Carmelites bring back down-to-earth priest as leader
George Kommattam - March 2026
Kochi, March 20, 2026: The Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, the largest congregation for men in the Syro-Malabar Church, has elected Father Paul Achandy as its prior general, for the second time.
The 62-year-old priest had earlier held the post for six years from 2014, the year Pope Francis canonized their founder Kuriakose Elias Chavara.
The election took place on March 19 during the congregation’s 39th general chapter held at Chavara Hills, Kochi.
He returns to leadership as the Kochi-based congregation prepares for its bicentenary in 2031.
After his last term, he served as the chancellor of Christ University and rector of Dharmaram (Garden of Virtues) College, the congregation ‘s major seminary, both based in Bengaluru, capital of Karnataka state. He was in Kenya for the past three years.
“When Chavara was proclaimed a saint, [Father Achandy] was the prior. Now, as the [congregation] approaches its 200th jubilee, he is again the prior,” said Carmelite Father Johnson Palappilly, a media person.
He also said such return to leadership is uncommon as transitions in Catholic religious congregations follow fixed term.
Father Achandy’s re-election is being viewed as a sign of institutional trust and continuity at a time when global religious congregations face evolving pastoral and administrative challenges, Father Palappilly added.
Founded in 1831, the congregation has grown into a global missionary body with nearly 3,000 members engaged in ministries such as education, healthcare and social outreach in more than 30 countries.
Father Achandy, born in May 19, 1963, and ordained in 1992, combines academic depth with administrative experience. He holds a Master of Business Administration from North Maharashtra University and a doctorate in management from IIT Madras, specializing in strategic human resource management.
His leadership journey includes serving as head of the Department of Management Studies at Christ College, Bengaluru (now Christ University), provincial of the Devamatha Province in Thrissur, and director of Amala Institute of Medical Sciences.
His area of specialization has been strategic human resource management.
He has published several research papers in national journals and has been a resource speaker at many national conferences in the country.
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