History

Mount Carmel Monastery, Khawlailung, 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 Aizawl, Mizoram, the monastery serves as a center of prayer, evangelization, pastoral ministry, education, and the promotion of Carmelite spirituality.

The origins of the mission trace back to *2011, when **Most Rev. Stephen Rotluanga, Bishop of Aizawl, invited **Rev. Fr. Antony Mathias OCD*, the Provincial of the South Kerala Province, to establish a Carmelite mission in his diocese. Responding positively to the invitation, the Province initiated preparations for a new missionary presence in Mizoram.

On *9 May 2013, **Rev. Fr. Antony Mathias OCD, accompanied by **Fr. Marcel Fernandez OCD* and *Fr. Christopher Fernandez OCD, arrived at the Bishop’s House in Aizawl. They were warmly welcomed by the Bishop, who entrusted to them the mission of **Khawlailung, a village that was then part of **Serchhip Parish*, located about 40 kilometers away.

*Fr. Christopher Fernandez OCD, the pioneer missionary of the community, reached Khawlailung on **20 May 2013* and began the arduous task of establishing the Carmelite presence among the people. Khawlailung is one of the largest villages in the region, situated in a remote and underdeveloped area. Despite economic challenges and limited employment opportunities, the people are highly educated, disciplined, and deeply committed to their Christian faith. The village consists of approximately 500 houses and around 600 families, with a population of nearly 2,000 people.

Mizoram is one of the most Christian states in India, with more than 95 percent of its population professing Christianity. In Khawlailung, the entire population is Christian, belonging to various denominations. About 80 percent of the people belong to the Presbyterian Church, while Catholics constitute a small but vibrant community of around 25 families. The remaining population belongs to Baptist and other Protestant denominations.

The Catholic mission initially centered around *St. Francis of Assisi Church, which later came to be known as **Mount Carmel Church, reflecting the Carmelite identity of the community. Alongside the pastoral ministry, the missionaries also took responsibility for **St. Francis of Assisi English School, founded in 1993. In keeping with the growth of the mission, the institution was later renamed **Mount Carmel School*. The school has become an important educational center in the village and currently serves students up to the eighth standard, providing quality education and moral formation.

Through their pastoral ministry, educational outreach, and witness of Carmelite life, the friars have contributed significantly to the strengthening of the Catholic community and the promotion of Christian values in the region. Inspired by the teachings of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the community continues to foster a spirit of prayer, fraternity, and service among the faithful.

Today, Mount Carmel Monastery stands as a beacon of hope and faith in Mizoram, serving the Church through evangelization, education, pastoral care, and the promotion of Carmelite spirituality.

## Mission

* Parish and sacramental ministry
* Evangelization and missionary outreach
* Promotion of Carmelite spirituality
* Educational ministry through Mount Carmel School
* Catechetical and youth ministry
* Vocation promotion
* Ecumenical witness and Christian fellowship
* Service to the local community

*Motto:* Prayer • Fraternity • Mission

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