemboore was started in the Malankara Arch Diocese of Trivandrum. Besides the evangelization activities, there was a Boys Home, Nursery School, Commercial Institute, Tailoring centres, Dispensaries were also added to dispense necessary medication.
AMAR VANI MISSION FOR GOSPEL PROCLAMATION
In the year 1984 under the Leadership of Bro. Pio Kottackal Bros. Edwin and Aloysius gathered at Kilimanoor for the first meeting and planned out for the starting the Evangelization work through conventions and media; Amar Vani Gospel Singing Troop, Franciscan Youth Federation (FYF) Amar Vani Magazine, Amar Vani band, Amar Vani mobile unit etc., were initiated as new models of evangelization.
ALA-CHENGANNOOR (Now Mavelikara diocese of Malankara Church)
This mission centre was started in the year 1991. A small plot of Land and house was donated by a Mar Thoma family to do some Social Services for the poor. Brothers opened a small boys’ home after constructing the building for the convenience of the Boys. Now this centre is under the Jurisdiction of the Diocese of Mavelikara bifurcated from the Arch Diocese of Trivandrum and continues with the Boys’ home activites.
KILIYOOR MISSION
In the year 2001, after handing over all the mission centres under the Chemboore Mission, the brothers started Karuna Sadan a destitute house for Senior Citizens both for men and women. In the beginning the number was about fifty, but now for various reasons the number is reduced. In Kiliyoor, there is a weekly, day is kept for prayer and intercessions and many people from different walks of life, come for prayer and counselling sessions. Many poor children are helped for their educational needs as well.
THE MALANKARA CATHOLIC ARCH DIOCESE OF THIRUVALLA
Along with the Malankara Catholic Arch Diocese of Trivandrum, this same diocese is established at Thiruvalla in year 1932. And now it has been raised an Arch diocese. Brothers worked in this Diocese in the beginning especially at Anchalpetty, Maradi and Koothattukulam. Bishop James Abraham Mar Theophilus was the first Bishop the one who joined with Arch Bishop Mar Ivanios with the Catholic Church of Rome.
THE DIOCESE OF VIJAYAPURAM
The Latin Diocese of Verapoly was bifurcated in the year 1930 and the new Diocese of Vijayapuram was established. People from the Diocese of Cochin and Quilon migrated to this Area for work. In the year 1956 Brothers were invited to work in the missions of Vijayapuram. Bro. Leonard, the then Superior General at the invitation of Bishop Ambrose Abasolo Brothers Aquinas, Silvester and Damasus were sent to Erumeli to start the mission there.
PATTUMALA MISSION HOUSE OF CMSF – (Pattumala Matha Shrine)
This centre was started in the year 1966 as an established house of the congregation to take care of the people of the missions and to continue the work there at Peermade in a tea-garden area. Bro. Modestus was the then Superior General. Bro. Joseph Almeida purchased the Land at Pambanar and constructed the St. Francis Ashram known as St. Francis Mount, Pattumala. Bro. Gregory developed the land with Tea and Cardamom plantations. Also, brothers continued the works of Evangelization as primary work and mission. In the year 1974 Rev. Bro. Raphael Nedumpuram constructed the new residence for the Brothers’ stay and devotion to our Mother Mary was begun and is a great pilgrimage shrine now.
THE LATIN ARCH DIOCESE OF TRIVANDRUM
In the year 1900 Fr. Aloysius Maria Benziger OCD became Coadjutor Bishop of Quilon and as Bishop, he worked at Quilon till 1931. In the year 1919 Bishop Maria Benziger recommended to establish the Latin Diocese at Trivandrum. In the year 1937, Trivandrum was established as a Diocese. In the year 1942 Bishop Maria Benziger died and was buried in the Carmel hill monastery Chapel at Trivandrum. His great friend Rev. Bro. Paulus Moritz the Founder and Superior General of CMSF till 1941 sent his missionaries to the Quilon Diocese and he too was called for the eternal reward in November 1942. In 2017 we celebrated the Platinum Jubilee of the death anniversary of the Servant of God/Arch Bishop Aloysius Maria Benziger and Bro. Paulus Moritz, the Founder of CMSF. In the year 1961 Franciscan Missionary brothers were invited to work in the Latin Diocese of Trivandrum by Rev. Vincent Dereere. Brothers started a mission centre at Vattappara, Trivandrum.
LOURDES MOUNT ASHRAM, VATTAPPARA TRIVANDRUM – Neyattinkara Diocese.
The Franciscan Missionary Brothers started to work from 1961 in and around Vattappara were the Gospel was unknown to many people. From here they visited the neighbouring villages such as Kodikunnu, Koppam, Vembayam, Vettinadu, Vengode, Kazhakunnu and Neduveli, giving medicines and preaching the word of God. As the result of their labour many people were baptised and were made members of the Catholic Church.
The mission at Vattappara was undertaken among the Dalits, who were baptised by foreign missionaries some time earlier. Effects were made to revive their faith to catholic way of life and its practices by helping the poor, building the houses for the poor etc. and trying to attract them to the sacraments by means of dramas theatrical performance, excursions, cultural activities and festive entertainment.
