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Capuchin Houses
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Karnataka
Madhya Pradesh
North East India
Outside India
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'Saccidananda'
Capuchin Provincialate
Dr.Rajkumar Road
P.B.No.1060
Rajajinagar
Bangalore-560 010
Karnataka, India.
Tel: +91-080-23377790
+91-080-23470178
Fax: +91-080-23474342
E-Mail
cappro@blr.vsnl.net.in
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The Houses of the Province
1.Saccidananda, Capuchin Provincialate, Bangalore
Ever since the Holy Trinity Province of Karnataka-Goa-
Maharashtra was culled out from the erstwhile single province of India,
the friars have been looking forward to the realization of a Provincial House.
As the history has it, the Provincialate was shifted from place to
place. It was first housed at Monte de Guirim Goa and then at Deena
Seva Ashram, Bangalore. To render more effective and prompt service
to brothers as well as to have an easy access, it has now found a
permanent residence at Saccidananda, Rajajinagar, Bangalore. The
Provincialate was inaugurated on December 29, 1995.
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2.St.Fidelis Friary, Monte Mariano, Farangipet
A dilapidated chapel dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi and a
tottering old building, which once belonged to the Portuguese
Franciscans, was standing on the little hillock, called Monte Mariano,
at Farangipet. The buildings with the adjoining compound were placed
by the Bishop of Mangalore at the disposal of the Capuchins for the
purpose of the novitiate house when they came to Farangipet in May
1930. The chapel was repaired and on its side was constructed the
novitiate block. Until 1969, this was the only novitiate house of the
Capuchins in India.Aseraphic school was also attached to it until 1949.
The novitiate for the non-clerical friars was shifted to Muvattupuzha
(Kerala) in 1963. The Junior Professorium was conducted at Monte
Mariano from 1966-70 for the non-clerical friars. After the erection of
the new Province, the novitiate was brought back to Farangipet in 1973
and has continued to be there to date. In June 1978, the Initiation Course
located at St. Fidelis Ashram, Lucknow, Mahanagar, on an
experimental basis since June 1973, was once again shifted to Monte
Mariano.
The gradual increase in the number of vocations in the Province
since 1987 and the need for providing accommodation for the
candidates of St. Fidelis Vice-Province erected in the North in
September 1981, made it necessary to take up the construction of a new
block in 1982.
Presently, though the formation of the novices is the main ministry
of the friars at Monte Mariano, they also render pastoral service to the
parishes around. To mark the Golden Jubilee of the friary, St. Fidelis
Commerce Institute with about 100 students was started in May 1982
in a rented building. The proposal for a new building to accommodate
the increasing number of students of the commerce institute and the
tailoring section was approved in August 1982. The building
completed in 1987 now houses about 100 students.
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3.St.Anne's Friary, Mangalore
The place, originally known as “Lawn View” and measuring 45
cents, belonged to Mr. George Lobo, a retired jailor.He gifted the place
and his house to the Capuchins in May 1936, in memory of his
deceased wife, Mrs. Annie Lobo. Hence the friary is named after St.
Anne. Earlier the house was used as a centre for Franciscan gatherings.
A hall was erected for this purpose in 1937, which served also as a
chapel and eventually became the Portiuncula, dedicated to Our Lady
of Angels. In 1941 the house of Mr. George Lobo was declared a
hospice attached to St. Fidelis Friary, Farangipet. Some friars started
staying here for the purpose of doing social work and other pastoral
ministry in the town. A shrine of St. Anthony was constructed at the
corner of the triangle during the same year.
Since Mr. George Lobo was still living in one of the rooms of his old
house and the friars needed privacy, a temporary residence was
constructed behind the shrine of St.Anthony in 1943. In 1950, after the
death of Mr. George Lobo, the temporary residence was demolished
and the old house of Mr. Lobo was re-modeled and the chapel was
enlarged. For the purpose of promoting vocations to the Order, the
Assisi House was started in 1955 in a small rented building. The
compound, measuring about 2 acres, adjoining the friary and known as
'Grasmere', which belonged to Mr. P.C. Lobo, the brother of Mr. George
Lobo, was acquired in 1960 and the Assisi House was shifted to its
present premises.
The old house constructed by Mr. George Lobo at Lawn View and
which had housed the friars for more than 25 years, having become
inconvenient for habitation, was demolished in 1977 and on the same
site the new friary was constructed and completed in 1979. The
students ofPUCwere accommodated in the Friary from 1979 to 1983.
