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Militia Immaculata (MI)

The Militia of Mary Immaculate (MI) and its founder St. Maximilian Kolbe have a special place in the life of the Province St. Maximilian is the Patron of our Province since our presence and establishment in India has always been seen as a fulfillment of his desire to establish his Marian Apostolate in this land, especially after his failed attempt in 1932 when he came to Ernakulam and Alwaye for this purpose. On the initiative of Fr. Joseph Cilia, former Provincial Custos the first centre of MI was established at Kolbe Ashram, Aluva by the late Bishop Sebastian Mankuzhikary, Apostolic Administrator of Ernakulam on August 25, 1984. Fr. Cilia was nominated its first Director and Bishop Mankuzhikary became its first officially registered member in India. At present there are around five thousand six hundred members from all over India. The Indian MI Centre was aggregated with the Primary Union in Rome by a decree of Fr. Lafranco Serrini, Minister General and the Moderator of MI on October 16, 1984. At present we have MI groups at Assisi Shanthi Kendra, Karukutty, Kolbe Franciscan Ashram, Aluva. Nirmalaram Franciscan Ashram, Chotty, Padua Franciscan Ashram, Puthenchira and Belvedere Franciscan Ashram, Kottagiri.