Norbertine Fathers
Canonry Of Jamtara-INDIA

Canonry of Jamtara at present

The initial phase of the Canonry was very challenging as the Indian Norbertine fathers had to start running the ministries in the dioceses. This was possible because of our charismatic leaders who led the Canonry with dedication and wisdom. In the year 2000, Rev. Rt. Nicolas Ambrose O.Praem became the first Indian Abbot of the Canonry of Jamtara. In 2003, Rt. Rev. Abbot Rocky D’Souza O.Praem was elected as the second Abbot to lead the Canonry to the next level. Later in 2009, Rt. Rev. Benzes Thomas O.Praem was elected as the third Abbot to lead the Canonry to its height. Rt. Rev. Marcus Champia O.Praem, was elected in 2015. As the 4th Abbot, his leadership took the Canonry to new heights. The Present Abbot Rt. Rev. Arul Amalraj O.Praem was elected as 5th Abbot on 29 Feb 2024. With all his Wisdom he is now leading the canonry to new phrase.

The St. Norbert Priory was elevated to Canonry status on February 15, 1984, and on October 7, 2000, it was elevated to the status of St. Norbert Abbey Jamtara. With a commitment to our vision and mission, the canonry of Jamtara has extended and reaches to various corners of India, providing aid to the underprivileged through various ministries. Currently, we work in 9 states and 18 dioceses, both in India and abroad. There are 120 Indian Norbertine priests from the canonry of Jamtara who play an active role in pastoral, educational, and social ministries. It is because of our visionaries the canonry had grown and given the foundation to 4 different priories and 4 new missions

The Priory at Kollam was elevated to the status of autonomous Canonry on Feb 2024. we indeed happy for our daughter canonry of Verapoly, Kerala.
    • St. Norbert Priory Mumbai, Maharashtra
    • St. Norbert Priory Indara, U.P
    • St. Norbert Priory Trichy, Tamil Nadu
    • St. Norbert Priory Kollam, Kerala (Canonry of Verapoly at present)
    • Kunti Mission, Jharkhand
    • Ooty Mission, Tamil Nadu
    • Jhamhar Mission, Jharkhand
    • Madras Mission
Rt. Rev. Arul Amalraj, O.Praem. - 1
Rt. Rev. Arul Amalraj, O.Praem
The Abbot, St. Norbert Abbey, Jamtara, INDIA
CANONRY OF JAMTARA

Abbot's Message

The coat of arms is an artistic expression of who I am, my resources and my mission as the prelate of this Magnificent Canonry.

WHO I AM The cross and the crosier at the background represent our Premonstratensian Order. The running water at the bottom of the emblem represents my family and birthplace called ‘DHARUMATHURANI’, which is translated as ‘POND OF MERCY’. At the lower right side of the emblem is the coat of arms of the Canonry of Jamtara, of which I am a member. At the lower left is the symbol of the Church of Daylesford Abbey, Paoli, USA. My confreres of Daylesford Abbey, by their presence, prayers, unconditional love and goodness, recreated me as a humble, grateful and joyful religious. Daylesford Abbey is my spiritual womb within which I am formed anew. At the upper left is the symbol of St. Patrick Parish, Malvern, USA, where the pastors, the staff and the faithful of this holy parish transformed my fragile and fear filled heart into that of a shepherd by their unconditional acceptance and appreciation. WHO ARE MY RESOURCES At the upper right, four hands come in union and friendship. The hand with the Norbertine Habit represents all my confreres and students in formation in the Canonry of Jamtara. The female hand with bangles represents all our friends and benefactors, with a motherly heart, who share their time, talents and treasure for development and wellness of the least of our siblings. The hand of a hardworking man represents all our co-workers and collaborators in our mission. The hand of a child represents all those whom we serve around the globe through our pastoral, health care, educational and social service programs. MY MISSION AS ABBOT At the center of it all is the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Today the human family, despite all our developments, is experiencing fear, fraud, fragmentation and hatred. This is nothing but the symptom of a deeper thirst and hunger in every single human soul for ultimate freedom, meaning and fulfillment. This fulfillment is only possible when the human becomes one with the Divine. It is our humble hope that our various ministries will help all of us to walk towards this ultimate purpose of our life. AN APPEAL I pray in humility and gratitude to one and all to be our partners in this mission of building the Kingdom of God here and now.
Rt.Rev. Arul Amalraj, O. Praem
St. Norbert Abbey Jamtara, INDIA.
CANONRY OF JAMTARA