The TOCD Congregation for women founded by Mother Eliswa in 1866 at Koonammavu, was the first religious congregation in Kerala. Her own daughter,Anna and her sister Thresia, were the co-foundresses, who shared her charism. Mother Eliswa received also the members of Syro-Malabar rite and the congregation developed as a congregation for both rites. After 24 years, the TOCD for women was divided according to rites and two congregations were formed. The Latin branch is the Congregation of Teresian Carmelites (CTC) and the Syrian branch is the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC). The CTC has now 213 convents in 11 provinces and houses in abroad. The sisters dedicate themselves in the apostolate of prayer, education, moral formation of the youth, running orphanages and old age homes, missionary activities, hospital ministry, women empowerment programmes,family apostolate social work and jail ministry. Mother Eliswa was declared Servant of God on 6 th March, 2008 and was declared Venerable on 8 th November, 2023.

Superior General,
St. Joseph’s Vidyabhavan,CTC Generalate
Edappally PO 682024
Kochi, Kerala, India
Phone No: +91 90749 25742,
+91 94449 42847,
Land line: 0484 2555255
ctcgeneralate@ gmail.com