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{{Infobox monastery
| name = Kumily Priory
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| full =
| other_names = St Michael's Priory
| order = [[Ottilien Congregation|Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien]], [[Order of Saint Benedict]]
| established = 1987
| disestablished =
| mother =
| dedication = [[Michael (archangel)|St Michael]]
| diocese = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Kanjirappally]]
| churches =
| founder = Fr Zacharias Kuruppacheril
| abbot =
| prior = Rev. Fr. John Kaippallimyalil OSB
| people =
| location = [[Kumily]], [[Idukki]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| map_type =
| coord =
| oscoor =
| remains =
| public_access =
| other_info =
}}

'''St Michael's Priory''', [[Kumily]], [[Idukki]], [[Kerala]], [[India]], is a [[Benedictine]] [[monastery]] of the [[Ottilien Congregation|Congregation of the Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien]]. The monastery was established in 1987 by Zacharias Kuruppacheril, an Indian secular priest. Located on the western slopes of the [[Cardamom Hills]], around 150 km east of [[Kochi]], the monastery is currently home to 13 [[monk]]s and 6 brothers in formation. [[Prior (ecclesiastical)|Prior]] Fr.John Kaippallimyalil is the community's superior.

==History==
The monastic community of Kumily developed in a similar way to [[Agbang Conventual Priory|Incarnation Conventual Priory]], Togo. Fr Zacharias Kuruppacheril, a secular [[Catholic priesthood|priest]] of [[Kerala]], spent 1975-1982 in Germany and Switzerland, studying catechetics and working in parishes. This experience brought him into contact with the [[Ottilien Congregation|Missionary Benedictine]] community of [[Uznach Abbey|St Otmar's Abbey]], [[Uznach]], [[Switzerland]]. Upon his return to [[India]], Fr Zacharias built a school for orphaned and impoverished children in [[Kumily]]. Within a few years, this establishment had grown into a large "Formation Center for Poor and Orphan Boys and Young Men" known as Don Bosco Bhavan. The facilities included a school, workshops, farm, vegetable gardens, and orchards.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sieber, OSB|first=Gottfried|title=The Benedictine Congregation of St. Ottilien|year=1992|publisher=EOS Verlag|location=St. Ottilien|isbn=3-88096-645-1|pages=111}}</ref>

Among those who worked with Fr Zacharias at Don Bosco Bhavan were a number of young men who had an interest in [[monasticism|religious life]]. Fr Zacharias encouraged them to attend daily [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] and pray the [[Liturgy of the Hours|Divine Office]] with him. For those who joined the community working at the orphanage, a daily routine of communal and private prayer, shared meals, and recreation became important. By 1989, three such young men expressed a desire to lead this life permanently. Fr Zacharias realized that such an endeavor would necessitate the guidance of an established [[religious organization|religious community]]. With this in mind, he turned to the [[Ottilien Congregation|Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Sieber, OSB|title=The Benedictine Congregation|year=1992|location=St. Ottilien|pages=111}}</ref>

In December 1988, Fr Zacharias wrote to Abbot Ivo Auf der Maur of [[Uznach Abbey|St Otmar's Abbey]], Uznach, Switzerland, explaining his intention to start a [[Order of Saint Benedict|Benedictine]] community in Kumily. Fr Zacharias believed that the particular charism of the [[Ottilien Congregation|Missionary Benedictines]] would complement the foundation he planned to establish. The Council of the Congregation discussed Fr Zacharias' proposal. In early 1990, Archabbot [[Notker Wolf]], accompanied by [[Abbot]] Stephan Schröer of Königsmünster and Fr Basil Doppenfeld, visited Kumily. The visit resulted in the decision that St Michael Benedictine Hermitage should be developed as a pre-foundation of the Congregation.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sieber, OSB|title=The Benedictine Congregation|year=1992|location=St. Ottilien|pages=111–112}}</ref>

The Council of the Congregation charged Abbot Schröer with the task of assisting the Kumily community in their quest to establish a Benedictine monastery. In guidelines drawn up on May 10, 1990, the Council recommended that Kumily should remain a pre-foundation for four years. Under the guidance of Fr Zacharias, monastic candidates would be trained in the traditions of the Missionary Benedictines.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sieber, OSB|title=The Benedictine Congregation|year=1992|location=St. Ottilien|pages=112}}</ref> In 1994, the Kumily monastery was canonically erected as a ''domus religiosa''. This year also saw the foundation of St Michael's Retreat Center. In 2001, the monastery was raised to the status of a simple priory. The community was incorporated into the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church|Syro-Malabar rite]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|title=Monastery History|url=http://www.benedictineskumily.in/History.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217212838/http://www.benedictineskumily.in/History.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2013|accessdate=10 September 2012}}</ref>

==Apostolate==
The monks of St Michael Priory continue to administer Don Bosco Bhavan, the [[orphanage]] school that inspired the formation of the Benedictine community.

The monastic community also runs St Michael Retreat Center (founded in 1994) and Theo Farm.<ref>{{cite web|title=Monastery Departments|url=http://www.benedictineskumily.in/History.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217212838/http://www.benedictineskumily.in/History.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2013|accessdate=10 September 2012}}</ref>

==Dependencies==
At this time, Kumily Priory does not have any [[Dependency (religion)|dependent houses]].

==Personnel==
As of May 18, 2011, the monastic community of Kumily included eight monks in [[solemn vow|perpetual vows]], five of them ordained. Some of these monks are on assignment at other monasteries of the [[Ottilien Congregation|Congregation]]. There are also two brothers in temporal vows, and one [[novitiate|novice]] monk.

Fr Joseph Puthenpurayil became Prior of the community on March 14, 2004, succeeding the monastery's founder, Fr Zacharias Kuruppacheril.<ref>{{cite web|title=Monastery History|url=http://www.benedictineskumily.in/History.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217212838/http://www.benedictineskumily.in/History.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2013|accessdate=10 September 2012}}</ref> The Prior is assisted in his duties by Fr Nirmal Kanjooparampil, subprior.<ref>{{cite book|title=Schematismus|year=2011|location=St Ottilien|pages=52}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Ottilien Congregation|Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien]]
*[[Order of Saint Benedict]]
*[[Catholic Church in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Godfrey Sieber, OSB, ''The Benedictine Congregation of Saint Ottilien'', St Ottilien: EOS Verlag, 1992. pp 110–112

==External links==
* [https://archive.today/20130217220129/http://www.benedictineskumily.in/index.htm Official site (English)]
* [http://www.inkamana.org/ohio/kumily.htm Photographs]

{{coord missing|Kerala}}

{{morecat|date=April 2026}}
[[Category:Asian Monasteries of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien]]

Kumily Priory - Revision history

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