KRIPA (Kerala Rehabilitation Institute for the Physically Affected) was established in the year 1981 by the CMI congregation with the intention of supporting the person with disabilities through vocational training programmes and later with a special school. Now KRIPA includes an Early Intervention center with all the therapeutic assistance. So far since its inception, KRIPA has trained 750 differently-abled people with different vocational training programmes such as candle making; umbrella making, bookbinding, animal husbandry, computer etc. and presently 357 students between the age group of 16-30 are involved in the three years vocational training programme. Later, the organization initiated a special school and presently 59 day- scholar students are studying here. The Early Intervention Center is also providing therapeutic assistance such as Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech therapy, Behaviour therapy etc. for the needy.
KRIPA (Kerala Rehabilitation Institute for the Physically Affected) is a compassionate initiative of the CMI Fathers dedicated to the well-being of individuals with special needs. Founded on the principles of love, care, and inclusion, our center strives to create a nurturing environment where individuals of all ages can thrive, learn, and reach their fullest potential.
CONTACT USABOUT CMI
The Congregation of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) is the first indigenous religious congregation in the Catholic Church of India. Fr. Thomas Palackal, Fr. Thomas Porukara and Fr. Kuriakose Chavara of the Syro-Malabar Church of apostolic origin who felt that “a lot of good had not been done due to the absence of a ThapasuBhavanam (House of Discipline) and a DarsanaVeedu (House of Vision)”, had the challenging vision of providing spiritual leadership and fostering unity and growth in the Kerala Church.With the permission of Bishop Maurelius Stabilini, the then Vicar Apostolic of Verapoly, they founded a religious house at Mannanam on 11 May 1831. Jacob Kanianthara who later became the first professed brother in the Congregation, co-operated with the founding fathers from the beginning. The name of the Congregation was ‘Servants of Mary Immaculate’.
Soon, some more priests and clerics joined the founding fathers and thus a small religious community took shape. On 8 December 1855, the religious Congregation was canonically approved and the first eleven fathers made their religious profession. Blessed Chavara, the only surviving founder, was appointed the first superior of the Congregation. Since, during the early period of the religious Congregation, the Vicars Apostolic of Verapoly were Carmelites, the Congregation had come under the Carmelite influence; hence, the rules of the Carmelites with some modifications were given to them in 1855. In 1860, the community was affiliated to the Order of Carmelites Discalced with the name, ‘Third Order of the Carmelites Discalced’ (TOCD). The Constitutions were approved ad experimentum by the Apostolic See in 1855. In 1958, the name was changed to ‘Carmelites of Mary Immaculate’ (CMI). The Congregation was granted pontifical exemption in 1967.
From the very beginning, the religious life in the Congregation was rooted in the Indian, Oriental and Carmelites spiritual traditions. Being contemplatives in action, the members engaged in such activities as the Church in Kerala was in need of at particular times. They preached retreats, conducted seminaries for the training of the local clergy, met the challenge of educating the training of the local clergy, met the challenge of educating the youth and disseminating Christian literature, laboured for the propagation of the faith and for the reunion of separated brethren, undertook works of mercy and started charitable institutions.The Prior General, assisted by four Councillors, is at the head of the administration; the Prior General’s House at Chavara Hills in Kochi is the headquarters of the Congregation. For the sake of administration, the Congregation is divided into 14 provinces, one region and 5 sub-regions. At present, the Congregation has about 3000 members including 5 bishops, 1539 priests, 2 permanent deacons, 33 brothers and 1300 brothers in formation. More than half of the priests are working outside Kerala, of who about 300 are doing pastoral services in 23 countries around the world.
ABOUT SH PROVINCE KALAMASSERY
The Province of Sacred Heart of Jesus was established in 1953 along with the Devamatha Province in the north and St. Joseph’s Province in the south. With its headquarters at first at Aluva and from 1959 at Kalamassery, the Sacred Heart Province consisted of the territories under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam and the Diocese of Kothamangalam.
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