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 |
Gabriel Mathias Carlos Dias |
Birth Ordination |
1950 1989 |
03 |
+ Sylvester McGoldrick |
Home |
1992 |
04 |
Vineet Kerketta |
Birth |
1995 |
05 |
+ Achilles Meersman Salim Joseph Nicolas Marak |
Home Ordination Birth |
1982 1994 1994 |
07 |
Rajasekhar Reddy Gopu Punitha Anthoniar Illam |
Birth Foundation |
1985 1992 |
08 |
John Chrysostom |
Birth |
1965 |
09 |
+ Prasad Cheely |
Ordination |
1998 |
10 |
Jugal Kishore Lakra |
Ordination |
2005 |
11 |
Paul Kallan |
Ordination |
1996 |
12 |
+ Liguory Mimpen |
Home |
2016 |
13 |
Francis Agnelo Rozario |
Ordination |
1997 |
14 |
Matthew Kootumkal Cajetan S. Lourenco Shalom Friary, Hyderabad Cajetan S. Lourenco + John Peter Bhaskar Reddy |
Birth Birth Foundation Ordination Home Ordination |
1963 1965 1975 1996 2005 2005 |
15 |
Ignatius Baa Joseph Raj M. |
Ordination Ordination |
2005 2007 |
16 |
Richard D’Silva Shanborlang Wartde Francis Kaviyil Babu Jose Pamplany |
Birth Birth Ordination Ordination |
1933 1989 1994 1994 |
17 |
Peter Saleth Nathan J. Ushar Kachhua Joy (George) Sebastian Jacob Tani |
Birth Birth Ordination Birth |
1978 1992 2010 1993 |
18 |
St.Francis Friary, Kochi Prasad Papabathuni Joy K.D. |
Erection Ordination Ordination |
1951 1998 1998 |
19 |
Parish at Chippilithode Vilas Baptist Correia Prashanth Wilson Fernandes |
Erection Ordination Ordination |
1997 2008 2012 |
20 |
Johnson M.V. Tojy M. Regi Matthew Ajit Kumar Dung Dung Tony Marshall Nelson Toppo |
Ordination Ordination Ordination Ordination Ordination Birth |
1999 2004 2006 2008 2009 1992 |
21 |
Abraham Vadana Davis Kallookaran Alphonse Moras Gerald Lobo Simon Pinto Paul K.L. + Angelo James Anthony New Church at Salbari |
Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Home Blessing |
1972 1972 1972 1972 1972 1972 2002 2013 |
22 |
+ Owen McLaughlin |
Home |
1974 |
23 |
Anthony Roobandass A. Singarayar A. Tom John Thomas A. |
Birth Ordination Ordination Ordination |
1978 1997 2002 2003 |
24 |
Johnny Anthony Benjamin Jojo John Sekar |
Birth Ordination Ordination |
1961 2005 2010 |
25 |
Pratap Reddy Salibindla Thomas Joseph Johnny Anthony Sandesh Manuel Varghese Lakra |
Ordination Ordination Ordination Ordination Ordination |
1991 1992 1992 2009 2010 |
26 |
Thaddeus Baxla Pradeep Kalliath |
Birth Ordination |
1968 2007 |
27 |
+ Paul Fernandes |
Home |
2004 |
29 |
Arok Sundar Sebastian Dharma L. Bernard Arun Prakash Lourdu Augustine Balaswamy Gundiga Peter Saleth Nathan J. Vijay Minj |
Entry Entry Birth Ordination Ordination Ordination Ordination |
1973 1973 1974 2006 2008 2012 2012 |
30 |
Parish at Nanasera Anthony Alex Martis Vijay Amirtharaj A. Nesavanam,Chennai New Church at Reddypalem |
Erection Ordination Ordination Blessing Blessing |
1995 2008 2008 2008 2013 |