In 1983 the PUC students were shifted to the Assisi House which
itself was rebuilt in the year 1967 to accommodate the increasing
number of boys studying in Assisi House. From 1987 Assisi House
looked after only capuchin candidates who did their PUC studies. In
August 1999, Postulancy ofKGMwas shifted toAssisi House.
The friary has many initiatives to its credit. In early 1950's, under
the leadership of Fr. Cyril Andrade the S.F.O. apostolate began in
Mangalore. Later, under the leadership of Fr. Vincent Lobo, the S.F.O.
ministry thrived in Mangalore diocese. In 1943 the Konkani Natak
Sabha started by Fr. GeorgeAlbuquerque Pai S.J. was transferred to the
Capuchins of St. Anne's Friary. Fr. Cyril Andrade became its president.
By 1951, under the leadership of Fr. Philip Neri, a good Hall, named
Don Bosco, was built and to-date the Capuchins direct the sociocultural
activities of the K.N.S. Some years later, Fr. Vincent Lobo
started the Konkani family monthly magazine, “Sevak” which saw its
first issue in September 1959. He also started Assisi Press in 1970 as a
landmark in the media apostolate of the Province.
The friars are now engaged in varied forms of apostolate:
preaching, spiritual assistance to the S.F.O., promoting vocations,
apostolate of the press and the stage.
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4.Holy Family Friary, Brahmavar
Brahmavar has a special prominence in the history of the diocese of
Mangalore because of the schism, which took place in 1887. The priests
in charge of the parish at Brahmavar had worked zealously for the
reunion of movement and to render pastoral assistance to the diocesan
clergy in the Northern part of the diocese. The Bishop of Mangalore
however entrusted the pastoral care of the parish, along with the two
substations Petre and Nilavar to the Capuchins on 15April 1956. They
completed the plastering and flooring of the Church, which along the
new belfry was blessed inApril 1961.
The fraternity at Brahmavar was canonically erected on 28
February 1960. The friary building was completed and blessed on 19
December 1966.Anew church was erected at Petre through the efforts
of the friars and by 1968, Petre was separated from Brahmavar as an
independent parish, now cared for by the diocesan clergy. The chapel at
Nilavar was built in 1967. While taking good care of the Brahmavar
parish, the friars also render sacramental ministry to the neighbouring
parishes, give spiritual assistance to the SFO, preach retreats and
recollections to various religious and lay groups and promote vocations
to the Order.
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5.Deena Seva Ashram, Bangalore
In 1965 the friars went in search of a place for a friary in
Bangalore at Kengeri. The present site at the Valagerehalli was bought
in 1968. The construction of a friary was begun in 1971 and it was
blessed and declared a canonically erected house in 1974.
In 1976 an additional block was constructed with self-contained
rooms for the sick and aged friars. When the Orientation Course had to
be shifted here from Monte Mariano in June 1980, the construction of
an additional floor was taken up. In 1981 the common study houses of
the four jurisdictions were wound up in favour of regionalization and
inculturation. The Provincial Chapter accordingly decided to conduct
the entire programme of formation of our candidates from Orientation
to Theology in our own province. Deena SevaAshram thus became the
major study house for students of Philosophy and Theology and
Professorium Brothers from June 1981. The Orientation Course was
shifted from Bangalore to Navelim.
As the number of the students of Philosophy steadily increased it
was found necessary to shift the Theologate to Kripalaya, Mysore, in
the year 1985. Deena Seva Ashram became the institute of philosophy
and religion. Meanwhile the bishop requested that it be made a quasiparish
so as to meet the pastoral requirements of the people around
especially those who steadily came to settle down in the near-by
satellite town. The Capuchins took diligent care of this parish until a
new parish church was built in the Kengeri Satellite Town and the
Archbishop appointed a diocesan priest as the pastor in July 2002.
At Deena Seva Ashram a new auditorium was blessed on August 31, 1997.
A new Chapel, Library and Dining Hall was constructed to accommodate
increasing number of students.
The provincial chapter of April 2007 took a historical decision to shift the
present philosophate at Deena Seva Ashram to Kripalaya, Bogadi, Mysore
and the theologate at Kripalaya to Deena Seva Ashram Bangalore, keeping
in mind the concept of Campus Theology and also to promote the activities
of Darshan Research Institute. The mutual transfer of houses took place
on June 25, 2007. The theologate was re-christened as 'Darshan Institute
of Theology”.
