Mother Rosario

Our Carmel

Welcome to the Carmel of Thiruvalla

...Carmelite nuns are a Religious Order within the Roman Catholic Church. They belong to the worldwide Order of the Discalced Carmelites, which comprises Friars, Nuns and Lay members. Within the Carmelite Family, the Nuns have a particular call to dedicate their lives entirely to prayer.

There are 34 Carmelite Convents of Nuns in India, of which seven are in Kerala.

In Carmel, the Sisters live, work and pray together, witnessing to the reality of God and His love for the world.

Life in Carmel is a life of prayer. Through prayer we grow towards the union with God which is the aim and fulfilling of the Carmelite Rule. We do so, by constantly united with God through silence and solitude. We listen to the voice of God, and practice it in showing love towards our Sisters. For St. Teresa of Avila “Prayer is nothing else but an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him Who, we know, loves us.

We, on behalf of the Church, praise and thank God through the Liturgy of the Hours - the official prayer of the Church. It enables us to pray for her needs and for the salvation of souls. Through this Prayer of the Church, we also honour the daily saints who inspire us to live up to the values of the Gospel and invite us to seek their intercession for the people of God.

Mary as the spiritual mother of the Carmelites is the model who pondered everything in her heart.


History of Carmel Thiruvalla

Our Carmel in Thiruvalla was a “dream come true” for the Diocese of Thiruvalla.

It was founded in 1948 by Mother Rosario of Jesus. She, together with seven Sisters from the Convent of Cerro de Los Angeles Spain, had come first to found the Carmel at Kottayam in 1933. Ever since the Malankara Reunion in 1930, it was the dream of the Bishop of Thiruvalla to have a Cloistered Carmel in his Diocese, the cradle of the Reunion Movement. For 15 years the re-united Malankara Catholics had been praying to St. Thérèse of Lisieux to have a Carmelite Monastery in their midst in order to help them towards the goal of their reunion. The return of the Sisters from the unsuccessful attempt, for one year, to have a foundation in Karwar was providential to realize their dream for the people of Thiruvalla.

The founding group of six Sisters with Mother Rosario as their leader came to Thiruvalla, in the Diocese of Vijayapuram and the new foundation was born. It was the joint effort of Most Rev. Bonaventura Arana O.C.D. the Bishop of Vijayapuram, Joseph Mar Severius, the Bishop of Thiruvalla as well as the untiring works of Fr. Geevarghese O.I.C. and many other Carmelite missionaries. The Sisters responded with great enthusiasm and fervour and had always been faithful to the main intention of the foundation; i.e., to foster the unity of the Church.

In 1982, Sr. Carmen, with seven other Sisters from this Carmel, went Eramalloor in the Diocese of Cochin, to make a foundation there.

Many people from near and far approach our Carmel in their distress and problems in order to get some words of consolation, encouragement and solution, s well as to seek the help of our prayers for their spiritual and material welfare. Without any distinction of cast or colour, rich or poor, young or old, - be they Hindus, Muslims or Christians – all are attracted to our quiet Chapel, especially to the life-size painting of the Agonizing Christ on the Cross, drawn by our saintly Mother Rosario. They love to spend their time with our hidden Lord in the Tabernacle.


Carmel of Thiruvalla

Our Vision

Through His Eyes

Carmelite life is a life of constant conversion as we strive to live in allegiance to and discipleship of Jesus Christ. In this endeavour, the Blessed Virgin Mary is our model and companion. Like her, our call is to live a 'hidden union with God' for the sake of the Church and the world.

In keeping with our Marian spirit, the primary vision of Carmel is prayer and contemplation, understood as loving friendship with God. This relationship of intimacy with God, mediated and fostered by Jesus Christ, is the raison d'etre of Carmel.

Although prayer and contemplation is at the very heart of Carmel, they are not separated from nor are they excluded from the apostolate. On the contrary, it is our prayer and contemplation that are the fruitful source of our apostolate.

Our Mission

Through His Hands

Life in Carmel is a blend of both contemplation and the apostolate. Carmelite mission is at the service of the Church and of all humanity. In keeping with the charism and inspiration of St. Teresa, Carmelite prayer and contemplation are deeply apostolic and ecclesial. They are graces for the Church in her service to the world and are also directed to the support, welfare, and apostolic fruitfulness of all those who are engaged in the work of evangelization.

Our Charism

Through His Heart

Besides the commitment to the Evangelical Counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience common to all the religious orders in the Church, the Charism of Carmel embraces a healthy combination of solitude and community-living. Solitude in which the soul listens to God’s silent whisper; and community-living in which each Sister will experience the love and support from other Sisters. In community-living we come together for prayer, the liturgy, meals and recreation. And by living in a small community, as envisioned by St. Teresa, we share in the joys, sorrows, and the “everyday-ness” of life.

Ultimately, we strive to reach the hidden union with God through continuous practice of the presence of God as taught by our Holy Mother St. Teresa.

Carmel Thiruvalla Timeline

Mother Maria Rosario of Jesus leaves the Carmel of Cerro de los Angeles and begins her journey to India. She arrived at Kottayam on 7 th October, 1933.
Mother Maria Rosario of Jesus as the leader of the group of six sisters goes to Goa, intending to begin a Carmel at Karwar. But they had to abandon their purpose and return back due to lack of spiritual help.
Mother Maria Rosario of Jesus arrives at Thiruvalla along with five sisters. They were staying at the Vijayapuralayam till the Monastery was being built.
The construction of the Monastery was completed. The Monastery was blessed by His Excellency Monsig Ambrosio Abasolo OCD.
The blessing of the Chapel. The expense of the construction of the Chapel was met by Mr. Kallarackal Anathanam Mathai (KC Mathai)
The first daughter foundation of our Carmel at Eramalloor. A group of eight sisters from Carmel Thiruvalla with Mother Carmen as their leader established the foundation.
Solemn Thanksgiving Mass by His Excellency Geevarghese Mar Thimatheos and His Lordship Thomas Mar Koorilose on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the foundation of our Carmel.
The blessing of the second daughter foundation at Kolayad, Kannur.
Solemn Thanksgiving Mass by His Excellency Thomas Mar Koorilos as we celebrate the 70 th year of the foundation of Carmel Thiruvalla.