The Discalced Carmelite presence in India dates back to the beginning of the 17°° century. The first Carmelite monastery was established at Tatta in Sind, now in Pakistan, and the Second in Goa in 1620. The missionary activities of the Carmelites extended to the great Mughal Empire at Surat, Bijapur, Mumbai, Karwar etc. The Carmelite mission work in Kerala can be traced back to 1640 when two Carmelite Priests from Goa, Fr Diego of Jesus and De. Alexis of Jesus and Mary came to Kuravilangadu with the intention of establishing a house there among the St Thomas Christians whom they considered as fruit of the works of their fore-fathers from Mount Carmel. Upon reaching Kerala, they established contact with Archdeacon Thoma Parambil and with his help they established the Confraternity of the Holy Scapular as a first step towards a Carmelite presence.

The work of the Carmelite missionaries in India would not be complete without the establishment of the Carmelite Order in our country. They opened Novitiate and a Study House in Goa exclusively for the European candidates. From there we have the two proto-martyrs of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites: Blessed Dionysius (a priest from France) and Blessed Redemptus, a Lay Brother born in Portugal.

The initial attempt to start a Novitiate for the natives in the second half of the 19th century was initiated by Rev.Fr.Aloysius Benziger OCD, later Bishop of Quilon (1905-1931) and supported by His Excellency Msgr. Ladislaus Zaleski, the Papal Delegate. The province of Flanders in Belgium took initiative to found a Novitiate House in India for the training of the natives. Thus, a group of three friars — Fr Pauline OCD and Fr Philip OCD and Br Arnold OCD from Flanders Province, reached Quilon on 14 April, 1901 with the mission of founding a Novitiate. His Excellency Msgr. Ferdinand Ossi OCD, then Bishop of Quilon received them cordially and allowed them to have a plot of land at Alenchi (Alanchicaud) near Colachal in the present Kanyakumari district of Tamilnadu.

After determining that Alenchi was unsuitable for a house, Fr Pauline and his associates looked for another plot. On October 16, 1901, Fr Denis Huysman (Octavius) discovered a suitable location and purchased it from a Brahmin at Cotton Hill in Thiruvananthapuram. His Excellency Msgr. Ferdinand Ossi OCD, Bishop of Quilon, blessed the small temporary chapel in honour of St Joseph on March 19, 1902. It was canonically erected as a Vicariate on 26 February 1903 under the Patronage of Blessed Dionysius and Redemptus, with Fr Philip as the first Vicar. The solemn function of the blessing and laying the foundation stone of the church in honour of Holy amily was done by His Grace Ladislaus Zaleski, the Apostolic Delegate of East Indies on 28, October 1903.

His Excellency Msgr. A.M. Benziger OCD, Bishop of Quilon blessed the new House on 13th May, 1906. He himself blessed and consecrated the Monastery church on April 21, 1910. Initiatives were taken for the canonical erection of the Novitiate house by establishing Postulancy on 9t^ August 1911. Rev. Fr Peter Thomas OCD was appointed as Novice Master. A few young men were admitted as postulants for Lay Brotherhood, but none of them persevered. After the first enthusiasm, due to various reasons the novitiate for Indians was closed and the Monastery was used as a Hostel for University going young men for some time. Very Rev. Fr Lucas of St Mary, the General of the Order who made the pastoral visit to the Indian Carmelite mission, accepting the recommendation of Msgr. Aloysius Benziger gave permission to re-establish the Novitiate for Indians. The Novitiate was formally re-opened on 1°t June, 1928 with seven clerical and one non-clerical postulants who were admitted to the Canonical Novitiate. Fr Constantine OCD of Flanders Province was the Superior of the House and Rev. Fr Lucas OCD of Burgos Province was the Master of the Novices. Vocations were promoted irrespective of rites and regions of the candidates. The first group of novices made their religious profession on 3’d June, 1929.

