About us
Our Inspiration
St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara
St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara founder of the CMI (for men) and
CMC (for women), Catholic religious congregations was born
on February 10, 1805 at Kainakary, Kerala. At the age of five
he began his studies in a village school, known as ‘kalari’.
When he was 13, he joined the seminary at Pallipuram for
his priestly training. While he was in the seminary, his
parents and his eldest brother died in an epidemic. On
November 29, 1829, he was ordained a priest.
Establishing seven ashrams and a convent in different parts of Kerala, St. Chavara initiated a spiritual movement among the people of Kerala. He established the first Catholic Sanskrit School, a major seminary and a printing & publishing house at Mannanam. He directed that every church should start a school attached to it and encouraged children from even poor families to attend the schools by providing mid- day meals and clothes to wear. He founded a ‘Home of Charity’ to take care of the destitute, the beggars, the uncared sick and the old. He also organized the first voluntary charitable association in Kerala for self-help among the needy.
Even in the midst of such manifold activities, he found time to write several literary and spiritual books in prose as well as verse. Among them, ‘Anastasyayude Rakthasakshyam’ is the first narrative poem and ‘Nalagamangal’ the first chronicle of history in Malayalam. He knew seven languages – Malayalam, Tamil, Sanskrit, Syriac, Latin, Italian and Portuguese.
Essentially, St. Chavara was a man of piety and great charity. He lived for 66 years and died on January 03, 1871. His sanctity was officially recognized by the Church, when Pope John Paul II declared him ‘Blessed’ on February 08, 1986. Blessed Chavara ‘Deo Volente’ was canonized on November 23, 2014 by Pope Francis.
St. Chavara is the heavenly patron of all CMI and CMC institutions. Hence the Kristu Jyoti group of CMI Educational Institutions, a flagship organisation for academic excellence for modern youth today echoes its Master’s voice ‘I am the truth, the way and the life’.
Establishing seven ashrams and a convent in different parts of Kerala, St. Chavara initiated a spiritual movement among the people of Kerala. He established the first Catholic Sanskrit School, a major seminary and a printing & publishing house at Mannanam. He directed that every church should start a school attached to it and encouraged children from even poor families to attend the schools by providing mid- day meals and clothes to wear. He founded a ‘Home of Charity’ to take care of the destitute, the beggars, the uncared sick and the old. He also organized the first voluntary charitable association in Kerala for self-help among the needy.
Even in the midst of such manifold activities, he found time to write several literary and spiritual books in prose as well as verse. Among them, ‘Anastasyayude Rakthasakshyam’ is the first narrative poem and ‘Nalagamangal’ the first chronicle of history in Malayalam. He knew seven languages – Malayalam, Tamil, Sanskrit, Syriac, Latin, Italian and Portuguese.
Essentially, St. Chavara was a man of piety and great charity. He lived for 66 years and died on January 03, 1871. His sanctity was officially recognized by the Church, when Pope John Paul II declared him ‘Blessed’ on February 08, 1986. Blessed Chavara ‘Deo Volente’ was canonized on November 23, 2014 by Pope Francis.
St. Chavara is the heavenly patron of all CMI and CMC institutions. Hence the Kristu Jyoti group of CMI Educational Institutions, a flagship organisation for academic excellence for modern youth today echoes its Master’s voice ‘I am the truth, the way and the life’.
Our Inspiration
St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara
Patron
Very Rev. Prof. Dr. Placid Joseph Podipara CMI
03-10-1899 to 27-04-1985
The Eponym of Placid
Rev. Dr. Placid was born into the aristocratic Podipara family at Arpookara near Mannanam in
Kottayam District on October 3, 1899. He was christened Joseph. After High School, young Joseph
joined the group of Sanyasis at St.Joseph’s Monastery, Mannanam, founded by St. Kuriakose Elias
Chavara and associates. This Monastery was the first institution of this group of Sanyasis known as
Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). The young candidate Joseph Podipara (P.C. Joseph) received
the name Placid when he received the habit of a Sanyasi. After his seminary studies in Mangalore, he
was ordained priest in 1927. Thereafter he was sent to Rome for higher studies. Within a short span
of 2 years he secured Doctorates in Philosophy (Ph.D.), Theology or Divinity (D.D.) and Canon Law
(D.C.L.). He has to his credit about sixty scholarly books and numerous learned articles.
He was active at Chethipuzha from 1930 to 1954 as a Seminary Professor and as a resource person to those who came from far and near to consult him on historical, philosophical, theological and legal matters.. In 1954 he was called to Rome, the headquarters of the Catholic Church, as an Adviser to the Roman Catholic Administrative Curia. After a creditable service which lasted 26 years, on retirement he returned to Chethipuzha in 1980. He passed away on April 27, 1985 at the age of 86 and was buried in the main church at Chethipuzha.
He was active at Chethipuzha from 1930 to 1954 as a Seminary Professor and as a resource person to those who came from far and near to consult him on historical, philosophical, theological and legal matters.. In 1954 he was called to Rome, the headquarters of the Catholic Church, as an Adviser to the Roman Catholic Administrative Curia. After a creditable service which lasted 26 years, on retirement he returned to Chethipuzha in 1980. He passed away on April 27, 1985 at the age of 86 and was buried in the main church at Chethipuzha.