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6.St.Joseph's Friary, Lower Kasarkod, Honnavar
When North Kanara formed a part of the diocese of Belgaum, the
parish of St. Joseph at Lower Kasarkod was permanently entrusted to
the pastoral care of the Capuchins in 1975, on the understanding that
they would also look after the pastoral needs of five other parishes at
Samsi, Kodani, Molkod, Gundibala and Binaga.
Later in 1976 North Kanara became the new diocese of Karwar and
the earlier agreement was slightly altered. The parishes of Samsi and
Binaga were ceded to the diocese in 1981 and the friars continued to
work just in four parishes of Gundibala, Kodani, Molkod and Lower
Kasarkod. The latter became the centre for the entire area. In 1986, the
parishes of Gundibala, Kodani and Molkod were also ceded to the
diocese, retaining thus only St. Joseph's Church, Lower Kasarkod for
the friars. The foundation for the new church at Lower Kasarkod was
laid on 1 May 1977 and the new Church was completed on 30 April
1979.Anew house for the friars was constructed in 1990.
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7. RaviAshram, Bankal
Early in 1962 two friars were working in Bhadravati in
Chikmagalur diocese. They however withdrew from there in 1964.
Ever since a proposal to start a new foundation in Chikmagalur diocese
was under consideration.When the Bishop of the diocese offered to the
Capuchins 2 acres of vacant land at Bankal for the purpose of erecting a
church and a residence, the offer was gladly accepted on 7 July 1973.
The parish church dedicated to infant Mary was completed and blessed
in 1975. The parish has two sub-stations, one at Javali and other at
Balur.Anew chapel at Balur was constructed in 1990.
The construction of the hostel for poor students, coming to Bankal
from remote villages for high school studies, was undertaken in 1979,
with the financial help given by the planters.
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8. St. Lawrence Church, Mallandur
On the 2 of October 1979, the Bishop of Chikmagalur offered to
place the parish of St. Lawrence at Mallandur and the attached parishresidence
at the disposal of the Capuchins, on an experimental basis,
for a period of three years, so that the friars could take up the pastoral
care of the small parish as well as start there a house of recollection. The
offer was accepted and two friars took up residence at Mallandur on 9
December 1979. Ever since, the pastoral needs of the parish have been
taken care of by the friars. They have built two chapels in the two
mission stations of Joldal and Jagra to facilitate the Sunday Worship.
Although no firm agreement has been drawn up between the diocese
and the province, the friars continue to give their pastoral service in the
parish in compliance with the request of the bishop.
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9.Dayal Bagh Ashram, Ujire
Dayal Bagh, begun as a farm in 1969, has grown into an Ashram
today and is raised to the status of 'Domus Formata'. At first it was
started on a plot of land measuring about 5 acres in view of the social
uplift of the poor villages around. Later on more land was acquired and
agricultural cum horticultural work was undertaken. The idea was to
make Dayal Bagh a model farm. Accordingly, piggary, poultry and
dairy were undertaken as additional activities. Several developmental
projects are under way since the inception of the farm
A government-recognized agricultural school that began around
1980 is engaged in training young and enterprising farmers.
A new residence for the friars and a nice-little chapel for worship were
completed between 1979-85. The agricultural students also have their
own quarters to stay at Dayal Baugh during their studies. At present the
developmental activities in and around Ujire are efficiently carried on
through 'Vimukti' Ujire begun in the year 1996. These activities also
come under the umbrella of Capuchin Krishik Seva Kendra, a
registered society. From 1996 June Dayal Bagh Ashram is also the
house of Orientation andAspirancy along with the NIOS programme.
From 2008 Dayalbagh will be housing only Aspirancy
students who will do their PUC in the neighbouring colleges.
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10.Kripalaya, Capuchin Theologate, Mysore
It was in 1978 that the Provincial Definitory decided to acquire a
plot of land in Mysore to open a formation house for PUC students. The
negotiations for this plot however did not succeed. In 1983 the friars
managed to acquire another piece of agricultural plot just outside the
city limits of Mysore, close to Manasa Gangotri University. It was
named Kripalaya and initially just two friars lived in the farm house.
