Lay Franciscans (Order of Franciscan Secular) and Franciscan Religious (Order of Friars Minor) came together in St. Sebastian’s Church, Madhavaram-Chennai on 16 April 2023 to inaugurate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis receiving the Papal approval of the Rule for his Order and also of the first Crib that he made while celebrating Christmas in Greccio in the year 1223. The Franciscans all over the world are excited about these two profound centenaries and are eager to celebrate these anniversaries with year-long programmes.
As St. Sebastian’s Parish was concluding its patron’s feast, this Franciscan Parish celebrated these centenaries together with its parishioners and devotees of St. Sebastian. The OFS members who belong to the Lay Movement founded by St. Francis of Assisi highlighted the significance of the event through a meaningful prayer service.
The Representations of St. Francis getting the Rule approved by the Pope and of the celebration of Christmas with a Crib were brought in a procession for the gathering to behold and be inspired. Fr. Xavier Durairaj OFM, Minister Provincial, who presided over the ceremony spoke briefly above these two events inviting the faithful to embrace the life vision of St. Francis as presented in the Rule and to embrace the Incarnation Spirituality as St. Francis did in Greccio. Fr. Michael Anand, the Parish Priest, has planned to hold different programmes throughout the year commemorating these events which will conclude with the grand ceremony on .
Date |
Name of the Friars |
Events |
Year |
01 |
Jose Palimattom Vincent Soosai Fabianus Toppo Bryan Carneiro Bhaskar Reddy Michael Anand |
Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Entry Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1996 1996 1999 2002 2002 2002 |
02 |
Leos Ekka Vinoth Robin + Denis Boers Basil Tirkey Vinod Kujur Francis Arokiasamy M. Thumma Ranjith Kumar Reddy |
Birth Birth Home Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1963 1985 1997 2013 2013 2013 2013 |
03 |
Fabianus Toppo + Theodore Caine Ankit Kumar Baghel |
Birth Home Birth |
1978 1986 1996 |
04 |
Dharmodaya Ashram - Bellary |
Foundation |
1995 |
06 |
Alphonse Moras |
Birth |
1950 |
07 |
Sleeva Reddy Tojy M. |
Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1998 1998 |
08 |
Joy Valooran Dominic C.J. Balthazar Pinto Bala Marneni Tony D’ Souza |
Birth Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1970 1987 1987 1987 1987 |
09 |
Anthony Joseph Archer |
Birth |
1992 |
10 |
Arokia Raj R. |
Solemn Vows |
1989 |
11 |
Jesu Raja A. |
Birth |
1985 |
12 |
Pratap Reddy Salibindla Balthazar Pinto Bala Marneni Tony D’Souza Arokia Raj R. Arulsamy A. Thomas Joseph Bobby V.T. Johnny Anthony Charles Bernard Felix Gassam Athanasius Xaxa Paul Kallan Leos Ekka John Chrysostom Salim Joseph Francis Kaviyil Babu Jose Pamplany James N. Chinnappan M. Devaraj Amaldas Belevendran |
Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry |
1981 1981 1981 1981 1982 1982 1982 1982 1983 1984 1984 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1986 |
13 |
+ Anthony of Padua Samson A. Basen Friary Nanasera Friary New Church at Sion Bannur Friary |
Feast Birth Foundation Foundation Blessing Foundation |
1955 1982 1992 1995 1999 |
14 |
Francis Arokiasamy M. |
Birth |
1987 |
16 |
Adarsh Y. |
Birth |
1994 |
18 |
Michael Anand |
Ordination |
2005 |
19 |
Dayanand Dharma L. Bernard |
Birth Birth |
1950 1953 |
20 |
Tony Marshall + Alphaeus Swinkels |
Birth Home |
1978 1980 |
21 |
Jamesmon P.C. |
Birth |
1970 |
22 |
Arulsamy A. Arun Junes |
Birth Birth |
1961 1978 |
25 |
Thomas M.M. |
Birth |
1949 |
26 |
Niraj Kumar Tirkey |
Birth |
1993 |
27 |
Naveen George |
Birth |
1982 |
28 |
Samson Tommy T.J. Dominic C.J. Carlos Dias Manoj Xalxo |
Entry Entry Entry Entry Birth |
1980 1980 1980 1980 1982 |
30 |
Amaldas Belevendran + Leo Remedios |
Birth Home |
1967 1970 |
