Ave Maria Franciscan Friary

Ave Maria Franciscan Friary
No: 250
Columbuthurai Road, Jaffna
Sri Lanka
Tel: 0094 212219087

HISTORY

After establishing the friaries, the friars moved to the war-torn part of the Island and started to visit the place from 2009 onwards. Fr. Ugolino M. Xerri former missionary from Malta visited and he had a passion for this place. He shared his wish with his elder sister Mary and she gave all her possession in her will for this cause when she passed away in 2015 Fr. Ugolino M. Xerri executed the will of his sister. In 2016 four friars Fr. Ferdinand Melappilly, mission animator, Frs Simon Elinjely, Kolbe Puthenpurayil and Mathew Purayidom met their bishop of Jaffna, Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin Gnanaprakasam and go the permission to establish the friary. On 16 October 2016 the land was registered in Columbuthurai, three kilometres away from Jaffna town. A house was brought for rent near to our property and Fr. Mathew Purayidom started to live there. The friary is named after Our Immaculate Mother, AVE MARIA to acknowledge the intercession of our mother in establishing our order in the Island. On 26 October 2017 another friar Susan Rajapakse joined the community. The purpose of establishing this friary is for the theological studies of the friars and for the promotion of vocation and the initial formation of students from this place. On 10 December 2017 two students joined the Order for their initial formation.