In 1291, the city of St. Jean d’Acre — the last remaining Crusader stronghold — fell into Muslim hands. The Franciscans of the Holy Land found refuge in Cyprus, yet they returned to the area less than four decades later. Since 1333, Franciscan friars have served as custodians of the region’s holy places. Today, the friars ministering in the Holy Land are in: Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and the islands of Cyprus and Rhodes. There are more than 300 friars in these lands, working in collaboration with 100 sisters from various congregations. The Franciscans serve the principal shrines of the Christian faith, among them the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Annunciation in Nazareth. The work of the friars includes support of schools and missions in the Holy Land, as well as caring for refugees and other marginalized people throughout the region.
Date |
Name of the Friars |
Events |
Year |
01 |
Richard D’ Silva Balaswamy Gundiga |
Entry Birth |
1952 1978 |
02 |
Portiuncula |
Feast |
|
03 |
Julius Arul Rayan |
Birth |
1974 |
04 |
+ Bernard Henrietta Praveen Roshan Toppo Ravi Bara |
Home Birth Birth |
1981 1982 1995 |
06 |
Benedict Gomes Augustine Tirkey |
Birth Birth |
1977 1989 |
08 |
+ Marianus Kadasani T.S.Leo Max |
Home Birth |
2004 1995 |
11 |
+ Clare of Assisi + Sanctes Molenkamp |
Feast Home |
1990 |
14 |
Jesu Maharaja Pasala Showri Raju |
Birth Birth |
1975 1987 |
15 |
Arok Sundar Sebastian Charles Bernard Felix Gassam Francis Kaviyil Chinnappan M. Devaraj Amaldas Belevendran Bobby V.T. |
Birth Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Ordination |
1951 1990 1990 1992 1992 1992 2000 |
18 |
Jamesmon P.C. |
Ordination |
2001 |
19 |
John Chrysostom |
Ordination |
|
21 |
Vijay Amirtharaj A. |
Birth |
1979 |
22 |
Bhaskar Reddy |
Birth |
1973 |
23 |
Stephen Arun S. |
Birth |
1994 |
25 |
King Louis IX Arun Devasia Nattalil Akshay Showry Raj |
Feast Birth Birth |
1991 1994 |
27 |
Joseph Kishan |
Birth |
1995 |
28 |
Fidelis D’ Lima |
Birth |
1939 |
30 |
Arockia Raj R. |
Birth |
1959 |
31 |
+ Christopher Coelho |
Home |
2007 |
