Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara was born on 10 February 1805 at Kainakary, Kerala. At the age of five he began his studies in a village school, called kalari. When he was 13, he joined the seminary at Pallipuram for his priestly training. While he was in the seminary, his parents and his eldest brother died of an epidemic. On 29 November 1829, he became a priest.
Saint Chavara was instrumental in founding two Catholic Religious Congregations- One for men. Carmelities of Mary Immaculate(CMI), and the other