God loved the world so much that he sent His Son that the world may have life. Jesus declared at the inauguration of his mission on earth as proclaiming Good News to the poor, bringing liberation to the captives, strengthening those who are oppressed (Lk 4:18). Jesus went about doing good with His healing ministry, fighting oppression and injustice and reaching out to the needy and the marginalised.
As Carmelites and daughters of Mother Veronica, we cannot be indifferent bystanders to the way the challenges unfold before us. We must step in and seek to enkindle the fire of Divine love in the hearts of men and women of our times, by promoting Kingdom values in the society (C. 9). ‘Readily and wholeheartedly, I shall go and work in India, dedicate myself, even give my life, if our Lord gave me this signal grace’ (LLp.317).
Our foundress, Mother Veronica, was ardent and full of zeal to work for the missions in India when she was sent to found a house of the Congregation of St. Joseph of the Apparition at Calicut in 1862. Here she discovered her vocation to found a Third Order Regular of Active Carmelites to serve the need of faith formation through the education of young girls on the west coast of India. Her outstanding humility and zeal for the missions remain an inspiration to all those who follow the footsteps of Christ, seeking to offer their lives in the loving service of humanity, especially the less privileged.
Our co-founderess, Mother Mary Elias of Jesus, started an orphanage at Holy Angels’ Convent, Trivandrum. Some of the orphans were big girls who were taught to earn their livelihood and when the occasion arose, she settled these young girls. The babies of unwed mothers were picked up, baptised and brought up with tender love and care. She also regularised marriages. Concern for the poor and an eager desire to respond to the needs of the times have always been part of the mission thrust of the CCR. However, we are not, nor intend to be, merely philanthropists or so-called social workers. We are disciples of Jesus Christ wanting to be good Samaritans to this world of ours.
In recent years, while we recognise and appreciate the contribution of education in creating an enlightened human society, our CCR family feels that it is high time to widen the scope of our ministry and get seriously involved in other forms of social apostolate. This reaching-out starts close to where we are. As consecrated persons called to be the living presence of the mystical body of Christ in a definite place and time, we have to bring the healing of Jesus, starting with the immediate social context.
It is a radical option for the poor and acceptance of all people with the ultimate aim of bringing the healing presence of Christ in their midst and thus ushering in harmony in the society (C 103, D 118).
The Carmelite vocation is deeply rooted in the life of prayer from which springs up a desire to share in the mystery of the Church and devote oneself wholeheartedly to its growth. The more one lives in Christ, the better one can serve him in others. It is a way to make the healing Christ present in the world. Hence, every apostolate is never a personal project but an expression of the mandate given by the saving Lord to the community of his disciples (C 104).
The prophetic zeal that set Elijah on fire for the glory of the only God doubled itself in the ardent love of St. Teresa of Jesus as a true daughter of the Church. She ignited in the heart of St. John of the Cross the tremendous courage to give to the Church a new apostolic dimension, which in turn manifested itself in the spiritual fruitfulness of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. This same fire of love consumed Mother Veronica into a burning. We shall remember that the services done in favour of the needy do not become our apostolate automatically. We are not an association of social workers, but co-workers with God and co-responsible for our apostolic activity with one another. It is the unconditional quality of love that reveals Jesus Christ and renders that service a Christian apostolate. So, every apostolate, though entrusted to an individual Sister’s competence, in reality is the venture of the whole community, the living presence of Christ in the locality (D 119).
As consecrated persons with a particular charism, we make our own the mission of the Church, the living body of Christ in the world. Hence, all our activities will be directed to furthering God’s Kingdom. Sustained by the word of God, strengthened by the sacraments and personal allegiance to Jesus Christ, we carry out our apostolic activity following our motto: In His Presence, We Stand and Serve (D 117).
So we prepare ourselves for the apostolate by intense faith life, the study of scriptures, the Church documents, by qualifying and updating ourselves in the fields of our service and by having a sound knowledge of the conditions of the place and the needs of the people (C 107). We carry out our apostolate in ready docility and go wherever obedience sends us thus fulfilling the will of the Father (C 106).
Mother of Carmel, and the Saints of Carmel, Pray for us.
Superior General
Sr. Molly Attully CCR
CCR Generalate,
All Saints’ Campus,
Chackai P.O
Thiruvananthapuram–695 007,
Kerala, India
Provincial Superior
Sr. Lucy Mary CCR
St. Therese’s Provincialate, House
“Pushpadhara”, Kizhavoor,
Mukhathala, P.O.
