Research Institute of Carmelgiri for Community Development and Pastoral Formation

Patron

His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Varghese Chakkalakal
Chairman of ECS & Archbishop of Calicut

Director

Rev. Dr. Clement Valluvassery

Bursar

Rev. Dr. Sebastian Mathew Villukulam

Vision
The Research Institute of Carmelgiri for Community Development and Pastoral Formation (RIC cdpf) at St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary Carmelgiri, Aluva, a Catholic Institution, Facilitates the integrated ministerial development of diverse and dynamic leaders for creative, compassionate and courageous service to church and society.

Mission
The Research Institute of Carmelgiri for Community Development and Pastoral Formation (RIC cdpf), aims to the fulfillment of a new vision to the Church in Kerala to meet the current challenges it faces. It will help to build a local church which is a community of communities. The Institute is to be a renowned knowledge centre for educating and forming leaders in ministry who can adapt to the rapidly changing religious and social landscapes of the 21st Century.

Objectives

• The Institute aims to translate the theology of the second Vatican Council into pastoral practice, thus promoting a Church in which all can take their appropriate role in the local faith community.
• The Institute operates at the interface between the academic world and the pastoral reality on the ground in our dioceses, parishes and local communities. Thus it is an academic Institution with a missionary role.
• The Institute Provides Education and Formation for those who are involved in ministry and Church leadership and Ultimately will provide courses and Programmes across the levels of the Qualifications Framework as well as unaccredited Programmes. We will also provide resources and support to individual dioceses and communities for the training and support of lay ministry, to include the development of online and blended learning resources.
• The major projects of this Institute include the research, accumulation and publication of materials related to the study of pastoral service and community development. It is also responsible for holding academic research committee meetings, seminars and symposiums, and various open lectures related to pastoral service and community development.
• The Institute is to be a common platform for study, research and ministry for over five hundred Priests and Religious who have done their higher studies in sacred and secular sciences.

Activities

• Offer education and training for Church leaders.
• Provide weekend or short courses for the laity in subjects like, Pastoral Counselling, Counselling for Ministry, Pastoral Studies, Social Justice, Christian Spirituality, Theology, Charismatic studies, Marian studies etc.
• Organizing of one semester Pastoral course for the deacons.
• Provide Summer-Schools and Conferences in the area of Pastoral Studies and Community Development.
• Use an experience-based, action/reflection adult model of education valuing Students personal and professional backgrounds.
• Conduct regional, national and international seminars, colloquiums, and workshops and publish the papers presented.
• Conduct workshops and seminars on request.
• Be a centre for ongoing formation for priests and religious.
• Develop resource material which may be used in local dioceses and parishes as training resources.
• Provide facilitation and research for pastoral renewal and development.
• Motivate and guide our degree, PG and doctoral students to make community development centred researches for their dissertations and publish such works.
• Publishing of various community development research papers and reports.
• Support the lay people who pursue their researches related to community development topics in secular universities.
• Find scholarships for laity, religious and priests to make their study at the Institute.

Board of Directors
Patron: Chairman of ECS
– Rt. Rev. Dr. Varghese Chakkalakal
Rector: St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri
– Very Rev. Dr. Francis Marottikaparambil
– Director: Rev. Dr. Clement Valluvassery
– Bursar: Rev. Dr. Sebastian Mathew Villukulam
– HOD of all the Departments
The Departments and the Heads:

Forums under RIC cdpf
– Forum for the Costal Studies
– Forum for the Dalit Community Studies
– Forum for the Anglo-Indian Community Studies
– Forum for the Tamil Community Studies

RIC Publications

1. Carmelgiri Staff Seminar Series Vols 1-6
2. Carmelgiri Apologetic Study Series Vol 1-25
3. RIC Seminar Series
4. Kerala Latin Church Encyclopedia Vols 1-25
5. RIC Monograph Series
6. Seminar Papers of CSSS

Courses offered in the Academic Year 2025-2026

1. Biblical Interpretation – Dr. M. M. Felix
2. Latin Language (English & Malayalam Medium) – Dr. Shaji Jerman
3. Canon Law (Malayalam medium) – Dr. ShajiJerman
4. Liturgy – Dr. Job Vazhakkoottathil
5. History and Heritage of Latin Church – Dr. John Bosco
6. German – Dr. Clement Valluvassery, Dr. Xavier Sijil, Dr. BijoyMarottikal
7. Italian – Dr. Josy Joseph Kochappilly
8. Spanish – Dr. Francis George
9. Spoken English – Rev. Sr. Niranjana CSST
10. Hindi – Ms. Hemangini Patel
11. Tamil – Ms. N. Jayabharathi
12. Sanskrit – Mr. Kirankumar R.
13. Hebrew – Dr. YesudasanRemyas
14. Greek – Dr. M. M. Felix

Research Institute of Carmelgiri (RIC cdpf)
St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri
U. C. College P. O. Aluva – 683102
Kerala, INDIA, Tel: 9188773880
Email: riccdpf@gmail.com