When it became obvious that the Theologate from Deena SevaAshram,
Bangalore had to be shifted, in keeping with the decision of the fifth
Provincial Chapter of 1984, it was decided to plan a new Theologate at
Kripalaya, Mysore. In 1987, the first phase of the new building was
ready for occupation and in 1989 the construction of the entire
Theologate was over. The Seminary chapel, beautifully built in Indian
style was blessed in February 1992.
Besides the formation work, the friars are also engaged in active
apostolate in the diocese. The Hinkal mission near-by was entrusted to
the care of Kripalaya, which has been given back to the diocese in 1998.
Apart from the regular chaplaincy to several convents, the friars also
give recollections to different communities and preach retreats to
religious.
According to the mandate of the provincial chapter 2007, the Theologate
was transferred to Deena Seva Ashram, Kengeri on June 25, 2007 and the
Institute of Philosophy and Religion was brought to Kripalaya on the same
day.
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11.St.Anthony's Church, Hosanagar
At the pressing appeal of Bishop Ignatius Pinto of Shimoga, the
small parish at Hosanagar, with about 350 Catholics, was accepted on a
temporary basis. The Provincial Chapter of March 1990 favoured the
continued presence and ministry of the friars in the parish in the diocese
of Shimoga. Accordingly a wholly new church and a friary were built
so as to provide good service to the people and a convenient residence
to the friars.
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12.Shanthi Sadhana, Bangalore
It all began in 1987. The inspiration of the Franciscan Institute of
Spirituality in India (FISI) was that of the General Minister and his
Definitory. Holy Trinity Province of Karnataka-Goa-Maharashtra was
to respond actively by taking a bold step of initiating and implanting
the FISI Project under the supervision of CCMSI. In the realization of
the same the province has the full backing of the General Definitory. 9
acres of land belonging to Deena Seva Ashram has been gifted by the
Province for this purpose and the implementation of the project has
quickly picked up. Many courses in Franciscan Spirituality and
Charism had meanwhile been organized all over India under the aegis
of FISI. Many more programmes are being chalked out, thanks to the
collaboration of the friars from all the capuchin jurisdictions in India,
including the Friars Minor and some women Franciscans.
The institute was solemnly inaugurated by Most Rev. Fr. Flavio
Carraro, the General Minister and blessed by Most Rev.Dr. Alphonsus
Mathias, the thenArchbishop of Bangalore, on 7 Dec. 1993. Since this
institute has been entrusted to our province for its ordinary
administration, a team of friars reside there since June 1993.
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13.Clara Vihar, Potnal, Bellary
The diocese of Bellary, represented by Bishop Joseph D'Silva,
formally invited the Capuchins of the Holy Trinity Province to open a
house anywhere in the diocese, through his letter dated 5 May 1993.
After a spot study of various places, through his letter dated 11 October
1993, Fr. Andrew Anil Sequeira, the then Provincial Minister,
communicated the decision of the Provincial Definitory, expressing
willingness to take up Potnal in the district of Raichur. In the month of
May 1994, the Provincial Definitory assigned two friars as the first
Capuchins to Potnal Mission. These arrived in Bellary on 5 June 1994
and proceeded to Potnal, to be accommodated in the Jawalgera farm ofthe diocese.
The diocese then entrusted to the Capuchins of Holy Trinity
Province, the 10 stations of the Potnal Mission territory, viz.,
Mudengudi, Karabdinni, Jeenur Camp, Donmaldi, Jeenur, Tadakal,
Dotharabandi, Udbal, Markamdinni, and Belavatta, which hitherto
formed the parts of the Jawalgera parish, for the spiritual and pastoral
care of the people of God. The diocese also placed at the disposal of the
Capuchins the diocesan property situated at Potnal village measuring 9
acres and 15 guntas. The new Capuchin House, 'Clara Vihar' was
inaugurated on 21 March 1996 by Fr. Remigius Sequeira, the
provincial Minister and blessed by Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph D'Silva, Bishop
of Bellary.
The Provincial Chapter of May 1996 decided to house the Post-
Novitiate formation of the brothers at Potnal.Anew structure suitable
for this stage of formation was put up and the formation commenced
from October, 1998. On the other hand special attention is being given
by the friary to the developmental activities in the nearby villages of
Potnal through 'Vimukti'.
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14.Prem Nivas, St.Anthony's Institutions, Gangondanahalli
The Capuchins of Deena SevaAshram had been rendering pastoral
services in the substation of Gangondanahalli since 1975. The
Archdiocese of Bangalore, represented by the Archbishop, Rt. Rev. Dr.