The Mission Residence of the Flanders Province that was canonically erected in November 1913, at Thuckalay was handed over to the Indian Foundation on 3’d December, 1929. Keeping the existing Residence intact, in December, 1933, a Monastery was constructed parallel to the Residence and also a Study House for the Theology students. Very Rev. Fr Xavier OCD of Flanders Province was elected as Prior. Carmel Hill Monastery served as Novitiate as well as Study House of the Philosophy students. Fr Constantine OCD was appointed Delegate Provincial for the two Indian Monasteries — Carmel Hill and Thuckalay. Rev. Frs. Xavier OCD and Lucas OCD were his Councillors.

His Excellency Msgr. A.M. Benziger OCD, Bishop of Quilon blessed the new House on 13th May, 1906. He himself blessed and consecrated the Monastery church on April 21, 1910. Initiatives were taken for the canonical erection of the Novitiate house by establishing Postulancy on 9t^ August 1911. Rev. Fr Peter Thomas OCD was appointed as Novice Master. A few young men were admitted as postulants for Lay Brotherhood, but none of them persevered. After the first enthusiasm, due to various reasons the novitiate for Indians was closed and the Monastery was used as a Hostel for University going young men for some time. Very Rev. Fr Lucas of St Mary, the General of the Order who made the pastoral visit to the Indian Carmelite mission, accepting the recommendation of Msgr. Aloysius Benziger gave permission to re-establish the Novitiate for Indians. The Novitiate was formally re-opened on 1°t June, 1928 with seven clerical and one non-clerical postulants who were admitted to the Canonical Novitiate. Fr Constantine OCD of Flanders Province was the Superior of the House and Rev. Fr Lucas OCD of Burgos Province was the Master of the Novices. Vocations were promoted irrespective of rites and regions of the candidates. The first group of novices made their religious profession on 3’d June, 1929.

The Mission Residence of the Flanders Province that was canonically erected in November 1913, at Thuckalay was handed over to the Indian Foundation on 3’d December, 1929. Keeping the existing Residence intact, in December, 1933, a Monastery was constructed parallel to the Residence and also a Study House for the Theology students. Very Rev. Fr Xavier OCD of Flanders Province was elected as Prior. Carmel Hill Monastery served as Novitiate as well as Study House of the Philosophy students. Fr Constantine OCD was appointed Delegate Provincial for the two Indian Monasteries — Carmel Hill and Thuckalay. Rev. Frs. Xavier OCD and Lucas OCD were his Councillors.

In view of establishing an Indian Province of the Order, the Monasteries at Carmel Hill and Thuckalay were separated from the jurisdiction of the Flanders Province and were brought directly under the control of the General Definitory in Rome on 24’h ApriI, 1936. Very Rev. Fr Gulielmus (Rev. Fr William of St Albert) OCD, the then Superior General and Rev. Fr Constantine of St Mary was made the General Delegate took the initiative to have it established as a Semi-Province. And the Sacred Congregation for the Religious established it canonically on 4’h February 1937. Meanwhile , a Foundation was opened at Margao, Goa, in 1938, the First House of the Semi-Province outside Malabar. The Navarra Province of Spain handed over two of its Monasteries — St Teresa’s Monastery, Ernakulam and St Joseph’s Monastery, Varapuzha to the Malabar semi-Province. Malabar semi-Province took possession of these monasteries with their assets and liabilities on 27th October, 1940. Rev. Frs. Eliseus Malamackal OCD and Rumould OCD were appointed Superiors of St Teresa’s Monastery at Ernakulam and St Joseph’s Monastery, Varapuzha respectively.

Rev. Frs. Constantine of St Mary OCD and Xavier of St Thomas OCD of Flanders Province and Rev. Fr Lucas of Child Jesus OCD of Burgos Province can be considered as the chief architects of Malabar Province. Msgr. Aloysius Maria Benziger OCD, a zealous Carmelite and he local Ordinary was the driving force behind all the efforts for this first Indian Province of the Carmelite Order. The Superiors of the Order took necessary steps to make I he na s cen t semi - Province autonomous. On the basis of the recommendation of Very Rev. Fr Boniface OCD, then Provincial of Flanders who was appointed as Visitator General, decided to execute fully the Decree of Erection of the Semi-Province of Malabar by transferring the Carmelite houses in Kerala that belonged to different Provinces of Europe except the House in Goa that was put under the direct control of the Flanders Province. Rev. Fr Eliseus Malamackal OCD was appointed as the Vicar Provincial.

