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Franciscan Ashram

The Franciscan Ashram at Nattakkal in Kasargod District, Kerala in the eparchy of Tellicherry began on 22 November 1993 with the arrival of Fr. Manuel Manicompel who stayed in the house in the twenty-one acres and sixty-two cents of land purchased by the Mission. The Canonical erection was on 17 September 1994. Fr. Manuel was appointed the first Superior.

On 8 November 1993, Bishop Mar George Valiyamattam of Tellicherry blessed the foundation stone for the future Church of St. Francis of Assisi that was laid by Fr. Alfred Calleja, Minister Provincial of Malta. The same Bishop did the blessing and consecration of the Church on 17 September 1994.

Fr. Alfred Calleja, Minister Provincial of Malta on 2 February 1995 during the celebrations to mark the establishment of the Provincial Custody, blessed the newly constructed Ashram.

The Pre-Novitiate was transferred to Franciscan Ashram from Kolbe Ashram on 15 August 1995. Fr. Mario Franchi, Minister Provincial of Tuscany, Italy, blessed the new Pre-Novitiate building on 9 January 1996. In 2005, the Pre-Novitiate was transferred to Padua Franciscan Ashram, Puthenchira and from May 2006 to May 2008, it served as the residence of one group of Orientation year students.

On the plans of Fr. J. M. Stevens S. J. of Bangalore, we constructed the Church, the Friary and the Pre-Novitiate.On 01 January2003, the Ashram Church was declared a parish and Fr. Manuel Manicompel was appointed as the first parish priest. Fr. Joseph Cilia, Provincial Custos on 03 July 2004, blessed the newly constructed Cemetery of the parish near the Ashram Church.