Csm

Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha, Thrissur (CSM)

The Congregation of Sisters of St.Martha was started as a
Diocesan Congregation of the Syro Malabar Rite in the
Diocese of Thrissur on 15th August, 1948 by a holy and
pious Diocesan Priest named Rev. Fr. John Kizhakkoodan,
a great visionary of that time. Mar George Alappat, the
then Bishop of Thrissur gave approval to the erection of
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Our

Objectives

The objectives of the congregation is to serve the destitute, the downtrodden, the working class as
well as ordinary people and make them understand and feel the compassionate love of Jesus Christ
through our different apostolate by following the footsteps of St Martha, the Biblical Saint, our
Heavenly Patroness, who like Jesus Christ our Lord, led a simple and austere life.

Activities of the Congregation:- Our members are engaged in different fields of apostolate such as
healing ministry; family welfare services; pastoral care ministry; education ministry; catechism;
service to the old; mentally retarded and handicapped; boarding homes for girls and working women;
homes for the disabled and the destitute, evangelization; and counseling
Motto of the Congregation: "Love Serves".
Objectives of the Congregation:- The objectives of the congregation is to serve the destitute, the
downtrodden, the working class as well as ordinary people and make them understand and feel the
compassionate love of Jesus Christ through our different apostolate by following the footsteps of St
Martha, the Biblical Saint, our Heavenly Patroness, who like Jesus Christ our Lord, led a simple and
austere life.

CMC

Faith Formation
Our founder St.Chavara Kuriakose Eliase envisioned the spiritual resurrection of the people of God
through the initiation of our congregation. The prime duty and goal of the establishment of our
congregation was to enable the people of God to understand the meaning of Gift of faith and also
help and support them to worship God in spirit and truth and lead them to infinite bliss of mystery of
the salvation of Christ. Thus they have to grow up to Christ in personal perfection and through them
the world towards Christian formation. Our target group is women and children and their Christian
formation and their uplift are the focus of all our apostolate.

The essence of Christian Formation is to enthrone Jesus Christ in all hearts. Our inner thirst
regarding it is reflected in St. Pauls words that Iam again in the pain of child birth until Christ is
formed in you (Gala.4,9). It is our sweet duty and privilege to proclaim the word of God whether the
time is favourable or unfavourable, convinse, rebuke and encourage with utmost patience in
teaching (2Tim.4,2). All our apostolate are directed to this aim. Our sisters are equipped with the
knowledge in the branches of spiritual and divine sciences as in the art, both humane and temporal
sciences to fulfil this aim. We aim to concientise the people of God-especially women and children
about their apostolic mission and empower them to become missionaries filled with zeal and divine
love in their own environment. Our founder father are the models to us in this regard. They instituted
abode of virtues to learn and teach catechism by conducting spiritual retreats in the parishes,
leading the people to faith and salvation through meaningful participation and experience of liturgy
which was re-awakening in the then Kerala church. We continue this spirit through proclamation of
the Word, Catechism, apostolate of parish, renewal of family, education, healing ministry, charitable
activities and mass media and publications.
Proclamation
of
the
Word
We proclaim the Word according to the command of the Risen Lord to proclaim the gospel to all
generations(Mt.28,19). It is our first mission which cannot be substituted by any other as in the case
of the church. We proclaim the gospel message that, God is our loving Father, His on Jesus Christ is
the only Saviour. He is the only mediator between God and man and eternal salvation is possible
only through Him. By following the footsteps of our founder, St.Chavara we have taken the
responsibility to lead the people of God to true faith in the light of the Gospel, empowered by the
Holy spirits and united with the teaching authority of the Church.To facilitate this mission many of
our provinces have started prayer houses and retreat and councelling centers,open to all
Catechesis
The church entrusts a special mission to consecrated persons to teach Catechism (Catechesis in
our time,1979,General directory for Catechesis,1979).Through catechesis we aim to enable the
people of God especially women and children, to lead a life rooted in faith, love and knowledge
about God, by instructing them on the mystery of salvation, and to lead the baptized in Christ to
eternal life in the light of Gospels and the teaching of the Church. Usual class room teaching and the
special period assigned for catechism and moral instruction in schools and the Sunday schools
attached
to
parishes
set
the
s
tage
to
realize
it.
Parish
and
Family
Apostolate
The heart of church is parishes and families aglow in faith. The focus of our faith formation ministry is
parishes and families. We undertake the responsibility to spend ourselves all that we have for the
people of God. We work for the total progress of the parish in co-operation with the parish priest. Our
local
houses
are
places
of
refuge
for
the
parishioners
in
their
need.
We pay special attention to the faith formation of domestic church through home mission. A group of
sisters is set apart for visiting the houses regularly and give the people support and help in their faith
vision and other needs. We try to win the families through the women its lamp and through them the
children, the heads of the families and other members, there by leading them to the kingdom of God.

