PADUA FRANCISCAN ASHRAM

Padua Franciscan Ashram
Conventual Franciscan Friars
Puthenchira East P.O. 680682
Thrissur DT.
Kerala, India
Tel.: (0091 480) 2786422

HISTORY

The Padua Franciscan Ashram at Puthenchira East in Thrissur District, Kerala in the eparchy of Irinjalakuda began on May 12, 1995 with the arrival of Fr. Manilal Cristin and the blessing of the Friary by Fr. Joseph Cilia, Provincial Custos. It was canonically erected on January 27, 1996. Fr. Manilal was appointed the first Superior. The Ashram is on a plot of land of approximately four and a half acres. The Ashram was named after St. Anthony of Padua to commemorate the eighth centenary of his birth. The foundation stone for the Church-Shrine was blessed by Fathers Egidio Canil and Mario Conte representatives of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua on February 8,1996 during the pilgrimage of the Saint’s Relics to Kerala. A relic of St. Anthony - part of the skin - was presented for the future Shrine. The Church-Shrine was blessed and consecrated by Bishop James Pazhayattil of Irinjalakuda on November 9, 1997. On the same day, Fr. Agostino Gardin, Minister General unveiled the statue of St. Anthony, which was sent from the Basilica in Padua for the Shrine. The Shrine is also enriched with the centenary bell presented to it by the General Chapter of the Order and blessed in the Basilica in Padua on June 11, 1995 during the pilgrimage of the General Chapter members to the tomb of St. Anthony.

The Ashram has also the Novitiate house, which was transferred to here from Kolbe Ashram on November 1, 1997. Fr. Agostino Gardin, Minister General on November 9, 1997 in the presence of Fr. Enrique Montero, Definitor General for FAAMC, blessed the newly constructed Novitiate House. In January 29, 2005, the Novitiate was transferred to the newly erected friary of Belvedere Franciscan Ashram, Kottagiri and from May, 2005 it is the residence of the Pre-Novices.

The Church and the additional building with the original house are constructed on the plans of K.A. Jossey, an Engineer from Ernakulam. In February 2017, a new faced shrine was build near the entrance of the church property to mark the second visit of the Relics of St. Anthony of Padua. It was blessed by Rev.Fr. Leo Payyappilly, Minister Provincial on 18 February, 2017. Due to insufficient accommodation facilities pre novitiate programme temporarily shifted to Kolbe Franciscan Ashram, Aluva from here. Now it serves as the Novitiate house of the Province.