The Foundation of St Francis of Assisi in Northeast India held its Plenary Assembly from 4-6 December 2023 in the presence of Provincial Minister Br Xavier Durairaj and General Definitor for Asia-Oceania Br John Wong.
This Foundation was established in 2008 by the Province of St Thomas the Apostle in India, to live and bear witness to the Gospel in a region of the country known as the 'Seven Sisters'.
These 'sisters' are the cluster of seven neighbouring states of the North-eastern Region of India, which cover a combined total area of 255000 square kilometres with a population of over 45 million people, of whom fewer than 2 million are Roman Catholics.
This region of hills and river plains is populated by more than 200 tribes, and is surrounded by Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Nepal.
The 12 Solemn Professed friars who belong to this Foundation, and that is present in a total 4 separate locations, serve 4 main tribal language groups in the states of Assam and Meghalaya.
They, together with the 12 Temporary Professed friars of the Foundation, are a combination of Friars from South India and local indigenous friars from different backgrounds, ethnicities, mother tongues.
Despite these differences, there is a healthy spirit of warm fraternity and close collaboration between the friars, as well as with the other religious, diocesan clergy, and laity with whom they share their mission.
At present, the main ministries of the friars in the Foundation are in the areas of pastoral work and school ministry.
Most of the friars either have or are pursuing graduate and post-graduate degrees in education.
As an extension to their pastoral and education ministries, the friars are involved in social work and evangelisation. In addition, they have two houses with a total of 42 aspirants in a live-in pre-postulancy programme of three years, that includes English language and Senior Secondary School studies.
At the Assembly, the Solemn Professed friars of this small Foundation resolved to gather regularly to strengthen their fraternal relationship and for mutual support and collaboration.
They committed to their ongoing mission of evangelisation through pastoral ministry, education, and social work.
These include opening a new primary school; building a new parish church; and sending friars to train for formation accompaniment, school ministry, and de-addiction work.
They welcomed the General Definitor’s exhortation to continue to uphold the '3Cs' of community, the contemplative dimension, and clarity of focus in the face of their many activities of mission and ministries.
On the final day of the Assembly, all the Solemn Professed Friars gathered at their newly constructed friary in Hapjan, which is a new mission of the cathedral parish of Diphu.
The friars’ mission and newly built Friary was inaugurated by General Definitor Br John and blessed by the Bishop of Diphu, the Most Rev. Paul Mattekkatt.
The six acres of Franciscan land is also being prepared for the construction of a school and hostel to serve the children of the villages in this area.
The multilingual, multicultural, and very colourful celebration of the Eucharist included participation of the Adhivasi, Gharo and Karbi tribes of the area who will be served by the friars.
This growing Foundation, that comprises committed, energetic, and young friars who are all under the age of 54 years, is very much an evangelical presence and outreach among the simple people of God in underdeveloped rural frontiers of Northeast India.
Despite its small numbers, this Foundation already has one member who serves the Order in Rome as a professor at the Pontifical University of the Antonianum, and another young friar who is studying in the Holy Land.
Indeed, here in this corner of the Indian Subcontinent is a truly Franciscan mission at the frontiers and that bears generous Christian witness of a world without borders.
In the pictures:
1. Participants of Plenary Assembly of the Foundation of St Francis of Assisi in Northeast India, in front of the Pastoral Centre of Diphu Diocese, with General Definitor for Asia-Oceania (5th from left) and Provincial Minister of India (6th from right), 5/12/23, Diphu (Assam State).
2. Entrance procession led by local indigenous tribes at the Mass for the inauguration and blessing of the new Friary, 6/12/23, Hapjan (Assam State).
3. Foundation President Br Wilson Paul (1st from left) with General Definitor and Foundation Councillors, 6/12/23, Hapjan (Assam State).
4. General Definitor and Provincial Minister (centre, wearing traditional scarves) with leaders and catechists of Gharo village, 7/12/23, Salbari (Assam State).
5. Students of Franciscan school during afternoon break, 7/12/23, Salbari (Assam State).
6. General Definitor with Aspirancy Formator and member of Provincial Safeguarding Team Br Joy Sebastian, 8/12/23, North Guwahati (Assam State).