Education
The apostolate of education is a heritage CMC has inherited from her founder fathers. CMC entered
the education field of Kerala informally in 1867 keeping aglow the vision of St. Kuriakose Elias
Chavara, who opens the portals of education to the church in Kerala. The guidance of Fr. Leopold
Beccaro OCD, the co-founder of CMC was also a constant source of inspiration for her while

working in this field. Each and every sister is obliged to dedicate herself whole-heartedly for the uplift
of the people especially women and children.
A blind person who lacks the light in his eyes doesnt see anything. In the same way, without
knowledge we remain ignorant of God and the heavenly things. A person who doesnt have eyes is
visually blind and a man without education is spiritually blind (Complete Works of St. Chavara Vol. IV
p.
129).
St. Chavara dreamt about the possible transformation that education can bring about in individuals,
families and the society at large. As a result he planned and shaped a number of educational
activities. His adventurous steps to educate the low class people with the upper class were indeed
an invocation to the educational attempts in Kerala.
It was St. Chavara, who initiated schools in connection with the parish church. He also introduced
the noon meal programme, Sanskrit School for the children of the common man etc. He was a man
of insight and became conscious of the decisive role of education in enlightening the society. He
envisaged an abode of virtues for raising the standard of oppressed women. This vision came true in
the formation of CMC. He realised the importance of good role models in moulding dynamic women
and the religious. As a result Edukkumdats for girl children were begun. He advised the sisters to
look after the education and character formation of these girls. He reminds us in the Testament of a
Loving Father, as soon as the children come to the age of reason they must be sent to school.
Besides, parents should be enquiring whether and how the children study and behave and who their
companions
are.
Their
studies
should
be
tested
every
Sunday.
CMC has gone far in the field of education gathering strength and inspiration from the great vision of
her founder fathers. We have generously set apart our human and material resources for progress in
this field.
Initial

Foundations

Sl. No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Year of Foundation
1867
1889
1892
1893
1895
1898
1899
1900
1905
1909
1910
1911
1913

Vision,

Mission

in

and

the

Place
Koonammavu
Mutholy
Vaikom
Changanachery
Arakkuzha
Pulimkunnu
Karuktty
Ollur
Manaloor
Vynthala
Paravoor
Chengal
Edathuruthy
Goals

field

of

Education

Name of the School

St. Josephs School
St. Josephs School
St. Josephs School
St. Josephs School
St. Josephs School
Amalolbhava LP School
St. Josephs School
St. Marys School
St. Theresas School
St. Josephs School
At. Aloysious School
St. Josephs School
St. Annes School
of

CMC

Education

Vision: We concentrate on the formation of the integral human personalities so that we can mould a
new generation having deep faith in God and clear cut goals in life. We prepare citizens for a

prosperous nation, where individual well-being and social welfare are prior concerns.
Mission: Strengthened by the divine love in contemplation and motivated to share his love, we
dedicate ourselves to foster the individuals intellectually, spiritually and physically, so that they may
have
a
mature
vision
of
life.
Characteristic Features of the Mission of CMC Education
Faith Formation
Integral Personality Development
Value based Education
Women Empowerment
Through Children to Families
Social Commitment
Culture of Peace
Concern for the Poor and Marginalized
Faithfulness to the Teachings of the Church and its Education Policy
Dignity of Life
Service to the Society
Mature vision of Life
Goal: To educate is a sacred call and a great apostolate through which we participate in the
teaching mission of the church. We aim at their total formation as much for her/his own enrichment
as for the service of the society and the nation in the spirit of Christ (CMC Constitution, 97). It must
give special consideration to our target group: women, children, the poor and the marginalised.
CMC

Educational
Institutions

Arts & Science Colleges

Training Colleges
Parallel Colleges
Training Schools
Higher Secondary Schools - Aided
Higher Secondary Schools - Unaided
Higher Secondary Schools - CBSE
Higher Secondary Schools - ICSE
High Schools - Aided
High Schools - Unaided
High Schools - CBSE
High Schools - ICSE
UP Schools - Aided
UP Schools - Unaided
UP Schools - CBSE
UP Schools - ICSE
LP School - Aided
LP School - Unaided
LP School - CBSE
LP School - ICSE

Institutions
No. of Institutions
004
002
010
006
008
019
010
001
032
038
012
009
031
033
014
013
053
060
022
016

Nursery Schools
Nursery Schools - CBSE
Nursery Schools - ICSE
Technical Schools - Aided
Technical Schools - Unaided

201
030
019
002
018

Healing Ministry
In

my

name..they

shall

lay

hands,

on

the

sick,

and

they

shall

recover

(Mk16/18)

Medical service is a crying need in our world. It is praise worthy that the CMC ministry of healing has
an important role in our work of evangelization. The dedicated service, care and comfort of the
sisters working in the hospitals and dispensaries offer to the sick and their relatives at the hour of
their greatest need and distress bear witness to the love, compassion and kindness of Christ who
while on earth healed the sick and comforted and afflicted. The ministry of healing has added to our
life of prayers this most needed service of the health care of the people. Our Lord distinguished
himself in his sympathy for the sick and handicapped. That is a sign for the people that Christ has
come. Even today we send these angels of good health to announce the presence of Christ amidst
them.