Kollam-691577
Provincial Superior
Sr. Wilma Mendes CCR
St. Teresa’s Provincialate,
Teresian Mansions,
St. Teresas’Campus, S. V. Road
Santacruz (W), Mumbai–400 054
Provincial Superior
Sr. Jane Bavelil CCR
St. Joseph’s Provincialate,
Sachidanand Niwas
Opp.Mahalakshmi Lawns
Nagar Road, Aple Ghar Kharadi,
Pune-411014
© 2025 The Congregation of The Carmelite Religious. All Rights Reserved.
Mother Michael was our first Mother General. Elected in 1908, this first architect of our Congregation, established her foundations with steadfast courage and great patience despite lack of personnel and funds, the first one at Anjengo (1916), the next at Santacruz (1922) followed by another at Neyyatinkara (1926) and the last one at Karwar (1926) where she was called to her heavenly abode. She was at the helm from 1908 to 1926.
With a heart of gold, intrepid spirit and the virtue of a saint, Mother M. Michael proved herself a skilled captain steering the ship of the infant Congregation through stormy waters and safely to harbour, with firm faith and confidence in God. She had the satisfaction of seeing the Congregation firmly established.
Every moment of her life was characterized by the spirit of humility, simplicity and charity to the poor, the sick and the orphaned. God accepted every sacrifice made by Mother M. Michael for the sake of the Congregation she loved so well and served so nobly – even the supreme sacrifice of dying and being interred far from her beloved daughters in Mangalore
Mother Archange, our second Mother General was trained by Mother Mary Elias of Jesus at Ypres in Belgium. Her great and loving heart was ever open to all and she devoted her life especially to the poor and needy in the missions in India. Concentrating on prayer and spirituality she used her talents in God’s service, to draw her Sisters nearer to God. The sentiments voiced by an English lady, D. H. Watts, an ex-student of Holy Angels’ School capture Mother’s beautiful personality. “With spiritual qualities she combined an intellect, disciplined by reading of the literature of more than one country, the intuition and receptivity of an accomplished musician and artist, a talent for organization and reaching straight to the heart of things and understanding our human frailty. Hers was the all- embracing charity, which Christ ranked above all other virtues.”
An outstanding educationist, blessed with generosity and greatness of heart, she was also an ardent lover of nature. Her sincerity and straight-forwardness, her culture and refinement, her foresight and zeal, her love for the Church and the Congregation did much to lead the Sisters along the path of progress. Mother Archange was Mother General from 1926-1944.
A towering personality, Mother M. Louise our third Mother General infused in her daughters a deep Carmelite Spirituality. Mother incessantly endeavoured to instill in her daughters, by example more than by precept, a love for prayer and the interior life even while engaged in the active apostolate of teaching, caring for the destitute and orphans.
A good helmsman, Mother M. Louise was steadfast in spirit, sturdy of heart and steady of purpose, both spiritually and morally. Her virtue was genuine and truly heroic. The light of the Holy Spirit, a guiding star all through her life, infused into Mother prudence, tact and discretion.
Mother’s term from 1944 to1975 was an era of expansion, progress and change for the Congregation. During her term the Congregation was declared a Pontifical Religious Institute in 1950 and the brown Carmelite habit was changed to white. The vestition ceremony was replaced by the Rite of Initiation into the Religious Life. Foundations increased in countries outside India.
Mother Angela, our fourth Mother General was a gracious and elegant person who steered the Congregation to great heights. As a leader, she was strikingly superior in every respect first as Secretary General, as Councillor and later as Mother General. With authority, fervent energy and an irresistible urge for perfection, she forged ahead, fostering unity and ensuring that the Sisters did their best.
A pioneer in many ways Mother started a New Novitiate in Pune due to the increase in the number of Aspirants during her time. Sisters were sent abroad for studies. Twenty-three Convents were started both in India and outside. Mother offered the services of our Congregation to the International Church in Rome – Collegio Missionaries Internazionale San Paolo Apostolo. The All Saints’ College was her biggest enterprise in the field of education. The Congregation was divided into four Regions for better administration and support as it had grown considerably during her tenure. Regional delegates were appointed and the code of governance given.
Her commanding personality impressed one and all. A tower of strength and spirituality, her kindness, generosity, beneficence and munificence was unparalleled. Seminarians, Institutions, hospitals, families, several spiritual and social enterprises like the Home for the Aged were funded by her and even strangers benefited. With her charming smile, polite demeanour and the softness and warmth of a mother, she endeared herself to everyone.
Mother was at the helm for twenty years from 1975 to 1995. She was a beacon light to the coming generations, the dreamer and shaper of the Congregation’s destiny.
