CARMEL PARISH

The history of the Carmel Parish, Pune, dates back to the early 1970s. The Carmel Vidya Bhavan which is the CMI Study House established in Pune in 1943 took the initiative to look after the pastoral needs of the Syro-Malabar migrants in the city of Pune. Carmel used to render pastoral services for the people settled down in places like Khadki, Pimpri, Chinchwad, Vishranthawadi, Dehu Road and so on. Celebration of Holy Qurbana for the people at Carmel Vidya Bhavan started in 1973. At that time there were only three families. Fr Gabinus Petta CMI, the Rector of Carmel Vidya Bhavan in 1983, started organizing the Syro-Malabar Catholics in Pune more systematically. In 1987, there were 10 families coming for the Qurbana was conducted in the small Chapel of Carmel Vidya Bhavan. In 1988, the Carmel Parish Community was established by Bishop Paul Chittilappilly and entrusted to Carmel Vidya Bhavan when Fr Andrews Athappilly CMI was the Rector of Carmel Vidya Bhavan. There were 30 families in it. As the community grew, the Qurbana was celebrated in the dining hall of Carmel Vidya Bhavan.

On 19 March 1990, the CMI Congregation generously donated a plot of land to the Diocese of Kalyan on the agreement that the Rector of Carmel Vidya Bhavan would be the Parish Priest as well. Then Rector, Fr Andrews Athappilly CMI was appointed. the first Parish Priest. The above contract was renewed by Fr Antony Kariyil, CMI Prior General and Bishop Thomas Elavanal, Bishop of Kalyan, on 19 March 2006.

In 1990 there were 60 families in the parish. The foundation stone of the Church was laid by Bishop Paul Chittilappilly on 13 January, 1989. Carmel Parish Trust was registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act- 29 on 15 July, 1992 when Fr James Aerthayil CMI was the Parish Priest (1990-93). The Church was blessed on 18 February, 1993 and it was inaugurated by the then Prior General Very Rev. Fr Thomas Mampra CMI. It coincided with the Golden Jubilee of the inception of the Carmel Vidya Bhavan in Pune. There were 80 families at that time. The following parish priests Fr James Narithookil CMI (1993-96), Fr John Marius Manickanamparambil CMI (1996-99) and Fr Norbert Edattukanan CMI (1999-2002) also served the parish.

When Fr Anto Thekkuden CMI was the Parish priest, the Church was renovated and a Parish Hall titled “Chavara Hall” was constructed above the Church. It was blessed by Bishop Thomas Elavanal on 04 February 2005. Fr Thomas Mampra CMI has served as parish priest from 2005- 2008. On 05 July 2009, when Fr Mathew Kaniamparampil CMI was the Parish priest, the Carmel community was declared a full-fledged Parish. In 2010, Rev. Fr Mathew Kaniamparampil CMI, renovated the church and also built a new exit for Chavara hall, as a two-way exit. On 05 May 2011, our parish priest Fr Mathew Kaniamparampil passed away in Kerala after a brief illness.

Now, we have 266 families with more than 900 parishioners and 9 units. All the associations: Father’s Association, Mother’s Association, Youth, Catechism, Altar Angels are very active under the guidance of Parish Priest, from time to time.

Later, the priests who served our parish are: Fr Peter Kochalumkal CMI, Fr Antony Puthenangady CMI and Fr Joy Puthussery CMI.

At present Fr James Thayil CMI is the parish priest.