Carmelites of Mary Immaculate

The CMI mission in Namibia is concentrated on the formation of local young men to priesthood. The Namibian Catholic Bishops Conference (NCBC), through MISSIO Aachen, made a request to the Congregation in May 1997 for qualified CMI priests for training young men to priesthood at the newly started St. Charles Lwanga Seminary in Windhoek.

Formation of native priests was a field of special mission for the Founders of the Congregation. Being faithful to the original spirit of the Founders, the Congregation positively responded to the request of the NCBC.

Fr.Thomas Manninezhath who was a professor and actively involved in the seminary formation of the Congregation arrived in Windhoek on 21 April 1998. He started his mission of formation of the young men in the seminary by teaching philosophy and helping the seminary as the Bursar and doing pastoral works in the Archdiocese of Windhoek.

In October 1998 the Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples, Rome following the recommendation of the NCBC appointed Fr. Thomas as the founding rector of the St. Charles Lwanga Major Seminary. He continues his rectorship for the third term now.

Frs. Benny Karuvelil and Jacob Alackal arrived in Windhoek on the 10th of February 2001. They helped the seminary in various capacities as teachers, Dean of Students and bursar respectively.

They returned to India in 2002 for higher studies.

Fr.Cyriac Kannezhath joined the staff in December 2001. He is involved in the seminary administration as teacher, spiritual director and bursar.

Fr.Thomas Manikkam extended his service from May 2003 to November 2004.

For the time being the CMI mission in Namibia is focussed on the seminary and the formation of young men to priesthood. Opening up to other areas of mission of the church in Namibia is also possible.