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 |
02 |
St. Louis Friary – Palmaner Fidelis D’ Lima |
Foundation Ordination |
1949 1964 |
05 |
Abraham Vadana Shaji Nicholas Vadachery + Valentine Crasta |
Birth Birth Home |
1946 1969 2011 |
06 |
Baptist D’ Souza |
Birth |
1975 |
07 |
+ Anthony’s Church - Bannur |
Erection |
1999 |
09 |
Anil Kerketta |
Birth |
1980 |
11 |
Richard D’Silva + Agnel D’ Mello |
Ordination Home |
1960 2013 |
13 |
Vincent Soosai Varghese Sebastian Scaria Varanath Thomas M.M. Dayanand Anand Suresh Minj Nideesh M. John |
Birth Ordination Ordination Ordination Ordination Birth Birth |
1970 1975 1975 1975 1975 1987 1993 |
14 |
+ Titus Myppan |
Home |
2012 |
15 |
Gregory Fernandes |
Ordination |
1963 |
16 |
Paul K.L. Assisi Sadan - Nagpur |
Birth Foundation |
1952 1993 |
17 |
Sidney Mascarenhas Varghese Lakra |
Ordination Birth |
1967 1977 |
18 |
Ajit Kerketta |
Birth |
1976 |
19 |
James Kallarackan Friary Chapel – Palmaner |
Birth Blessing |
1942 1967 |
21 |
Parish Church - Palmaner |
Blessing |
1964 |
22 |
Francis Agnelo Rozario |
Birth |
1966 |
24 |
Emmanuel Christopher |
Birth |
1992 |
25 |
Mukti P. Ekka + Celestine Reardon + Ambrose Staskunas |
Birth Home Home |
1973 1976 1986 |
26 |
Tony D’ Souza + Paschal Fernando |
Birth Home |
1962 1994 |
27 |
Irudayaraj Fernando Sahaya Dhas J. |
Ordination Ordination |
2002 2013 |
28 |
Madhu Sudhan Reddy |
Ordination |
2015 |
29 |
Thumma Ranjith Kumar Reddy |
Ordination |
2015 |
30 |
+ Gratian McEvoy Wilson Paul Nattalil Stephen Lamin Gashnga + Kuriyan Joseph |
Home Ordination Ordination Home |
1992 2003 2012 2015 |
31 |
Sleeva Reddy |
Birth |
1968 |
