On Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the historic Church of San Salvatore in Jerusalem, Br. Leo Max OFM and Br. Joseph Lakra OFM, two friars from the Province of St. Thomas teh Apostle India, were instituted into the ministry of Acolyte by Fr. Francesco Patton OFM, Custos of the Holy Land. The solemn celebration took place in the context of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, highlighting the deep communion and cooperation at the heart of all Christian ministry.
The ministry of Acolyte is a significant step in the friars' spiritual and pastoral journey, enabling them to serve more closely at the altar and assist in the distribution of the Eucharist. In his homily, Fr. Patton reminded the brothers that every ministry in the Church is rooted in the life of the Trinity, a call to serve in unity, humility, and love.
We rejoice with Br. Leo Max and Br. Joseph Lakra and give thanks for their generous response to God’s call. Their presence and witness reflect the growing contribution of Indian friars in the universal Franciscan fraternity. Let us accompany them with our fraternal prayers as they continue their formation in the Holy Land.


|
Date |
Name of the Friars |
Events |
Year |
|
01 |
Charles Mathew Kolanchery |
Birth |
1947 |
|
02 |
Joseph Raj M. |
Birth |
1975 |
| 03 | Bl. Helene Enselmini, OSC | 1242 |
|
|
04 |
St. Charles Borromeo, OFS Bl. Teresa Manganiello, OFS Charles Bernard |
Birth |
1584 1876 1963 |
|
05 |
Lawrence Simon Bala Marneni + Thomas Thannikary + Bernard D’ Silva |
Birth Birth Home Home |
1949 1962 1996 2010 |
|
06 |
Bl. Marguerite deLorraine, OSC Singarayar A. Salvador D’Souza |
Birth Birth |
1521 1970 1979 |
|
07 |
St. Didacus of Alcala, OFM Bl. Raynier of Arezzo, OFM Hemant Xess |
Birth |
1463 304 1975 |
| 08 | Bl. John Duns Scouts OFM | 1308; |
|
|
09 |
Bl. Gabriel Ferreti, OFM Saji P. Mathew |
Birth |
1456 1975 |
|
10 |
Bl. Louis Guanella, OFS Augustine Pinto + Wilbert Smit |
Birth Home |
1340 1936 2003 |
|
11 |
Bl. Mary Crucifixa, OFS Fulgence Ekka Basil S. Lobo |
Birth Birth |
1826 1964 1971 |
| 12 | Bl. Giovanni della Pace, OFS | 1433 |
|
| 13 | St. Didace d’ Alcala, OFM | 1463 |
|
|
14 |
Franciscan Martyrs of Palestine + Mark O’Rourke Salvador Drego |
Home Birth |
1391 1974 1984 |
|
15 |
Bl. Sebastian de Jesus OFM Bl. Mary of the Passion FMM + Anthony Almeida |
Memoria Home |
1734 1904 1970 |
|
17 |
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Patroness of the OFS Bl. Jeanne de Signa, OFS |
|
 1231   1307  |
|
18 |
Bl. Salome of Cracow, OFS  |
|
1268 |
|
19 |
St. Agnes of Assisi, OSC Bl. Maria Milagros, OSC Thomas Joseph +Kamal Ekka |
Birth Home |
1253 1936 1962 2008 |
|
20 |
Franciscan Martyrs of Spain Irudayaraj Fernando + Bonaventure Davis + Bishop Ambrose Y +Jesu Irudayam |
Birth Home Home Home |
1936 1966 1971 1997 2009 |
|
22 |
Franciscan Martyrs of Armenia +Joachim Tinneny |
|
1895 2009 |
|
23 |
Bl. Marie de Jesus, Third Order Regular + John C. O’Dowda Maria Ratheesh Jenive |
Home Birth |
1902 1982 1999 |
|
24 |
Bl. Timothy Trajonowski, Conv Rajesh Praveen Kumar |
Birth |
1942 1994 |
|
25 |
All Deceased of the Seraphic Order St. Humilis of Bisgnano, OFM Bl. Elizabeth of Reute, Third Order Regular Carlos Dias Tojy M. |
Birth Birth |
1637 1420 1959 1970 |
|
26 |
St. Leonard of Port Maurice, OFM Balthazar Pinto |
Feast Birth |
1751 1960 |
|
27 |
St. Francis Anthony Fasani, Conv Johnson M. V. |
Feast Birth |
1742 1969 |
| 28 | St. Jams of La Marca, OFM | Feast | 1476 |
|
29 |
All Saints of the Seraphic Order Dependent Custody Foundation,North East. Amaladass Manickam |
Feast Erection Ordination |
2008 1985 |
|
30 |
Bl. Antoine Bonfandini, OFM Prasad Papabathuni |
Birth |
1482 1970 |