Prayer Request

Carmel Kannur

  • Home
  • Carmel Kannur

History of Thiruvalla Carmel

...

The Discalced Carmelite Teresian Cloister of St. Joseph at Thiruvalla has a unique history. It shows that the thoughts and plans of men are not always those of God. Man proposes; God disposes.

In 1933, nuns from the Carmel of Cerro in Spain came to Kerala to make a foundation at Kottayam in the diocese of Vijayapuram. Soon the community received many vocations even from outside Kerala and was ready for a foundation.

On 28th February 1948 eight Sisters reached Thiruvalla after an unsuccessful effort to have a foundation in Karwar. The Diocese of Thiruvalla on the other hand was making novena to St. Therese of Child Jesus to have a cloister Carmel to foster the Malankara Reunion Movement. Till the Cloister was built the Sisters stayed at a house belonging to the diocese improvised as a cloister. By December 22nd, 1950, the new Carmel was ready for inauguration by Dr. Ambrose Absolo OCD the then Bishop of Vijayapuram, And the Sisters shifted to their newly built Convent which was for them a great surprise.

God blessed the community with good vocations and in 1982 eight Sisters moved out for a new Foundation in Eramalloor, in the diocese of Kochi.

Avilaaram the Second Foundation of Thiruvalla


Avilaaram Carmel - Kannur

...

It was a long cherished dream of Thiruvalla Carmel to have a cloistered Carmel in the Northern part of Kerala as all the existing Carmels were in the southern part. Rev. Fr. Augustine Mulloor OCD the then Definitor General of the Order for the Carmels in India, planning the growth of the Order in India dreamt of a Cloistered Carmel in the North of Kerala. This shared dream became a possibility on 10th July 2014 - Rt. Rev. Dr. Alex Vadakkumthala bishop of Kannur visited our Carmel. He shared about the growing young diocese and its concerns and invited us to have a foundation to pray for the diocese and for the people of Kannur.


Vision

We strive to be united with Jesus completely in compliance with our Rule and Constitutions. "Live a life of allegiance to Jesus Christ... and unswerving in the service of the Master" - ( Rule Article 2)

This Vision has two dimensions – a continual seeking of the face of God and a joyful self-donation in a community, of solitude and communion, of silent seeking and joyful community living.

Mission

St. Teresa of Avila, our Holy Mother gave prayer an Apostolic Dimension in a very powerful way. We are called to offer our prayer, sacrifices and our very life for the service of the Church. St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Patroness of the Mission was deeply convinced that unless you are a Missionary in Spirit you cannot be a Cloistered Nun.

Charism

The Charism of a Discalced Carmelite Nun is to open ourselves to "hidden union with God" in Jesus Christ shaped by the word of God in the company of Blessed Virgin Mary who is our "Mother and Sister" in keeping with the teachings of St. Teresa of Avila, our Mother.

This is a call to be a missionary within a cloister, embracing the whole world in prayer.

Charism invites us to pray for the Church, particularly for its leaders.

Charism entails a very conscious living, taking every possible means to make progress in prayer, blended with a spirit of self sacrifice.

The MEANS that the Rule and Constitution has provided for us to reach our Vision are

  • 1. The Practice of Continual Prayer.

    The Nuns are expected to live continually in the presence of God. They do all their work in silence. They do not have a common work room. This does not mean that they live in isolation. On the contrary there is a greater harmony when they exchange minimum when duty demands, full of charity and ready to help each other when it is necessary.


  • 2. The Sacred Liturgy.

    The Holy Mass is celebrated all 365 days in our chapel. It is around the Eucharistic table that the sum and summit of our Religious Consecration.

    We celebrate the Liturgy of the hours seven times a day. (See the daily time table)


  • 3. Mental Prayer (Meditation)

    Everything we do in Carmel is important in attaining our goal. Yet if there is one element that embodies the essence of Carmel it is solitary personal prayer. Every Carmelite Nun spent two hours, one in the morning and one in the evening in mental prayer. It is Carmelite "business" and primary occupation.


  • 4. Lectio Divina (Prayerful reading of the Sacred Scripture)

    The Rule says that the sword of the Spirit, the word should abound in our heart and lips. Familiarity with the word of God is very essential to be a true Carmelite and contemplative. Times are set aside for personal reading and reflection of the word of God.


