BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH PONTIFICAL SEMINARY, Carmelgiri, Alwaye
The Beginnings (1682-1690)
The Carmelite Missionaries, who were sent to Malabar by Pope Alexander VII in the year 1657, started a small Seminary at Verapoly in 1682. The Seminary worked satisfactorily for some time, but it had to be closed down owing to some adverse circumstances.
The Re-organized Seminary (1764-1886)
On 14 September 1764, the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide wrote to the Vicar Apostolic of Verapoly asking him to re-open the Seminary at Verapoly for the formation of both the Latin and the Syrian Clergy. During 1774 – 1866 we find candidates of both Syrians and Latins receiving formation in the Verapoly Seminary.
The Central Seminary at Puthenpally (1866-1932)
The Seminary at Verapoly was shifted to the new buildings at Puthenpally in the year 1866. In 1888 the Seminary at Puthenpally was constituted the Major Central Seminary for the whole of Malabar and was placed under the immediate jurisdiction of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide. Important changes were made in the curriculum of studies as demanded by the exigencies of the time and circumstances. It was during this time that the study of languages such as Sanskrit, Greek, Hebrew and Malayalam was introduced in the curriculum.
The Central Apostolic Seminary at Mangalapuzha, Alwaye (1932)
Owing to the increase in the number of students at Puthenpally, a new seminary with better accommodation was built at Mangalapuzha, Alwaye which started functioning on 1 June 1932. The official inauguration of the new Seminary was held on 28 January 1933 by the Most Rev. Leo P. Kierkels, C.P., the then Apostolic Delegate of India. On 2 January 1951 there took place the blessing of the newly constructed chapel of the Seminary.
Carmelgiri, New Seminary for the Philosophy Students (1955)
The increase in the vocations to priesthood necessitated further extension. A nearby hillock was bought and a new building was constructed on it and it was to become the new Seminary for Philosophy students, named “St Joseph’s Apostolic Seminary, Carmelgiri.” On 24 November 1955 His Excellency the Most Rev. Martin Lucas, the then Apostolic Internuncio to India, blessed and inaugurated it.
Seminary raised to Pontifical Status (1964)
In 1964 the Seminary was raised to the “Pontifical Status” by the Holy See. His Excellency the Most Rev. James Robert Knox read the Papal Brief at a public meeting in the Seminary on June 14, 1964.
K.C.B.C. Entrusted with the Direction and Administration of the Seminary (1976)
The Carmelite Order continued to administer the Seminary until its transfer to the Kerala Catholic Bishops’Conference on June 12, 1976. On October 27, 1973, a formal request for the transfer of the seminary was made by the Superior General of the Carmelites which was jointly approved by the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The Statutes of t e Seminary made by the two Congregations state that “St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary is an Institution, common to the three Rites, namely the Latin, the Syro-Malabar, and the Syro-Malankara.” It was also stated that “the Seminary belongs to the Holy See and that its direction and administration is entrusted to the Conference of the Bishops of the three Rites of the Kerala region, subject to the high authority of the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Churches and the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples.”
The Church of Kerala is greatly indebted to the dedicated missionaries of the Carmelite Order for the best kind of formation they imparted to the clergy of Kerala for three centuries and more. It is a matter of great joy and honour for the Seminary that the cause for the beatification of two of its Professors, Rev. Fr. Aurelian O.C.D. and Rev. Fr. Zacharias O.C.D., has been taken up. Rev. Fr. Aurelian was declared venerable on 26 March 1999 and Rev. Fr. Zacharias was declared venerable on 27 January 2014. Rev. Fr. Aurelian had served the Seminary for 51 years and Rev. Fr. Zacharias for 45 years.
Pontifical Institute of Theology and Philosophy, Alwaye (1972)
On February 24, 1972, the Congregation for Catholic Education issued a decree erecting a Theological Faculty in the Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye.
Carmelgiri: Major Seminary for the Latin Rite Community (1996)
In compliance with the request of the K.C.B.C., made on June 5, 1995, for separate campuses on the basis of Rites, the Holy See, without prejudice to the Pontifical Institute, Alwaye, which remains common to all the three Rites, issued its nihil obstat by Prot. 4368/96, dated October 7, 1996, to re-organize St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye. As per the above decree, in view of promoting better formation in matters of Liturgy, spirituality and tradition of each sui iuris Church, the Carmelgiri campus was assigned to the Latin Rite.
Construction of the New Theology Block (2002)
The new situation necessitated various constructions. The construction of a three-storied building with a plinth area of 7630 square metres took four years until it got completed toward the end of May 2002 under the efficient leadership successively of Rt. Rev. Dr. Stanley Roman (Bishop Emeritus of Quilon) and Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph Etturuthil, the then Rectors of the Seminary. The new block provides accommodation for as many as 12 staff members and 120 students of Theology. The Theology Block was completed with the addition of a new kitchen and refectory, Chapel and Assembly Hall, during 2003-2004. As devotion to the Blessed Mother is an integral part of the priestly formation, we erected a statue of Mother Mary in front of the Theology Block surrounded by beautiful gardens.
ADAM (Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil Memorial) Extension Block (2022)
An independent block for Library at Carmelgiri was a long cherished dream. During the rectorship of Rt. Rev. Dr. James Anaparambil (Bishop of Alleppey) His grace Archbishop Francis Kallarakal, the Chairman of Carmelgiri Seminary Commission laid the foundation stone of the extension block on 16 July 2010. Due to financial constrains the construction works could not go ahead. Rev. Dr. Chacko Puthenpurackal was appointed the rector of the Seminary in 2018. He took a courageous step to resume the construction works of the extension block. Due to his vision, hard work and efficient co-ordination the construction was completed and the ADAM extension block was inaugurated on 16 June 2022. Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kariyil President of KRLCBC blessed and Sri. P. Rajeev State Minister for Industry, law & Coir (MLA of Kalamassery constituency) inaugurated the extension block.
The different departments in the extension block were also inaugurated on the same day. Rt. Rev. Dr. Varghese Chakalakal, Chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Seminary (ECS) inaugurated ADAM Museum: Rt. Rev. Dr. Selvister Ponnumuthan, Member of ECS inaugurated Department of Kerala Latin History, Art and Liturature; Mrs. Christeen (California, USA) inaugurated ADAM digital library; Mr. Kevin Kelter (President, OIC, California, USA) Inaugurated ADAM art gallery. His Grace Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil (Archbishop of Verapoly), Rt. Rev. Dr. Sebastian Thekkethecheril (Bishop of Vijayapuram), Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Karikkassery (Bishop of Kottappuram) and Very Rev. Msgr. Angelos Fernandez (Vicar General, Orange diocese, USA) graced the occasion with their presence. We gratefully acknowledge the great contribution of all our benefactors towards ADAM extension block.
Musei Carmelgiri (2024)
An awaited project got realised on 9 March, 2024 as ‘Musei Carmelgiri’ was blessed and inaugurated by His Excellency Rt Rev. Dr Selvister Ponnumuthan, Bishop of Punalur. The travelogue of the missionaries, replica of Tridentine Chapel, Corridor of Philosophers and Theologians, life sketch of Venerable Aurelian OCD and Venerable Zacharias OCD, Good Shepherd gallery (History and statistics of the Kerala Church, busts of Bishop Jordanus Catalani, Bishop Bernadine Baccinelli, Venerable Eliswa, gallery of Saints, OCD & CTC, Indo- European folklores by Kripasanam and array of Rectors and Professors), antiquities, Hezekiah’s tunnel and the Photo spot of Samson etc. belong to the rich heritage of the museum.