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 |
Jose Palimattom Vincent Soosai Fabianus Toppo Bryan Carneiro Bhaskar Reddy Michael Anand |
Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Entry Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1996 1996 1999 2002 2002 2002 |
02 |
Leos Ekka Vinoth Robin + Denis Boers Basil Tirkey Vinod Kujur Francis Arokiasamy M. Thumma Ranjith Kumar Reddy |
Birth Birth Home Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1963 1985 1997 2013 2013 2013 2013 |
03 |
Fabianus Toppo + Theodore Caine Ankit Kumar Baghel |
Birth Home Birth |
1978 1986 1996 |
04 |
Dharmodaya Ashram - Bellary |
Foundation |
1995 |
06 |
Alphonse Moras |
Birth |
1950 |
07 |
Sleeva Reddy Tojy M. |
Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1998 1998 |
08 |
Joy Valooran Dominic C.J. Balthazar Pinto Bala Marneni Tony D’ Souza |
Birth Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1970 1987 1987 1987 1987 |
09 |
Anthony Joseph Archer |
Birth |
1992 |
10 |
Arokia Raj R. |
Solemn Vows |
1989 |
11 |
Jesu Raja A. |
Birth |
1985 |
12 |
Pratap Reddy Salibindla Balthazar Pinto Bala Marneni Tony D’Souza Arokia Raj R. Arulsamy A. Thomas Joseph Bobby V.T. Johnny Anthony Charles Bernard Felix Gassam Athanasius Xaxa Paul Kallan Leos Ekka John Chrysostom Salim Joseph Francis Kaviyil Babu Jose Pamplany James N. Chinnappan M. Devaraj Amaldas Belevendran |
Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry |
1981 1981 1981 1981 1982 1982 1982 1982 1983 1984 1984 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1986 |
13 |
+ Anthony of Padua Samson A. Basen Friary Nanasera Friary New Church at Sion Bannur Friary |
Feast Birth Foundation Foundation Blessing Foundation |
1955 1982 1992 1995 1999 |
14 |
Francis Arokiasamy M. |
Birth |
1987 |
16 |
Adarsh Y. |
Birth |
1994 |
18 |
Michael Anand |
Ordination |
2005 |
19 |
Dayanand Dharma L. Bernard |
Birth Birth |
1950 1953 |
20 |
Tony Marshall + Alphaeus Swinkels |
Birth Home |
1978 1980 |
21 |
Jamesmon P.C. |
Birth |
1970 |
22 |
Arulsamy A. Arun Junes |
Birth Birth |
1961 1978 |
25 |
Thomas M.M. |
Birth |
1949 |
26 |
Niraj Kumar Tirkey |
Birth |
1993 |
27 |
Naveen George |
Birth |
1982 |
28 |
Samson Tommy T.J. Dominic C.J. Carlos Dias Manoj Xalxo |
Entry Entry Entry Entry Birth |
1980 1980 1980 1980 1982 |
30 |
Amaldas Belevendran + Leo Remedios |
Birth Home |
1967 1970 |