Arokiasamy, formally requested the Capuchins to take care of the
pastoral needs of this area, as one of the substations of Kengeri quasiparish,
by his letter dated 3 November 1982. A Kannada medium
school, dedicated to St. Anthony was opened soon thereafter in a small
hut with cement sheet roof. The area has seen a rapid development even
as the development of the parish and school.
A church and school building along with the residential quarters
were constructed by the Capuchins on the land donated by Mr. M.
Joseph and were inaugurated and blessed by Rt. Rev. Dr. Alphonsus
Mathias, the then Archbishop of Bangalore, on 31 October 1993.
Earlier it was erected into a
full-fledged parish and entrusted to the Capuchins 'ad perpetuum' through
an agreement dated 25 August 1993. The St. Antony English School
started by the Friars is making good progress.
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15. Christalaya, Chikkodi
The Holy Rosary Church, Tumarikop, in Belgaum diocese, was
entrusted to us for pastoral care, due to some insoluble problems. It was
however handed back to the diocese in July 1997 after resolving the
problems to a very great extent. As Bishop Bernard Moras desired that
the Capuchins continue their work in his diocese, another place,
namely, Chikkodi was accepted by us to continue our serviceable
presence in the diocese. At Chikkodi, our presence is purely
missionary, as there are no Catholics around. Since November 1997 the
friars been residing in a rented house and while doing social work
through 'Vimukti', Chikkodi, they also cooperate with the diocese in
various developmental projects. A new school has been just begun
in view of meeting the educational needs of the place.A new house
has been built for the residence of the Friars and to house the offices of
Vimukti.
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16. Bala Yesu Nivas, Chikmagalur
To establish a praying and evangelizing fraternity at Chikmagalur,
Bishop John Baptist Sequeira offered the Capuchins in 1977 a plot of
land on the Chikmagalur-Bankal road. The Provincial Minister and his
definitory, having accepted the offer, planned to construct a small
friary. It was accomplished in the year 2000 and dedicated to Infant
Jesus to commemorate theYesu Krista Jayanti 2000. The friary has the
potentiality of growing into a pilgrimage centre in the diocese. Plans
are afoot to begin an educational institution for a more effective
Capuchin presence in Chikmagalur. For this purpose twelve acres of land has been purchased in
Kadri Midri, five km away from Bala Yesu Nivas. A school building is being
planned in the plot for Infant Jesus School.
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17. Asha Kiran, Bhadravati
Noticing the need of a rehabilitation centre for de-addiction of
alcoholics and substance-abuse persons, a beginning was made at
Kengeri in the year 1994. As the land that housed 'Asha Kiran' was
notified by the Bangalore development authority, the healing ministry
had to be shifted. It was decided to transfer the same to Bhadravati
where the Capuchins had a small stretch of land.With the generous help
of Swiss Capuchin Province and International Office of Solidarity a
friary as well as the centre became a reality. It was inaugurated on
November 14, 2001. It is envisaged that the fraternity while carrying on
the ministry in the rehabilitation centre, shall also involve itself in
pastoral work in the entire diocese of Shimoga.
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18. Anugraha Gurumatha, Halbarga, Bidar
The diocese of Mangalore under the leadership of Bishop Aloysius
D' Souza invited the Capuchins in the year 2000 to actively involve
themselves in the mission of Bidar district which the diocese itself had
been looking after for almost two decades. On accepting the invitation
we were offered the mission of Halbarga along the Bidar-Latur road.
The process of establishing our presence was initiated by the purchase
of a piece of land to establish our 'mission house'. The ground floor of the Friary was blessed on 30th May
2007. The Provincial Definitory has decided to construct the first floor and
establish the formation stage of Postulancy in the Friary.
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19.Assisi Vihar, Shirvad, Karwar, Diocese of Karwar
There was a long awaited plan to open a second house in the diocese of
Karwar and efforts were on to find a suitable place convenient for the friars
to render the pastoral assistance to the diocese and meet the spiritual
needs of the religious of the diocese. The provincial minister Br. Jossy
Fernandes negotiated with the Bishop of Karwar and established a second
house in the Diocese on 28th January 2006 and the General Minister Br.
John Corriveau by his decree dated 7th April 2006 erected the house
canonically.
