In 1291, the city of St. Jean d’Acre — the last remaining Crusader stronghold — fell into Muslim hands. The Franciscans of the Holy Land found refuge in Cyprus, yet they returned to the area less than four decades later. Since 1333, Franciscan friars have served as custodians of the region’s holy places. Today, the friars ministering in the Holy Land are in: Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and the islands of Cyprus and Rhodes. There are more than 300 friars in these lands, working in collaboration with 100 sisters from various congregations. The Franciscans serve the principal shrines of the Christian faith, among them the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Annunciation in Nazareth. The work of the friars includes support of schools and missions in the Holy Land, as well as caring for refugees and other marginalized people throughout the region.
Date |
Name of the Friars |
Events |
Year |
03 |
St.Antonine Morton Austin Francis |
Home Ordination |
1970 2004 |
04 |
Sandesh Manuel St.Rudolph D ’ Silva St. Daniel Sigamony |
Birth Home Home |
1980 2005 2016 |
06 |
Thomas M.J. Carlos Dias Joseph Stephen M Shanti Vanam, Raipur Kurnool Missions Basil S. Lobo |
Birth Solemn Vows Birth Arrival Foundation Ordination |
1972 1986 1984 1997 2002 2008 |
07 |
Christopher (Christy) |
Birth |
1983 |
08 |
St.Ernest Reilly St.Bernard Silveira |
Home Home |
1981 2004 |
09 |
St.Anthony Rickards Francis Arockiasamy Justin Savio A |
Home Ordination Birth |
1989 2016 1998 |
10 |
Francis Xavier |
Ordination |
2004 |
11 |
Jerome Kispotta |
Birth |
1961 |
12 |
Nicholas D' Souza St.Gerwin van Leeuwen |
Ordination Home |
1973 2002 |
13 |
Praveen Roshan Toppo |
Ordination |
2015 |
15 |
Francis Kaviyil St.Francis Serrao Phyrnai Lyngdoh |
Birth Home Ordination |
1966 1990 2017 |
16 |
Prashanth Wilson Fernandes Jeddu Praveen Chinna Reddy Joseph Prasanna Kumar |
Birth Ordination Ordination |
1984 2015 2015 |
17 |
Nesakkaram – Chennai Basil Tirkey |
Foundation Ordination |
1991 2016 |
18 |
Felix Gassam Felix Vijay Ejekial Lakra |
Birth Ordination Birth |
1965 2015 1995 |
19 |
Albinus Ekka |
Birth |
1993 |
20 |
Tomy Palackal |
Ordination |
2011 |
21 |
Parish at Malom-Noatoli |
Erection |
1996 |
22 |
Prem Kumar D’ Souza Nathaniel Tirkey Prem Kumar D’ Souza |
Birth Birth Ordination |
1982 1988 2013 |
23 |
St.Peter D’ Souza Eugene A. |
Home Ordination |
1991 2015 |
24 |
Tomy Palackal Arun Junes A. Kulandaisamy M. Christopher (Christy) |
S.Vows S.Vows S.Vows Ordination |
2004 2004 2004 2015 |
25 |
Dominic C.J. Jayapal Dwarakonda |
Ordination Ordination |
1992 2013 |
26 |
Assisi Sadan - Umred |
Blessing |
1996 |
27 |
Chinnappan M. Devaraj St.Dunstan Rickards Roshan Lobo Shaju Paliyathil Shaju Paliyathil |
Birth Home Birth S.Vows Ordination |
1967 1940 1992 2002 2004 |
28 |
TrevorD ’ Souza |
Birth |
1960 |
29 |
Christopher (Christy) Thomas Kiren A. Anthony Roobandass A. |
Solemn Vows Birth Ordination |
2013 1993 2011 |
30 |
Bryan Carneiro |
Ordination |
2013 |
31 |
Scaria Varanath Jeddu Praveen Chinna Reddy |
Birth Birth |
1949 1985 |
Date |
Name of the Friars |
Events |
Year |
03 |
+ Antonine Morton Austin Francis |
Home Ordination |
1970 2004 |
04 |
Sandesh Manuel + Rudolph D ’ Silva + Daniel Sigamony |
Birth Home Home |
1980 2005 2016 |
06 |
Thomas M.J. Carlos Dias Joseph Stephen M Shanti Vanam, Raipur Kurnool Missions Basil S. Lobo |
Birth Solemn Vows Birth Arrival Foundation Ordination |
1972 1986 1984 1997 2002 2008 |
07 |
Christopher (Christy) |
Birth |
1983 |
08 |
+ Ernest Reilly + Bernard Silveira |
Home Home |
1981 2004 |
09 |
+ Anthony Rickards Francis Arockiasamy Justin Savio A |
Home Ordination Birth |
1989 2016 1998 |
10 |
Francis Xavier |
Ordination |
2004 |
11 |
Jerome Kispotta |
Birth |
1961 |
12 |
Nicholas D' Souza + Gerwin van Leeuwen |
Ordination Home |
1973 2002 |
13 |
Praveen Roshan Toppo |
Ordination |
2015 |
15 |
Francis Kaviyil + Francis Serrao Phyrnai Lyngdoh |
Birth Home Ordination |
1966 1990 2017 |
16 |
Prashanth Wilson Fernandes Jeddu Praveen Chinna Reddy Joseph Prasanna Kumar |
Birth Ordination Ordination |
1984 2015 2015 |
17 |
Nesakkaram – Chennai Basil Tirkey |
Foundation Ordination |
1991 2016 |
18 |
Felix Gassam Felix Vijay Ejekial Lakra |
Birth Ordination Birth |
1965 2015 1995 |
19 |
Albinus Ekka |
Birth |
1993 |
20 |
Tomy Palackal |
Ordination |
2011 |
21 |
Parish at Malom-Noatoli |
Erection |
1996 |
22 |
Prem Kumar D’ Souza Nathaniel Tirkey Prem Kumar D’ Souza |
Birth Birth Ordination |
1982 1988 2013 |
23 |
+ Peter D’ Souza Eugene A. |
Home Ordination |
1991 2015 |
24 |
Tomy Palackal Arun Junes A. Kulandaisamy M. Christopher (Christy) |
S.Vows S.Vows S.Vows Ordination |
2004 2004 2004 2015 |
25 |
Dominic C.J. Jayapal Dwarakonda |
Ordination Ordination |
1992 2013 |
26 |
Assisi Sadan - Umred |
Blessing |
1996 |
27 |
Chinnappan M. Devaraj + Dunstan Rickards Roshan Lobo Shaju Paliyathil Shaju Paliyathil |
Birth Home Birth S.Vows Ordination |
1967 1940 1992 2002 2004 |
28 |
TrevorD ’ Souza |
Birth |
1960 |
29 |
Christopher (Christy) Thomas Kiren A. Anthony Roobandass A. |
Solemn Vows Birth Ordination |
2013 1993 2011 |
30 |
Bryan Carneiro |
Ordination |
2013 |
31 |
Scaria Varanath Jeddu Praveen Chinna Reddy |
Birth Birth |
1949 1985 |