No earthly money can compensate for services prompted by the love of God. This is reflected
through every dedicated hand that comes to nurse the sick as it has so magnificently reflected
through Florence Nightingale, Mother Theresa years ago. Where else do we see the love of God
manifested abundantly? Only that prompting love which comes from the Lord could lead the restless,
painful and agonizing patients. That is what we could experience in the Ministry of Healing as the
Carmel sisters of missionary has been engaged. Through Jesus Christ our loving Lord and active
healer we are witnessing the third millennium of Jesus coming into our midst as fellow pilgrim and
savior. The application of the healing gifts of the Holy Spirit to simple psychology seems very
significant. It is with the hope that many have joined in developing the ministry of healing through
prayerful discernment and for the sake of those who suffer.

SH

What is Divine Mercy

Works of Mercy
Be Merciful as Your Father is Merciful
We are not only to receive the mercy of God, but to use it by being merciful to others through our
actions, our words, and our prayers; in other words, we are to practice the Corporal and Spiritual
Works (Acts) of Mercy.
The Lord wants us to do these works of mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no use without
works.

What are the Works of Mercy?

Corporal Works
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Visit the prisoners
Comfort the sick
Bury the dead

Spiritual Works
Teach the ignorant
Pray for the living & dead
Correct sinners
Counsel those in doubt
Console the sorrowful
Bear wrongs patiently
Forgive wrongs willingly

Jesus' Call to Mercy

"I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to
your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve
yourself from it.
I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor:
the first by deed, the second by word, the third by prayer. In these three degrees is
contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a
soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy.
Many souls are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry
out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much
more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul.
If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of
judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be
judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy" (1317).

The Seven Works of Mercy (Italian: Sette opere di Misericordia), also known as The Seven Acts
of Mercy, is an oil painting by Italian painter Caravaggio, circa 1607. The painting depicts the seven

corporal works of mercy in traditional Catholic belief, which are a set of compassionate acts
concerning the material welfare of others.
The painting was made for, and is still housed in, the church of Pio Monte della
Misericordia in Naples. Originally it was meant to be seven separate panels around the church;
however, Caravaggio combined all seven works of mercy in one composition which became the
church's altarpiece. The painting is better seen from il "coreto" (little choir) in the first floor.
The titular seven works/acts of mercy are represented in the painting as follows:
Bury the dead
In the background, two men carry a dead man (of whom only the feet are visible).
Visit the imprisoned, and feed the hungry
On the right, a woman visits an imprisoned man and gives him milk from her breast. This
image alludes to the classical story of Roman Charity.
Shelter the homeless
A pilgrim (third from left, as identified by the shell in his hat) asks an innkeeper (at far left) for
shelter.
Clothe the naked
St. Martin of Tours, fourth from the left, has torn his robe in half and given it to the naked
beggar in the foreground, recalling the saint's popular legend.
Visit the sick
St. Martin greets and comforts the beggar who is a cripple.
Refresh the thirsty
Samson (second from the left) drinks water from the jawbone of an ass.
American art historian John Spike notes that the angel at the center of
Caravaggios altarpiece transmits the grace that inspires humanity to be
merciful.
Spike also notes that the choice of Samson as an emblem of Giving Drink
to the Thirsty is so peculiar as to demand some explanation. The fearsome
scourge of the Philistines was a deeply flawed man who accomplished his
heroic tasks through the grace of God. When Samson was in danger of
dying of thirst, God gave him water to drink from the jawbone of an ass. It is
difficult to square this miracle with an allegory of the Seven Acts of Mercy
since it was not in fact the work of human charity.

education
[ej-oo-key-shuh n]
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Synonyms
Examples
Word Origin
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noun

1.
the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge,developing the p
owers of reasoning and judgment, and generally ofpreparing oneself or others i
ntellectually for mature life.

Education is an essential part of intellectual freedom, and one of its main values is
improving how students view, exist in and participate in the world. Because education is
a social event for most people, it encourages sharing of ideas and experiences among
students, which helps students become better members of the community by teaching
morals, ethics and community responsibility. Without education, for example, students
would be unable to understand the benefits of volunteering.
In addition, education helps encourage students to educate themselves and seek out
information. It provides students with the opportunity to learn about many different
things, including art, sports, math, literature and history, so that the students are able to
discover what interests them. This gives them the basic building blocks needed to
succeed in life later on through a career and further education.
Education comes in many forms, including trade apprenticeships and formal postsecondary education. Both of these give the students the ability to improve their
socioeconomic standing by giving them the tools and skills necessary to get better jobs.
Better jobs usually mean more money, which lets the student lead a better quality of life.