(From Left to Right)
Sr.Rani Sebastian, Sr.Eunice, Sr.Roseline Jacob, Sr.Lucy Mary, Sr.Elsy Paul, Sr.Lucy Xavier and Sr. Mary Lucy
| Name | Designation | Portfolio |
|---|---|---|
| Sr.Lucy Mary | Provincial Superior | Provincial Superior |
| Sr.Roseline Jacob | 1st Councillor | Finance |
| Sr.Elsy Paul | 2nd Councillor | Formation |
| Sr.Mary Eunice | 3rd Councillor | Education |
| Sr.Lucy Xavier | 4th Councillor | Spirituality |
| Sr.Mary Lucy | Provincial Bursar | Bursar |
| Sr.Rani Sebastian | Provincial Secretary | Secretary |
“I will let fall from heaven a shower of roses.”
These words of St. Therese of Lisieux have become the most recognizable symbol for this beautiful saint. Known as “The Little Flower” St. Therese’s life was one of simplicity, humility, and practicing “The Little Way” by which she sought to attain eternal life with Christ. Therese of Lisieux is one of the patron saints of the missions, not because she ever went anywhere, but because of her special love of the missions, and the prayers and letters she gave in support of missionaries. This is a reminder to all of us who feel we can do nothing, that it is the little things that keep God’s kingdom growing. The significant and simple life of our little Carmelite Saint inspired the Pioneers of our Southern Province to take up the name of the infant Province as “St. Therese’s Province, and the Convent “Pushpadhara” meaning a shower of roses. The Southern Province which was named after this little Saint had the foresight of seeking the intercession and had a firm belief that , our infant Province will bloom and spread where ever we are, under the protecting guidance of St. Therese of Lisieux.
Therese Martin was born at Alencon (France) in 1873. At the age of fifteen she entered the Carmel at Lisieux. She Practiced heroic humility, Evangelical simplicity and trust in God and taught the novices these virtues by word and example. She offered her life for the salvation of souls and the spread of faith. She died on 30th September 1897. St. Therese, being the Patroness of the Southern Province, whose Feast we celebrate on October 1st, help us along the way with perfect love. She is a Saint for us Carmelites. May she intercede for each one of us.
“Be strong and courageous; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you” (Joshua 1:9).
With immense love and gratitude to the Almighty, we, the Theresian family, move forward with courage, guided by the Holy Trinity and our Blessed Mother of Carmel. Our mission is to discern God’s holy will and to make Him known and loved. Inspired by our Foundress, Mother Mary Veronica of the Passion, we steadfastly rely on divine guidance, embracing her teaching to “put your trust in God alone, not in man.” Her profound devotion to the Eucharistic presence was the delight of her soul, serving as a constant source of inspiration and strength for us all. Let us, too, be drawn to this divine presence, which liberates us from our constraints and leads us towards personal renewal and transformation. True strength and wisdom come from our faith in God, and the greatest power lies in our ability to change ourselves, trusting in His providence. As we reflect Christ in our actions and uphold the original charism, vision, and mission of our Foundress, we boldly follow in the footsteps of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Each of us is called to be a leader in some capacity. Leadership, as Warren Bennis said, is the capacity to translate vision into reality. With this in mind, let us seek God’s blessings to foster an environment where everyone can contribute their best, making the world a better place. Through collective effort and unwavering faith, we will bring our shared vision to fruition, creating a community rooted in love, service, and divine grace.
The birth of Southern Province under the title of St.Therese took place on 27th May 2006. Queen of Angels Convent at Valiyathura was assigned as the Provincial House. On 10th April 2010 was a Red letter day in the history of our Province. We were blessed with a well- furnished Provincialate at Thazhuthala Kottiyam. The CCR Sisters of St.Therese’s Province Kottiyam , seek to enkindle the fire of Divine love in the heart of every human being and promote Gospel Values through the medium of education and work of mercy. We have 21 Convents in 9 Dioceses, i.e., Quilon, Trivandrum, Neyyattinkara, Allepey, Varappolly, Kochin , Punalur, Kannur and Odisha.
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)