Khrist Premalaya Regional Theologate has been the fruit of a prolonged and serious search, study, and struggle for a relevant and effective formation programme best suited to the context of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. Most of the people living in the rural areas of north India are economically poor, socially backward, and literacy level is below the national average.
To turn these challenges to opportunities and to adapt priestly formation to the pastoral and evangelization needs of the area in which the ministry is to be exercised, the bishops of Madhya Pradesh decided to set up their own seminary. The seminary was officially named, Khrist Premalaya, meaning, “Abode of Christ’s love” based on the conviction that the dynamic and sacrificial love of Christ alone can motivate and strengthen the future priests. The Theologate began functioning in Bhopal in July 1982 with six brothers. One year later, it was shifted to the outskirts of Ashta, a village, 85 kilometers away from Bhopal towards Indore. The institution is affiliated to the Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome since 1997.
From its beginning the Theologate was entrusted to the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). They served the institution until April 1994 when the Pallottines, Society of the Catholic Apostolate (SAC) took over the administration. They in turn discontinued their services on April 09, 2008. At the request of the bishops of Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh, the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) accepted the administration from April 09, 2008. On behalf of the Council of Bishops of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh, the Archdiocese of Bhopal took over the administration of the Seminary on April 9, 2022 from the Divine Word Society.