  • 5. Silence and Solitude


    She lived in solitude
    And now in solitude has built her nest,
    And in solitude he guides her,
    He alone, who also bears
    In solitude the wound of love.
    St. John of the Cross

    – Spiritual Canticle, Stanza 35

    "Prayer has a father and mother in silence and solitude." Silence is the language of love, of the depth, of the others presence and solitude is the need for privacy, a place of communion with God. There are two hours of recreation every day where Nuns talk, laugh and enjoy themselves. Apart from these two hours the Sisters keep silence and try to live in the presence of God.


  • 6. Daily Time Table

    Refer Daily Horarium


  • 7. The Cell

    "in this house, Glory to God, there is not much occasion for gossip since such continual silence is kept" St. Teresa of Avila.

    Cell is the personal room of the Nun and is second sanctuary, the "bridal Chamber" where no one else can enter. It a place where one meet her Beloved. When a nun is not occupied she is expected to return to her cell, spending her time doing some work, praying or reading.


  • 8. Work

    "Love turns work into rest." St. Teresa of Avila.

    Physical labor is essential part of Monastic Contemplative life. We do everything to meet the daily needs of a house. We cook our food, clean the house and stitch our clothes. The work of our hands is a source of income for our maintenance.

    • We are also getting equipped to provide host for the diocese.
    • We make crown and bouquet for the first Holy Communicants.
    • We make Rosaries and Scapular.
    • We stitch vestments and other sacred linen for our need and for others on order.
    • We maintain a flower garden and vegetable garden.

  • 9. Recreation

    Two hours of Recreation is an integral part of the Teresian Carmelite life. St. Teresa knew how important it is to have a time of relaxation, laughter and fun in the psychological makeup of a human person.


Our Parish & Jurisdiction

Kolayad Parish where our Cloister is situated is a Parish with a very unique history. The Parish began in 1921 by the Jesuit Missionaries and was a part of Mangalore diocese. This was the only Church in the vast surrounding area. The people of all rights and denominations came to this Church and lived as one Family. When other Churches came up later, St. Cornelius Church continued to remain as a sort of mother Church with many memories attached. This has a very positive effect on our presence in our parish. People from all our neighboring parishes flock to our chapel to pray, enabling Avilaaram to evolve as a place of peace and solace to the people of Kannur and surrounding area.

Though very simple, the people of Kolayad believe that they are blessed by God to have a Cloistered Carmel. Our Bishop has played a very important role in creating this consciousness in people. The response of the people for the past one year and more had been heartwarming. We are loved and cared for. They want to show they love and care.

Our little Chapel opened all day for the people is nearly full for the daily Eucharist. People come to pray and place their petitions at the Statue of 'Sleeping St. Joseph' who has become a friend and solace people from the neighboring parishes as well. On certain occasions and in response to the particular needs of the Church we arrange whole day adoration for the people.


Timeline of Carmel Kannur

We got a letter of consent from the Father General Rev. Fr. Xaverio Cannistra
We received a letter of consent from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life stating the permission of His Holiness Pope Francis to found a new Cloistered Carmel giving us a very positive sign that its God's dream blooming and unfolding under the shadow his wings.
On the auspicious occasion of the 5th birth centenary of St. Teresa of Avila the foundation stone was laid by Rt. Rev. Dr. Alex Vadakkumthala in the presence of Rev. Fr. Prasad Theruvath OCD the then Provincial of Manjummel Province and Rev. Fr. Augustine Mulloor OCD.
The construction work began having partially completed the compound wall in the meanwhile.
Was the blessing Avilaaram Cloister Carmel by our bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Alex Vadakkumthala in the presence of Rev. Fr. Johannes Gorentla OCD the Definitor General for India, and Rev. Fr. Augustine Mulloor OCD the Provicial of Manjummal Province of OCD over hundred priests, several religious and a large number of faithful from near and far.
Canonical erection of our Cloister Carmel by our dear Bishop Rev. Dr. Alex Vadakkumthala in the presence of Rev. Fr. Augustine Mulloor OCD the Provicial of Manjummal Province of OCD.