CMI Education Policy Statement
NURTURING FOR WELLNESS
We, the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, after the example of our founder St. Kuriakose Elias
Chavara, consider education as the integral formation of the human person for the fulfilment of
his/her individual and social responsibilities.
Our educational endeavours aim at forming leaders who are intellectually competent, spiritually mature, morally upright, psychologically integrated, physically healthy and socially acceptable, who will champion the cause of justice, love, truth and peace, and who are ever open to further growth.
The secret of the success of our educational institutions is a community of teachers who are committed to their vocation, professionally competent, morally upright, just and humane in dealings, culturally sensitive and who grow in the true vision of education.
We aspire towards creating a just and humane society where dignity of the human person is respected, where unjust social structures are challenged, where our cultural heritage of ahimsa, religious harmony and national unity are upheld, and where the poor and the marginalized are specially taken care of.
We reach out to the families, primarily of the students, to assist them in their needs, to share in their joys and sorrows, and to help them experience love and freedom so that the students realize that our educational institutions are an extension of their homes.
Our institutions are open to all students irrespective of caste and creed; they are accepted and cherished as they are and are helped to grow in their cultural, social and religious traditions. As they are privileged to be in our institutions, they will also have the right to get acquainted with the person of Jesus Christ and his Gospel. Being institutions established and administered by and for a minority community based on religion, they will give preference to Christians in admissions and appointments and have a special concern for the faith formation of the Christian youth.
Our institutions are also open to society at large by making their resources available for the ongoing education and growth.
For the realization of this CMI goal of education, we invite students, parents and teachers to share this vision and to cooperate with us wholeheartedly.
Our educational endeavours aim at forming leaders who are intellectually competent, spiritually mature, morally upright, psychologically integrated, physically healthy and socially acceptable, who will champion the cause of justice, love, truth and peace, and who are ever open to further growth.
The secret of the success of our educational institutions is a community of teachers who are committed to their vocation, professionally competent, morally upright, just and humane in dealings, culturally sensitive and who grow in the true vision of education.
We aspire towards creating a just and humane society where dignity of the human person is respected, where unjust social structures are challenged, where our cultural heritage of ahimsa, religious harmony and national unity are upheld, and where the poor and the marginalized are specially taken care of.
We reach out to the families, primarily of the students, to assist them in their needs, to share in their joys and sorrows, and to help them experience love and freedom so that the students realize that our educational institutions are an extension of their homes.
Our institutions are open to all students irrespective of caste and creed; they are accepted and cherished as they are and are helped to grow in their cultural, social and religious traditions. As they are privileged to be in our institutions, they will also have the right to get acquainted with the person of Jesus Christ and his Gospel. Being institutions established and administered by and for a minority community based on religion, they will give preference to Christians in admissions and appointments and have a special concern for the faith formation of the Christian youth.
Our institutions are also open to society at large by making their resources available for the ongoing education and growth.
For the realization of this CMI goal of education, we invite students, parents and teachers to share this vision and to cooperate with us wholeheartedly.
Our Vision and Mission:
At Placid Vidya Vihar, we strive to nurture young minds by providing an inspiring environment that blends academic rigor with moral and spiritual values. Our vision is to cultivate leaders who will positively impact society with knowledge, integrity, and respect for all.
Our History:
The CBSE wing of the Kristu Jyoti Group, Placid Vidya Vihar bears the name of the illustrious and
learned sanyasi priest Very Rev. Dr. Placid Joseph Podipara CMI.
Initially, conceived as an LP School – a feeder school for Kristu Jyoti High School, Placid gained its
independent existence in 1988 and today is among the best CBSE schools in the State. It has proudly
received the British Council International Dimension in Schools (IDS; formerly ISA – International
School Award) accreditation for two consecutive terms for nurturing global citizenship in young
people and enriching teaching and learning.
Our Management
Fr. Scaria Ethirett CMI
Principal, Placid Vidya Vihar
Fr. Thomas Kallukalam CMI
Manager , Kristu Jyoti Group
Fr. Tomy Elavunkal CMI
Director, Kristu Jyoti Group & Principal, Kristu Jyoti HSS.
Fr. Akhil Karikkathara CMI
Bursar, Kristu Jyoti Group
Fr. Philipose Thunduvalichira
Principal, Kristu Jyoti Vidya Niketan
Fr. Joshy Cheeramkuzhy CMI
Principal, Kristu Jyoti College
Fr. Akhil Karikkathara CMI
Bursar, Kristu Jyoti Group
Fr. Philipose Thunduvalichira
Principal, Kristu Jyoti Vidya Niketan
Fr. Joshy Cheeramkuzhy CMI
Principal, Kristu Jyoti College
Fr. Tomy Elavunkal CMI
Director, Kristu Jyoti Group & Principal, Kristu Jyoti HSS.
Fr. Thomas Kallukalam CMI
Manager , Kristu Jyoti Group
Fr. Scaria Ethirett CMI
Principal, Placid Vidya Vihar