History

San Juan Monastery, Kumari, is a missionary community of the Regional Vicariate of West Bengal and North-East India under the South Kerala Province of St. Joseph, Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCD). Situated in the Diocese of Miao, Arunachal Pradesh, the monastery stands as a witness to the missionary zeal and Carmelite presence in one of the most vibrant mission territories of North-East India.

The origins of the mission trace back to *2008, when the Vicariate initiated efforts to establish a Carmelite mission in Arunachal Pradesh. The proposal was warmly welcomed by the newly erected Diocese of Miao. In response, **Fr. Jess OCD* was sent to the diocese on *18 March 2009* to explore possibilities for missionary outreach. After spending a month at the Bishop’s House, he was assigned to *Empen, a remote area offered by **Rt. Rev. George Pallipparambil SDB*, the Bishop of Miao.

Living under challenging circumstances, Fr. Jess stayed with forest guards and ministered to scattered Catholic communities, often walking five to six hours through difficult terrain to reach the nearest villages. Despite his dedication, pastoral work at Empen proved difficult due to local opposition, making long-term missionary development impossible.

Recognizing these challenges, Bishop George offered the parish of *Kumari* in Lohit District, which included a parish, a school, a hostel, and several substations. Accepting this invitation, *Fr. Jess OCD* and *Fr. Tony OCD* officially took charge of the mission on *15 February 2010* in the presence of the Bishop of Miao.

From that moment, the mission experienced steady growth. The Carmelite missionaries devoted themselves to pastoral care, education, and social development. A significant milestone was reached on *2 June 2014, when a new hostel building was inaugurated to accommodate the growing number of students. Today, the school serves approximately **450 students, while the parish ministers to **337 Catholic families* spread across *eight village churches*.

Named after *St. John of the Cross (San Juan de la Cruz)*, the monastery draws inspiration from the Carmelite tradition of contemplation and missionary service. Through evangelization, education, pastoral ministry, and human development, the community continues to bring the Gospel to the people of Arunachal Pradesh.

Today, San Juan Monastery remains a vibrant center of faith, education, and missionary outreach, faithfully carrying forward the mission of Carmel in the frontier regions of North-East India.

## Mission

* Parish and sacramental ministry
* Evangelization and missionary outreach
* Education and hostel ministry
* Promotion of Carmelite spirituality
* Human and social development
* Service to village communities

*Motto:* Prayer • Fraternity • Mission

Read more : https://southkeralaprovinceocd.com/kumari/