Kuriakose Elias Chavara was born on Feb. 10, 1805 at Kainakary,
Alappuzha in the Archdiocese of Changanacherry (Kerala). He was ordained priest in 1829. He co-operated with Frs. Thomas Palackal and Thomas Porookara to found the CM! congregation in 1831. In 1866, with the co-operation of Fr. Leopold Beccaro, he founded the CMC congregation for women. BI. Chavara is particularly remembered in the Syro-Malabar Church for the leadership he took in combatting the Roccos schism and for his contribution in the liturgical field.

BI. Chavara was a great educationist and social re-fonner. He was appointed official teacher (Malpan) of the Syro-Malabar seminarians on Feb. 16,1844 by the Archbishop of Verapoly.

He founded a printing press at Mannanam in 1844. He was appointed Vicar General of the Syro-Malabar Church on July 15, 1861. He took lead in revitalising the Church. He introduced the 40-hour adroation of the Blessed Sacrament.
Although very much involved in several activities all through life, he was known and esteemed as a man of prayer and a man of God. He died on Jan. 3,1871 and was buried at Koonarnmavu on January 4.

The relics were transferred to Mannanam on Friday May24,1889.

His cause of canonization was taken up in 1953. He was declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II at Kottayam on Feb. 8, 1986. His feast is celebrated on January 3.

Address: Fr. Probus Perumalil CMI, Vice Postulator, Chavara Office, St.Joseph's Monastery, Mannanam, Kottayam, Kerala, India-686 561. Ph: 0481-598150

Humble suffering handmaid of Jesus, Alphonsa was born on Aug. 19, 1910 at Muttathupadath family of Kudamaloor, Kottayam in the Archdiocese of Changanacherry in Kerala as the fourth child of Joseph and Mary. She lost her mother at an early age.

She was baptised on Aug. 27, 1910. She joined the Franciscan Clarist Congregation, Bharananganam in 1927 and received religious habit on May 19, 1930. She took perpetual vows on Aug. 12, 1936.

Her life was full of sufferings and sickness. She got miraculous cure through the intercession of Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara in December 1936.

She fell ill with double pneumonia in June 1939 and was again seriously ill in 1940. She was administered the sacrament of the sick on Sept. 29, 1941, but recovered. She started vomitting in July 1945 and died of that sickness on July 28,1946.

Diocesean Tribunal for the beatification of Sr. Alphonsa was inaugurated on Dec. 2,1953. She was declared Venerable on July 9, 1985 and de- clared Blessed by Pope John Paul II on Feb. 8, 1986 at Kottayam, Kerala.

Her feast is celebrated on July 28.

Address: Vice Postulator, Cause of Blessed Alphonsa, Bharananganam P.O., Kerala, India-656 578. Ph: 0482- 236244. E-mail: vicepostulator@alphonsa.org