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20.Holy Trinity Mission, Shiggaon, Diocese of Belgaum
To have a second house in the diocese of Belgaum was a dream and
aspiration of many and few of the former provincials were constantly on the
search for a suitable place in Hubli city area. The present bishop of the
diocese of Belgaum, Rt. Rev. Dr. Peter Machado has offered the mission of
Shiggaon on a temporary basis.
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21.Mariamangala Mission, Kollegal, Diocese of Mysore
In keeping with the vision of the last Plenary Council of the Order on
Minority, the mission of Mariamangala was taken up by the Definitory to
implement the principle of “going to the periphery”. The mission is offered
to us on a temporary basis by the Bishop of Mysore.
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Mission of Madhya Pradesh
22.Shanthi Nilaya, Itarsi
On his assuming the charge of the archdiocese of Bhopal,
Archbishop Eugene D'Souza invited the Capuchins to work in the
newly carved out diocese.After due negotiations the Maltese Capuchin
Province took charge of the Bhopal Mission in 1966, and the district of
Hoshangabad was entrusted to their care. The Church of Sacred Heart
of Jesus, Itarsi, was made the residence of the Superior Regular. The
Provincial Chapter of 1987 voted in favour of accepting the State of
Madhya Pradesh as the mission of the Holy Trinity Province. Since
then some more friars have been working in the mission.
In 1997, when Br. Vincent Gabriel Furtado was the Provincial
Minister the new Friary was completed. In 1998 the new church was
blessed and inaugurated by Archbishop Pascal Topno S.J.
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23.Vianney Sadan, Bhopal
In 1987 after having decided to accept Madhya Pradesh as its mission
territory, the Province sent three friars at the invitation of the
Archbishop Eugene D'Souza. They made Seva Sadan at Tulsi Nagar as
their residence. However as the Archbishop required Seva Sadan to
conduct his own minor seminary, our friars had to move out and find a
new shelter in a rented house at Nehru Nagar.
A portion of Seva Sadan parish was entrusted to them for pastoral
care.With a view to building a friary, a parish church and a school, 10
acres of land was purchased at Barkhedi Khurd at a distance of 4 km.
from Nehru Nagar. The distance made the immediate realization of the
plan impossible and hence another plot of land was purchased at Nehru
Nagar itself and a prayer hall cum residence was constructed, named
after St. John Mary Vianney. It is now raised to the status of a parish.
The 3rd Provincial Chapter of 2004 decided to ask for the collaboration of
the Vice Province of Maharashtra in Madhya Pradesh, so that it can
gradually become the mission of Maharashtra province.
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The North East Missions
The Provincial Chapter of May 1996 recommended that the
mission activity be extended to the North East regions. As per the
recommendation of CCMSI, the General Minister assigned to Holy
Trinity Province, the states of Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura
and a part of Assam for missionary activity and implantation of the
Order. (Prot. No. 00570/97 dated June 27, 1997).
24.St.Francis Assisi Church, Lazami, Kohima, Nagaland
At the repeated call of Rt. Rev. Abraham Alangimattathil, S.D.B.,
of the Diocese of Kohima, to work in Nagaland, Fr. Remigius Sequeira,
the then Provincial Minister, made a survey of Kohima diocese and
preferred to take up the Sema area for mission work. The Capuchin
presence was established at Lazami in the diocese of Kohima, when Br.
Vincent Gabriel Furtado was the Provincial Minister and Bishop
Abraham Alangimattathil introduced our friars to the Catholic
community on 10 July 1996. The Lazami community, which was a
substation of Tsemenu parish, was given an independent status. It is
now a parish under the patronage of St. Francis of Assisi, with three
substations, an higher primary school and a hostel for boys.
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25.St.Peter's Church, Atoizo, Nagaland
On July 27, 1997 the new Bishop Jose Mukala introduced the
Capuchins to a new parish, namely St. Peter's Church, Atoizu. It has
three substations, viz. Akluto, Zunheboto and Aghunato, and two
higher primary schools. The Bishop has agreed to hand over to us the Akuluto Mission on a
permanent basis. We have purchased a piece of land on June 12, 20007. A
friary and a school is being planned there. Presently the mission is looked
after by the friars from Atoizo.
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Mizoram
Bishop Denzil D'souza formally invited the Capuchins of the Holy
Trinity Province to establish their presence for missionary, pastoral and
spiritual ministry through his letter dated February 8 , 1996. Br.