Mother M. Frances, the fifth Mother General focused on development and renewal. She urged the sisters to update their knowledge in Theology, Biblical studies, academics and other professional courses. Her approach to renewal was to overhaul Formation and instill a deep Carmelite spirituality and love for the interior life even while being engaged in an active apostolate. Her simple, charming, humble and humane personality won the hearts of all who interacted with her. Her love for nature was phenomenal and she completely changed the landscape of All Saints’ College during her time as Principal. A seasoned orator she could hold an audience spellbound as she spoke. The highlights of her tenure were the shifting of the Generalate to the serene campus of the All-Saints’ College, organization of Provinces and the Revision of the Constitutions and Directives. Though faced with many challenges, Mother Frances forged ahead valiantly to open new convents in Assam, the United States of America and Africa.
Mother Mary Elma, the sixth Mother General, with deep faith and trust in God, accepted the role of Superior General, knowing that He who chose her would guide her all through. She worked zealously and sincerely for strengthening and developing the existing institutions. Prior to this Sister Elma was in the Formation team and thereafter she was elected Provincial of the Kerala Province. In her early days she was sent to Africa, where she worked whole heartedly in that mission. She was very sensitive to the needs and did her best to keep the boys cheerful and happy.
Soft spoken, calm and serene, with her gentle smile and sparkling wit, she added joy to the sisters on her rounds to the various convents, advising them to use freedom with responsibility.
Sr. M. Elma forged ahead with great fidelity to duty, firm in the assurance that God watched over her, leading her to guide the Congregation to green pastures.
A golden jubilarian in her religious life Mother M. Frances, the seventh Mother General bears the stamp of a sagacious, enterprising and dynamic leader. An astute visionary, an amazing organizer, a prayerful guide blessed with wisdom, prudence and efficiency beyond her years, her tenure marks the significant growth of the Congregation. She began her apostolate as a Professor in English at All Saints’ College, Trivandrum, teaching students at the UG and PG levels, instilling in them a love for the language. A gifted educator, her inspiring presence touched numerous young minds. As Principal in the same prestigious Institution, she renewed the infrastructure and led the Institution to lofty heights of excellence in academics and extra-curricular activities. From sandy dunes to a beautiful clean verdant paradise, the astounding transformation of the campus bears testimony to Mother’s ingrained love for nature and a deep concern for the ecology. Today as its Corporate Manager, she spearheads the move to revamp and re-energise the Institution in its march towards the future.
As Superior General for two and a half terms from 1996-2011, she shepherded the Congregation through its transitional phase which witnessed the decentralisation of power and the formation of Provinces. Blessed with innate humanity, a responsive heart, golden eloquence and wide contacts Mother is well known and loved. Re-elected in 2017, she leads the Congregation into the future, bestowed with grace, turning vision into reality.
Superior General
General Councillor of Formation and Vocation Promotion
– Served as a Teacher, Headmistress and Animator.
– Councillor to the Provincial of St. Joseph’s Province, Pune from 2014- 2017.
– Vocation Promotor and Formator of St. Joseph’s Province, Pune.
– In 2023 elected as the General Councillor for Formation.
General Councillor of of Finance
– Served as a Teacher, Headmistress and Animator of Communities.
– Provincial Councillor of St. Therese’s Province, Kerala for Education and Mission from 2008- 2011.
– Elected as the Provincial Superior of St. Therese’s Province, Kerala from 2011- 2017.
– In 2017 elected as the General Councillor and in 2023 re-elected as the General Councillor for Finance.
General Councillor of Education and Social Apostolate
– Served as a Teacher and Principal.
– Provincial Councillor of St. Teresa’s Province, Mumbai from 2006 – 2014.
– Provincial Superior for the St. Teresa’s Province, Mumbai from 2014- 2021.
– Elected as the 2nd General Councillor in 2023.
General Councillor of Spirituality and Ongoing Formation
– Served as a Teacher, Assistant Headmistress and Animator of the community.
– Assistant Provincial of St. Joseph’s Province, Pune from 2014- 2017.
– Provincial Superior of St. Joseph’s Province, Pune from 2017- 2023.
– In 2023 elected as the Assistant Superior General.
Secretary General
Served as a teacher in:
Assistant Headmistress at Tassia Catholic Primary and Nursery School, Nairobi, Kenya.
Animator at Little Flower Convent, Nairobi, Kenya.
Appointed as General Secretary in 2023.
Bursar General
Primary Teacher & Office Administrator,
St. Paul’s Convent School, Dadar
Assistant Teacher:
Secretary to the Provincial Superior (2007 – 2008)
Provincial Councillor in charge of Finance (2008 – 2014)
Principal, St. Joseph’s Convent High School, Khadki (2010 – 2022)
Provincial Bursar (2014 – 2017)
Animator – in Wagholi for one year. 2022- 2023
General Bursar (2023 – Present)