In course of time, the congregation accrued a farm, about 40 acres of land, mainly of coconut trees to generate income for its various charitable activities. Later on, a House and a Chapel were built for their use. It was blessed by the then the Bishop of Trivandrum on 23 rd February 1963. Building for the technical school, hostel and workshops were started and the foundation stone for a larger church was laid for this promising centre. It was Brother Raphael Nedumparambil, who was the local superior of the station that undertook the construction and gave the shape to the institution. This was followed by the Nursery school. Gradually the Nursery School was raised to an English Medium High School, by adding a class every year. At present the English Medium School Christianised, “Lourdes Mount School” offers class from LKG to Higher secondary level. Now we have three streams of syllabus following i.e.; ICSE, CBSE and State Board.
THE SYRO MALABAR ARCH DIOCESE OF ERNAKULAM
The Arch Diocese of Ernakulam was established as a Vicariate in 1896 by Pope Leo XII. In the year 1923 Mar Augustine Kandathil became the Archbishop. In 1960 Mar Joseph Parekattil was created as the Cardinal of Ernakulam and till 1984 he worked as pastor of the Archdiocese and succeeded by Mar Antony Padiyara and became Cardinal in the year 1987; The Brothers established their first centre at Ashokapuram, Aluva at the invitation of cardinal Joseph Parekkattil.
ASSISI BHAVAN ALUVA
The opinion for shifting the aspirantate (which was a centre for training candidates) from Trivandrum gained momentum. In 1976 Brothers found a suitable place at Ashokapuram, Aluva in the Ernakulam District. The superior General Columban Keller was happy at the location and allowed to construct a building, named “Assisi Bhavan.’ Brothers Hubert Kumpuckal, Pacomius Vettikattil and Rapheal Nedumparambil were assisting Bro. Stephen Thazhuthedeth,in establishing their centre. The Saint Sebastian’s Church Ashokapuram is nearby. It is the main source of spiritual life that gives strength and courage to the faithful and the Brothers also assist the pastors when needed.
Although this house was started as a common recruiting centre for the whole congregation, in 1992 it was handed over to St. Thomas Province for its exclusive use. At present, the province conducts an English Medium School from K.G. to XIIth Grade here.
Late Bro. (Dr.) Berchman was conducting the Counselling Centre (HRT) at Asokapuram, Aluva. He was helping the people who are disturbed and upset with life. It was a great help to many, especially to the disturbed souls. He started his activities at Trivandrum initially and there after a few years shifted to Aluva-centre.
MARY MATHA ASHRAM AND MISSION AT VAIKOM – Ernakulam Archdiocese
This centre started in the year 1993 at Elamkuttichira, Muthedathukavu at Vaikom. It is a donated property from Elamkuttichira family with the intention of starting a Non-formal Technical School. In the year 1998 when we began our non-formal technical centre there was 12 Boys for the welding work and they all completed the Training and are well settled. But in the year 1999 though only a few Joined, but they all did well. Since the place is not conducive to continue the work, we discontinued. Afterword a place for religious articles was started here. Because of this centre, nearly ten families are supported and financed. To support the families, the work is continued, through our income is minimal.
CHELOOR MISSION IN MANANTHAVADY
In 1973 the Diocese of Tellicherry was bifurcated and the Diocese of Mananthavady was established. The Brothers were invited by Bishop Jacob Thumkuzhy in the year 1978 and they started a centre at Cheloor, for running a school and a boarding for the Local destitute children. Bros. Ferdinand, Ireneus and Edwin were the first members to start the centre. Brothers were very active in helping the parish for the pastoral activities and also started a primary education centre there, especially for the tribals and the poor.
PORTIUNCULA ASHRAM, BATTATHUR, KASARAGOD
At the invitation of the Bishop of Kannur (Latin diocese) and by the intention of the congregation in memory of the 75th Death anniversary of our beloved founder Very Rev. Bro. Paulus Moritz. Bishop Alex Vadakkumthala invited we the Brothers of the St. Thomas Province of Kerala to start a centre here. The Superior General Very Rev. Bro. Jose Valliara and the council members thought of having a centre at Kasaragod for the evangelization activities and for the social upliftment of the needy at this northern part of Kerala. Bishop Alex Vadakkumthala of Kannur Diocese blessed the foundation Stones and laid the foundation stones for the CMSF portiuncula Ashram as well as for the St. Francis D’ Assisi School by Bro. George Thottiyil and by Bro. Dominic, the general councillors. Both these were blessed by the same Bishop in the presence of Cardinal Cleemis of the Malankara church and the Superior General of the CMSF on 19th November 2018.
The Saint Thomas province is dedicated to Saint Thomas the Apostle of India. It was made a Province in 1979 during VIII General Chapter. The Province was bifurcated, and a new Tamil Nadu Region ‘St. John DE Britto’ was created later for the growth of our mission in the Tamil speaking state of Tamil Nadu in the year 2003. At present there are 49 Brothers and 15 Communities in the Province. The activities of St. Thomas Province are spread over 10 Dioceses including the Diocese of Galveston Houston, Texas, USA.