Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church-105
Rev. Brother Louis Manjaly M.M.B.
Amidst the varied and heavy responsibilities within the religious order, Rev. Brother Louis Manjaly M.M.B. stands out as a rare personality who, guided by God’s providence, moved forward with determination and success in the paths He pointed out. Brother Manjaly, known for his exceptional character, is the son of Inasu Mariam and Manjaly from the village of Amballur in Thrissur District. Born on January 28, 1930, as the ninth of twelve children, he completed his high school education before working at a bank for two years.
In 1949, he joined the Malabar Missionary Brothers (M.M.B.), a religious congregation, and took his first vows in the initial batch, becoming one of the five founding members of the order. In 1952, he became the first manager of the press established in Mariapuram. He served in this role for 16 years, during which he pursued informal college education and obtained a university diploma in journalism.
In 1950, the Marian Sodality (C.L.C.) was founded in the Archdiocese of Thrissur, and in 1953, Brother Manjaly took charge of the Meri Vijayam magazine when its printing operations were moved to Mariapuram. From 1957 onwards, the magazine came under the complete responsibility of M.M.B., and Brother Manjaly served as its publisher, managing editor, and chief editor, playing a pivotal role in its success.
He also served as the general manager of the “Thozhilali” daily newspaper, which was launched under the leadership of Father Vattakant, a prominent leader of the liberation movement, for three years.
In 1973, Brother Manjaly was elected Superior General of the M.M.B. congregation, a position he held multiple times (in 1976, 1991, and 1994). He was also involved in various training and leadership roles within the religious order, including General Councillor, General Secretary, and Procurator General. His efforts were instrumental in expanding M.M.B.’s activities beyond Kerala, with the establishment of branches and service centers in several northern states from 1976 onward.
His leadership played a key role in strengthening international ties for M.M.B. with the Franciscan Orders, and in 1997, he was instrumental in M.M.B. being recognized by the Major Archiepiscopal Congregation.
Under Brother Manjaly’s leadership, Marian Sodality became a prominent lay organization. In the context of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, Marian Sodality transformed into the Christian Life Community (C.L.C.), a global movement. In 1975, the Kerala C.L.C. Federation was formed and began its work as a Marian youth movement, a direct result of Brother Manjaly’s vision and guidance. This movement continues to honor him with permanent membership in the Kerala C.L.C. Executive Committee.
In response to a call from the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (K.C.B.C.), Brother Manjaly played a leading role in organizing the local convention of religious brothers in 1978 and was also a key figure in the establishment of the Kerala Assembly of Religious Brothers (KARB) in 1979.
In 1975, he formed the Meri Vijayam Literary Committee, which organized literary events and awarded prizes to young writers, promoting the literary and cultural scene in Kerala. This committee became a respected platform for honoring senior writers and cultural activists.
With the goal of ensuring transparency and public involvement in the service of the religious community, Brother Manjaly initiated the M.M.B. Fraternity in 1996, which has since become a model for dedicated service.
To address the lack of theological studies for religious brothers in Kerala, Brother Manjaly, in collaboration with the C.S.T. M.M.B. Congregations, launched the M.M.B. Theological College in 1996 at Mananthavady. This college, recognized by the Calicut University, offers both theological and university-level education, serving brothers and sisters from various religious congregations. Brother Manjaly was one of the founding members of the college.
He has also edited more than twenty books and numerous publications, including the English magazine Fraternity, published from Bangalore, and Karb News Literary, the official newsletter of KARB. He is recognized as a skilled poet, writer, and organizer. Over the years, he has made four pilgrimages to the Vatican to receive blessings.
In recognition of his significant contributions to literature, culture, and his outstanding service to the C.L.C. movement and the church, Brother Manjaly was honored with an award by the A.K.C.C. in 2000. Celebrating his Golden Jubilee as a religious brother in 2002, he continues to serve in the leadership of the M.M.B. congregation.
Through his lifelong dedication, Brother Manjaly has earned recognition as one of the leading figures in the spiritual, educational, and social development of Kerala’s Catholic community.