Vincent Gabriel Furtado, the Provincial Minister, after a spot study of
various places wholeheartedly agreed to take up three stations, Viz.,
Mamit, Ramhlun and Sairang in his letter dated 9 December 1996.
The Bishop, through his letter dated 14 January 1997 offered Mamit
and Ramhlun for the purpose of pastoral, missionary, educational and
welfare activities. In 2006
Bishop Stephen Rotluanga offered Sairang and Durtlang stations and
asked us to return Ramhlun Parish to the Diocese.
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26.St.Francis of Assisi Church, Mamit
The Diocese also handed over to the friars for their use the
Diocesan property at Mamit as per the land lease pass. Our presence
has been established since Nov. 1997. Since then, we have established
a primary school. A beautiful Church has been constructed which was blessed on
January 21, 2007. The Brothers are doing very effective pastoral ministry in
the mission.
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27.Assisi Church,Gachirampura, Tripura
At the pressing invitation of the bishop ofAgartala to establish a
presence of service in his diocese, Br. Vincent Furtado, the Provincial
Minister visited the diocese and chose the Kanchanpura-Dasda area for
the purpose. In 1999 one friar was sent to study the language and
culture of the people and he established himself at Gachirampura near
Dasda in June 2000. We have been since then involved in mission
work, especially with the tribal people. The Bishop of Agartala offered us the entire area of Kanchanpur
for missionary and pastoral involvement and an agreement to this effect
was signed in 2006. A plot of land has been bought and the Friary and a
school was being planned in Kanchanpur.
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28.St. Joseph's Church, Choithar, Archdiocese of Imphal
Manipur is the part of North East mission entrusted to us capuchins of Holy
Trinity Province of Karnataka. Lack of personnel prevented us in venturing
into action in this State. The efforts were on to open a house in the vicinity of
Imphal and the then Archbishop of Imphal Most Rev. Joseph Mittathany
was constantly knocking at our door. Through the intervention of Br. Jossy
Fernandes the new Archbishop Most Rev. Dominic Lumon offered us
Choithar mission which was a substation of Sacred Heart Parish, Hundung.
The mission has three villages with 900 Catholics.
Our Friars reached the place on 1st July 2007 under the leadership of Br.
Joel Rosario and the scholastic Br. John Bosco. This mission station was
declared as a full fledged parish on 14th October 2007 by His Grace Most
Rev. Dominic Lumon, in the presence of Rev. Fr. Vincent Gabriel Furtado
the provincial minister and Br. Augustine Claude D'Souza who was
installed as the first parish priest of this mission station.
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Mission of Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan mission began with the idea of the international
solidarity of the Order gathering its momentum. At the request of the then
general minister Br. John Corriveau, who made a personal plea to the
provincial minister and his Definitory to assist the Vice Province of Pakistan
in the formation of the novices in Sri Lanka, the provincial minister, Br.
Vincent Gabriel Furtado, met the Archbishop of Colombo to see to the
implementation of the proposal. The Archbishop in his letter dated
February 8, 2001 gave the written permission to establish a religious house
of the Order in his Archdiocese. An agreement between the Archdiocese
of Colombo and the Holy Trinity province of Karnataka was signed on May
27, 2001. It envisaged the implantation of the Order and the opening of a
novitiate house to form brothers hailing from Pakistan. Initially the TOR
brothers in Sri Lanka agreed to put at the disposal of the Capuchins their
house in Katuwapitiya for this purpose. This house, named as Padre Pio
Ashram was canonically established as the novitiate house by the general
minister on June 28, 2001 at the request of the then provincial minister Br.
Andrew Anil Sequeira. Br. Liguory Noronha was the first Novice master
who began the Novitiate with 7 novices from Pakistan.
29.Padre Pio Niwasa, Pallansena, Archdiocese of Colombo
As the friars were living in the rented house offered by the TOR brothers at
Katuwapitiya, the need was felt to have a house of our own. A plot of land
with an existing house was purchased at Pallansena and the Novitiate was
shifted from Katuwapitiya to the new plot. When the new Friary was
inaugurated in Mawila, the Novitiate was shifted there on a permanent
basis. The Pallansena is being used from September 2007 as a centre of
formation for Postulants.
