A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MALABAR MISSIONARY BROTHERS

The Congregation of the Malabar Missionary Brothers (MMB) was founded by Msgr. Zacharias Vazhapilly D.D. in Thrissur on 16th May 1948, the Pentecost Sunday. In order to shape the Congregation in Franciscan spirituality and life- style, the task of novice master was given to Rev. Fr. Martin Malekudiyil OFM Cap. He is honoured as the co-founder of the Congregation. 

April 9, 1950 - Easter Sunday- was made memorable by the blessing of MMB's mother-house. The name given by the founder "Mission Home, Mariapuram" indicates the missionary and Marian orientation of the Congregation. The novitiate of the first batch of Brothers was started here on October 4, 1950 - the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

Msgr. Vazhapilly selected October 19, 1952 - Mission Sunday-for the religious Profession of the first batch, again reminding the Brothers of their missionary responsibility.  This marked the canonical erection of the Congregation. Four batches of Brothers completed Religious formation by 1959. Some of them were sent out to different places for service - to diocesan institutions and some others for field mission work in Andhra Pradesh. 

The founder handled the administration of the Congregation with the help of a Brother Prefect until 1959. Then partial autonomy was given to the Brothers: an appointed Superior assisted by a team of councillors. There was a priest Director appointed by the Bishop. It was in 1972  that the  first Superior General was appointed and full autonomy was granted.

There was a period of stagnancy in the history of MMB, from 1956 to 1965, when the admission of new candidates was forbidden by the Bishop.  This restriction was withdrawn in 1965 and we  could reach a state of stability within a few years. The first constitution of MMB was approved in 1966. It was revised and published in 1969. In the perspectives  of  Vatican II, the constitution was revised in 1976, then again in 1992 and lately in 2000.

Starting from 1976, the congregation began to spread out to other dioceses in Kerala and in North India. Presently our Brothers are working in the Dioceses of Thrissur, Irinjalakuda, Mananthavady, Thalassery, Palakkad, Ernakulam, Ramanathapuram, Kurnool in South India and in Bhopal, Sagar, Jhansi, Gorakhpur, Bareilly, Daltonganj, Jagdalpur and Hazaribagh in North India. Recognizing the overall development, Major Archbishop of the syro-Malabar Church  was pleased to sanction the status of Major Archiepiscopal Congregation in the year 1997.

Assisi Region was formed in 1996 with headquarters in Bhopal which comprised all Houses and institutions in North. The Houses and service centres in South continued under the Generalate. For better co-ordination and administration, during the General Synaxis of February 2000, the Congregation was bifurcated into two Provinces: St. Thomas province (South India) with headquarters in Thrissur and Assisi province (North India) with headquarters in Bhopal. 

The newly constructed Generalate building at Marathakkara was blessed on 8 September 2005 by Archbishop Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy and it was shifted from Thirssur to the new premises.

The Platinum Jubilee of the Congregation was celebrated in the year 2023.  A yearlong programme like 75 hour adoration, Retreat for the public, commemoration day of all our deceased Brothers, Dialysis for 75 kidney patients, 3 homes for the poor etc. were organized and executed.