The First Congress of the Semi-Province of Malabar was held from 16th to 20th April 1948 at Carmel Hill Monastery, Thiruvananthapuram. Rev. Fr Eliseus OCD was elected Vicar Provincial and Rev. Frs. Martin OCD and Joseph OCD, were elected councillors of the Semi-province. R e v. Frs. AngeI Ma ry OCD (ThuckaIay) , Arch a n g e I O C D (Thiruvananthapuram), John of the Cross OCD (Ernakulam) and Thomas OCD (Varapuzha) were elected local superiors. Rev. Fr. Andrew OCD was the Novice Master. It is a fact that the Discalced Carmelites were the first among the Religious Orders to establish a separate Province in India and for the Indians.

In 1947, the Novitiate was shifted to Thuckalay and Carmel Hill became Study House of Philosophy and Theology of the Malabar semi- Province. In 1971 November 11, Theology course was shifted to the newly started Carmelaram Theology College, Bengaluru. Carmel Hill Monastery even now serves as the Philosophy College.

Like any other institution, Malabar semi- Province also had its time of trials and challenges. Rev. Fr Engelbert OCD, Vicar Provincial of the Thiruvananthapuram Mission, was appointed as Commissary by the General Definitory in 1950. After the Pastoral Visitation in 1956, Very Rev. Fr Anastasius of the Holy Rosary, Superior General, ordered to suspend all the Formation Houses of the Semi-province of Malabar. The Flanders Province welcomed and accepted the religious who were under formation to complete their courses. Rev. Fr Aurelian OCD, from the Province of Navara, Spain, Rector of the Seminary at Alwaye, was appointed as Delegate General for the Province. He was succeeded by Rev. Fr Michael Angel OCD also from Navara in 1963, who continued in his office till he was elected Superior General in 1967.

The Divine Providence arranged the course of events that Rev. Fr Anastasius of the Holy Rosary OCD, the Superior General who ordered to close the formation houses, allowed to re-open the Formation Houses in 1961. This gave a new life and vigour the Province and vocations began to flow in than before. New monasteries were established both in and out of Kerala State. On 8th July, 1967, the General Chapter raised the Semi-Province of Malabar full-fledged Province.

In April 1981, during the pastoral visitation, Very Rev. Fr Philip Sainz de Baranda OCD, the then Superior General, changed the internal arrangements based on the rite and region of the Province for the growth and development of Carmel in India. Thus, Varapuzha unit of the Order was formed for those members of the Latin origin from Kerala. This unit grew steadily and has become a Province and it is known today as South Kerala Province.

Malabar Carmelite Mission of Punjab, in the Jalandhar Diocese was the realization of a long-cherished desire of Malabar Province to have a mission of its own in North India. The Mission had its beginning in 1979 with two friars reaching the Diocese of Jalandhar. More friars joined the mission soon and the mission flourished in spite of the challenges from within and from outside. It was the selfless dedication and commitment of our pioneer missionaries that made it a flourishing Mission. Along with the expansion of the Church, implanting of the Order was equally a concern of the missionaries. The Jalandhar mission soon became the Provincial Delegation of the Malabar Carmelite Mission. On 22 February 1994 Rev. Fr Camilo Maccise OCD, the Superior General, raised the Delegation to a Regional Vicariate under the patronage of St Therese of Lisieux. The Regional Vicariate was raised to the status of a Commissariat in 2004, and it became a Province in 2010 with the title Province of Delhi. It is in fact the fruit of the mission work of Malabar Province.

