Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in India
Mother Province: Province of St. Paul the Apostle in Malta
The Conventual Franciscan mission in India officially began in 1980. St. Maximilian Kolbe landed in Kerala in 1932, to found a City of the Immaculate, but his dream was not realized. “Sooner or later we will arrive somewhere in India,” said St. Maximilian. His plan was finally realized fifty years later, thanks to the work of the friars of the Province of Malta. At the invitation of the Bishop of Kanjirappally (Syro-Malabar rite), friars from Malta arrived in Kerala in 1980 to establish the Order in India. At the 2007 General Chapter, the Custody of St. Maximilian Kolbe in India was erected as a Province. Today, the Province has a Delegation in Andhrapradesh-Telengana (the Delegation of St. Joseph of Cupertino), a mission in Calcutta and another mission in Sri Lanka. Currently the Jurisdiction has one hundred twenty three solemnly professed friars, fifty-eight simply professed friars, seventeen friaries and seven filial houses.
Friaries
1. Chotty: Nirmalaram Franciscan Ashram [Friary] (Garden of the Immaculate) (1981)
This is the first friary of the Order in India. It has always been home to a minor seminary.
2. Aluva: Kolbe Franciscan Ashram (1984).
This is the site where St. Maximilian Kolbe wanted to build a City of the Immaculate in India. This friary is the seat of a major seminary.
3. Nattakkal: Franciscan Ashram (1993)
This friary was a pre-novitiate house until 2001. Today it is the seat of a parish. The community is entrusted with the pastoral care of the parish and a house of spirituality.
4. Puthenchira: Padua Franciscan Ashram (1995)
This friary originally opened as a novitiate. Today it functions as a formation house for postulants. Near the friary there is a shrine dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua. The shrine is a place of pilgrimage for many faithful.
5. Karukutty: Assisi Shanthi Kendra (1999)
This friary is the seat of the Provincial Curia.
6. Kattappana: St. Paul Franciscan Ashram (2008).
The friars conduct various spiritual and pastoral activities in the area and offer a special day of prayer each Tuesday.
7. Coimbatore: Assisi Snehalaya (2004)
The friars assist HIV patients and conduct various social and charitable activities in the area.
8. Kotagiri: Belvedere Franciscan Ashram (St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta Friary) (2005)
The friary is the seat of the novitiate. The friars also conduct pastoral ministry in the area.
9. Dondapudi: Bala Yesu Franciscan Ashram
This was the first friary to be erected outside of Kerala and is part of the Latin rite Church. All of the friaries in Kerala follow the Syro-Malabar rite. The friars carry out parish activities in a large area and are also in charge of the Child Jesus Shrine. In 2003, a shelter for poor children was opened here along with an educational institution, the Grayfriars Junior College.
10. Vijayarai, Elulu District: San Cupertino Franciscan Ashram (2014)
This friary is a formation house for post-novices and aspirants. The friars also conduct pastoral ministry in the area.
11. Mancherial: Assisi Franciscan Ashram (2011)
The friars here run a school and conduct various social and charitable activities.
12. Warangal District: St. Anthony Franciscan Ashram (2014)
The friars here run a school and a hostel for students, as well as conduct pastoral ministry in the area.
13. Dolthala (Kolkata): St. Francis Friary (2015)
This was the first friary of the Order in northern India. The new mission was jointly founded by the Provinces of Malta and India (2014). The friars here serve a vast pastoral territory and are focused on doing missionary work throughout northeastern India.
14. Cristianpet: St. Maximilian Franciscan Ashram (2002)
This friary is the seat of a parish. The community is entrusted with the pastoral care of the parish and is also involved in various social, charitable and pastoral activities in the area.
15. Bangalore: St. Bonaventure Franciscan Ashram (2019)
This friary is the seat of a major seminary (philosophy studies).
16. Dalupoth Zone, Negombo, Sri Lanka: St. Francis Friary (2008)
This friary originally opened as a mission center. Today, it also functions as a formation house for postulants.
17. Ethgala Zone, Katana, Sri Lanka: St. Anthony Friary, (2012)
This friary has been functioning as a minor seminary to the present day.
Filial Houses
- Daldali: St. Mary’s School, Assam (2019)
- Kotte: Padre Pio Shrine, Sri Lanka (2023)
- Jaffna: Ave Maria, Sri Lanka (2019)
- Kandy: St. Joseph Vaz, Sri Lanka (2015)
- Gajwel: St. Peter’s School (2018)
- Quilon: Missionary House, Kerala (2022)
- Siena: Basilica of San Francesco, Italy (2022)
Franciscan Missionary Center
General Secretariat for Mission Animation
