Thomas Palackal

Palackal Thoma Malpan (c. 1780–1841) was an Indian Catholic priest of the Syro-Malabar Church based in India. He was the senior priest and founder who envisaged the formation of the first native religious institution in India, Carmelites of Mary Immaculate also known as C.M.I. (the first native religious institute of the Eastern Catholic Church), and the founder of the first seminary for Syro-Malabar Catholics.

Life

Palackal Family Palackal Thoma was born to the Palackal family, about 1780 in the village of Pallippuram, an ancient Christian priestly family in Kerala that trace their origin as Jewish lineage who were baptized by Thomas the Apostle, a disciple of Jesus Christ at Kottakkavu, North Paravoor. Most Christians in Kerala are known as Syrian Christians in view of the Syriac (classical form of Aramaic) liturgy used in church services since the early days of Christianity in India. They are also known as "Nasrani" (followers of Jesus the Nazarene).

Pallippuram, is now part of the state of Kerala, then in the Kingdom of Travancore. He would serve as a councilor to the Apostolic Vicariate for the rest of his life. In 1833 Palackal moved his seminary there to train the clergy of both the Vicariate and his new community.

Legacy Chavara went on to found the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate in 1855, after the death of his mentor. Today they serve the members of the Syro-Malabar Church around the world.