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30.St. Pio Friary, Capuchin Novitiate, Mawila, Diocese of Chilaw
The need for a permanent Novitiate house was felt very much and hence
the friars purchasde a piece of land in Mawila, Nathandiya, three
kilometers from the Colombo Chilaw highway. Through the assistance of
Belgium Province a beautiful Novitiate House was constructed and
inaugurated on September 8, 2007. The house was canonically erected
by the Provincial Minister Br. Vincent G. Furtado through the decree dated
2 August 2007. General Minister Br. Mauro Johri erected the Novitiate
House through his decree dated 11 September 2007.
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31.Assisi Nivasa, Ampitiya, Kandy, Diocese of Kandy
As it was agreed upon that the Pakistani Brother would stay for three years
of formation in Sri Lanka, it was decided that they do their philosophical
studies in Kandy Seminary. Having stayed in a rented house belonging to
the Claretians for one year, the friars succeeded in acquiring another house
in a more convenient place closer to the national seminary. This house
today serves as a residence for students who visit Kandy seminary for
studies.
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32.St. Antony's Friary, Dalupotha, Archdiocese of Colombo
The house and a small piece of land was offered temporarily by the
Archbishop of Colombo to the Capuchins as it was lying vacant. Presently
the candidates are residing in the house.
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Mission of Japan
The early days of Catholic mission activity in Japan go back to the
time of St. Francis Xavier (1549). Due to various upheavals, the
Catholic faith did not sink very deep in the Japanese soil. In 1930 the
Canadian Franciscans came to Okinawa, the island in the southern part
of Japan, but were not allowed to proselytize. In 1935 the Japanese
military government forced all foreigners to leave Okinawa in
preparation for World War II. In 1947, Rome assigned the post-war
protectorates ofAmami Oshima and Okinawa Island chain, then called
Ryukyu Islands, to the Capuchin province of St. Joseph which covered
Detroit & New York. At the request of the Holy See, two American
Capuchins, Brs. Felix Ley and Alban Raymond Bartoldus arrived in
Amami Oshima, north of Okinawa, on September 5, 1947. When
Amami Oshima was repatriated to Japan around 1949 the Capuchins
concentrated their missionary efforts in the Okinawa Island chain.
When the Capuchins arrived in Amami Oshima afterWorldWar II
they were met by an ex-seminarian, who later became the first Bishop
of the Naha diocese of Okinawa. In 1949 Br. Felix Ley was appointed
administrator with the title of Monsignor. He became the titular bishop
in 1968 until the day he died in January 1972.
In 1951 the Capuchin General invited other missionaries to take
over ministry in Amami Oshima. The first American Conventuals
arrived in 1952 and by 1955 they had taken over the full responsibility
for these islands north of the Ryukyu Islands. Since 1955 the Capuchin
responsibility was limited to the southern Ryukyus, the area of the
present diocese of Naha. In January 1972, when the Ryukyu Islands
were repatriated to Japan and became the new Japanese Province of
Okinawa, Rome also established it as a new Japanese Diocese of Naha.
Br. Peter Baptist Ishigami, the first Japanese Capuchin was appointed
the first bishop of the new diocese of Naha, Okinawa.
After the split of the Province of St. Joseph to form the new
Province of St. Mary for NewYork/New England, the territory became
the Mission of this new Province, though some from the mother
province of St. Joseph continued to serve in their missionary work in the
islands of Okinawa.
At the custody chapter of 1997, it was decided that the future of the
Capuchin presence in Japan required them to renew their efforts to
expand outside of Okinawa. The Provincial of St. Mary's province and
the General Minister appealed to Holy Trinity Province for personnel
and the custody of Japan welcomed the willingness on the part of the
HolyTrinity province to collaborate in this effort. The Provincial Minister Br. Vincent G. Furtado
visited Japan in December 1997 and studied the situation in preparation to
send the friars.
In January 1999, Brs. Claver and Alex from the Holy Trinity Province joined
the Capuchins on Okinawa as pioneers of the new Japan Custody
Cooperative. Two years later, on September 25, 2001, a 2nd batch of friars,
Brs. Edwin and Denis, arrived on Okinawa. In May 2000, Brs. Claver, Alex
and Wayne, an American friar, moved out of Okinawa to begin ministry in
the Saitama diocese, then called Urawa diocese, and to establish the first
Capuchin fraternity in the mainland, in fulfillment of the decisions of 1997
chapter. There are six friars from the Province working in Japan. Based on
the spirit of collaboration, as agreed upon, the Holy Trinity Province will
maintain a presence of 10 friars in the custody of Japan by 2012.
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