Who We Are

ORDER OF FRIARS MINOR (OFM)

Charism

The Order of Friars Minor founded by St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) is a fraternity. In this fraternity the friars follow Jesus Christ more closely under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; through profession they dedicate themselves totally to God whom they love above all, living the Gospel in the Church according to the form observed and proposed by St. Francis. Friars, as followers of St. Francis, are bound to lead a radically evangelical life, namely: to live in a spirit of prayer and devotion and in fraternal fellowship; they are to offer a witness of penance and minority; and, in charity towards all mankind, they are to announce the Gospel throughout the whole world and to preach reconciliation, peace and justice by their deeds; and to show respect for creation.

Motto

To live out the Good News of Jesus Christ in a spirit of obedience, without personal possessions and in chastity.

History

The Dutch Franciscans started the first house in Bangalore, India in 1948. The Franciscan Province of St. Thomas the Apostle, in India, was officially erected on 12 March 1985. This was not the first time an independent Franciscan Province was established in India. During the Portuguese period there were two full fledged Provinces in Goa: Province of St. Thomas, which was erected in 1612 and the Province of Mother of God, which was erected in 1622. The Franciscan Province of St. Thomas the Apostle, in India was restructured in 2008 and created two more entities in India, with a dependent Custody (region) in North India and a dependent Foundation in North East India.

OFM in India

• The Province of St. Thomas the Apostle, India, consists of the States of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
• The dependent Custody (Region) of Mary, the Mother of God consists of the states of Goa, Maharashtra, M.P, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Orissa.
• The dependent Foundation of St. Francis of Assisi in North East India consists of Assam and the other States of the North East. At the moment, we have our apostolate and mission work in Assam and Meghalaya.

OFM in the World

The Franciscans are present in 117 countries with 13233 professed members around the world.

Types of Apostolate

Our Apostolate consists mainly of Parish ministry, Schools, Social Institutions: Boys Homes, Home for the rag pickers, centre to give care for the HIV/AIDS patients, Industrial Training School, Preaching ministries, Ashram ministries, Centre for Integrity of Creation.