When the CMI Congregation was divided into three provinces in 1953, the central area of Kerala, more or less coextensive with the territory of the then archdiocese of Ernakulam (today Ernakulam and Kothamangalam), was constituted into Sacred Heart Province. Rev. Fr. John Berchmans Koithara, who took keen interest in getting this province established, was elected its first provincial. Rev. Fr. Francis Sales Nuzhumury acted as his right hand man in the all round development of the province from the very beginning. He succeeded Fr. Berchmans in 1959. When the province was established it had six houses and one quasi residence. With its headquarters, first at Aluva and from 1959 at Kalamassery, the province has made great progress in the growth of membership and institutions, not only within Kerala but also outside.

The province is glad to recollect that in the Providence of God it has been able to serve the missions in India in a remarkable way. Four of the CMI bishops, the first CMI bishop the late Rt. Rev. Januarius Palathuruthy of Chanda, the late Rt. Rev. Jonas Thaliath of Rajkot, Rt. Rev. Gratian Mundadan of Bijnor and Rt. Rev. Gregory Karotemprel hailed from this province.

When the province was formed in 1953 a small portion of the territory of Pala diocese, around Koothattukulam, another portion around Muhamma, of Changanacherry diocese, a small portion of that of Thrissur around Puthenchira, were assigned to it, while a small portion of the territory of the Ernakulam Archdiocese, around Vaikom and another around Koratty, were respectively assigned to St. Joseph’s Province in the south and Devamatha Province in the north. At Koothattukulam the Sacred Heart Province started a house (Marygiri Ashram), while St. Joseph’s Province established a house at Kottarappilly, Vaikom (St. Sebastian’s Carmel House). In the reorganization of the provinces according to diocese boundaries in 1959 Koothattukulam was added to St. Joseph’s Province and Puthenchira to Devamatha Province, while Vaikom and Koratty areas were annexed to Sacred Heart Province.

Outside Kerala the province extended its activities first in the regions of the present St. Paul’s Province, Mysore, later in the areas of the present St. John’s Province, Bijnor (UP and UA), and subsequently in territories of the present St. Xavier’s Province, Rajkot (Gujarat). The members of the province participated in the mission activities of the congregation in places like Bagdad (Iraq), Ambikapur, Chanda. In 1989 a few members were sent to Ghana in West Africa. All this happened before the division of the province into four units in 1991-1994. After the division Ghana was assigned to the Bijnor Province. In 1994 six members were sent to three places in South Africa, Pretoria, Umtata and Pietersberg. Of these two are still there, one in Umtata and another in Pietersberg, doing good work.

The provincial synaxis held in 1990 sent to the general synaxis a petition suggesting division of the province into two and at the same time raising of the mission regions to the status of vice-provinces. The general synaxis appointed on 6 April 1990 a commission to study the question and report. In its session, dated 3-8 January 1991), the general synaxis, in response to the petition of the provincial synaxis of the S. H. Province submitted by its provincial, Fr. Mathias Mundadan, resolved to erect Bijnor and Rajkot as vice-provinces, and to establish the eastern regions as a province. Rev. Fr. Thomas Mampra, the prior general and his council executed these decisions with the collaboration of Rev. Fr. Mathias Mundadan, provincial of S.H. Province and his council. Fr. Mathias Mundadan, whose three year term was extended up to 1994, was re-elected provincial of the S.H. Province in 1994. According to the decision of the general synaxis 1990-91 the boundaries of the two provinces were co-terminus with those of Ernakulam and Kothamangalam with a slight adjustment, S.H. Province being assigned a small portion of the Kothamangalam diocese around Kurupampadi, and the Carmel Province being given a small portion of Ernakulam, around Perumbavoor.