Ranchi Carmelite Mission has its humble beginning in 1989. After the primary investigation and study under the leadership of Rev. Fr Joseph Nedumpurath OCD, Malabar Province of the Discalced Carmelite Order has inaugurated a New Mission, by opening a house at Kokar, in the Archdiocese of Ranchi, in the present State of Jharkhand (formerly part of Bihar), under the patronage of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The new Mission was in view of expanding the Carmelite presence and evangelization in North-East of India. In due course of time, a second mission station and a school were opened at Ormanjhi.

Ranchi Carmelite Mission has a steady growth and development during the last 34 years, particularity in the increase of local vocations to Carmelite Order. At present Ranchi Mission has 5 canonically erected Houses and 3 Residences. Delegation has one well established High School at Ormanjhi and two Play Schools at Badhgari and Dumka, and we have one Spirituality Centre at Kokar.

As on today, there are 31 Friars working in this mission. Among the 30 priests, 21 are from Ranchi Mission area. Some of our fathers are doing their higher studies in India and abroad. Two of our fathers are extending their service to our Belgium Province. There are 45 Brothers in different stages of formation.

Ranchi Carmelite Mission is a fast growing, promising mission in North-East India; it has many challenges and opportunities to reach the goal of its presence here. It has got a bright future and we can hope that the Ranchi Mission may become another independent unit of the Order in the near future.

Another important step taken in view of the expansion of Malabar Province was the establishment of the Regional Vicariate of North Malabar by the Provincial Chapter in 2008. It was officially declared by Very Rev. Fr General at Carmel Hill Monastery, Thiruvananthapuram on 29'h October and had its First Congress on 25th November 2008. The Houses and Institutions in the territory of the Eparchies of Thalassery, Mananthavady, Thamarasserry and Palakkad and the House in Belthangady were entrusted to the Regional Vicariate. The Vicariate had its moments of growth as well as the challenges of existence. The Vicariate could not achieve the growth that was expected of a newly created unit of the Order neither in terms of personnel nor in terms of economic self-reliance. The General Visitation that was conducted in 2018 by Very Rev Fr Johannes Gorantla underlined the challenges that confronted the Vicariate.

The General Definitory, in the light of the Report of the Visitator, decreed that the Vicariate be closed and all the houses and members of the Vicariate be transferred to the Province. The decree from the General Definitory suppressing the Regional Vicariate of North Malabar was published on 17th March, 2019.

Complying with the Decree of the Second Vatican Council for the Oriental Churches (no. 6) at the request of the Province presented by the General Definitory, the Holy See, as per the Decree dated 12“ November 1996, transferred Malabar Province from the Latin jurisdiction to the Syro-Malabar jurisdiction. However the mission of Punjab and of Ranchi and the churches at Carmel Hill and at Ernakulam continue to be under the jurisdiction of the Latin Hierarchy. Malabar Province is the only Oriental Rite Province in the Order of the Discalced Carmelites.

Ever since the Malabar Province was declared an Oriental Province, we extended our service to the Syro-Malankara Church as well. As a concrete sign of our solidarity with the Syro-Malankara Church a residence.

Carmelgiri Ashram - was opened in 2004 at Varavoor, Ranni in the Metropolitan Eparchy of Thiruvalla. The nearby parish was also entrusted to it. The residence became a canonically erected House on 17'h December, 2009. The historical bond between the Syro-Malankara Church and the Discalced Carmelites began at the time of the Reunion Movement and through Archbishop Aloysius Maria Benziger OCD has acquired an unprecedented growth ever since our Province became an Oriental Province.

The Province has its own Formation houses from Initiation course to Theological studies, including those of the Ranchi Provincial Delegation; there are two Initiation Centres, two Preparatory Colleges, one Novitiate, one Philosophy College and one Theology College in the Province. In our Philosophy College, the religious and priestly studies are combined with University Graduation studies. Our Theology College at Bengaluru is affiliated to Dharmaram Vidhya Kshetram, the Pontifical Athenaeum of Philosophy, Theology and Canon Law and our students are awarded B.Th. and MA in Theology from Christ University at the completion of their studies.