Province History

The year 1972 was a landmark in the history of the Capuchins in India. The Province of Immaculate Heart of Mary, India was divided into four independent Jurisdictions, namely, Holy Trinity Province of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, the Amala Annai Province of Tamilnadu, the St. Joseph Province of Kerala and St. Francis Vice – Province, Kerala. Fr. Arthur Ittikunnath was appointed as the Vice–Provincial Minister and St. Bonaventure Friary, Ponnurunni was chosen as the Vice – Provincial House. At the time of division, the Vice–Province was in its infancy with 28 Solemnly Professed Friars with five friaries, including a Mission station in the Arch Diocese of Delhi. The Vice–Province became a General Vice–Province in 1974. The Vice–Province had a slow but steady growth and was declared a Province on December 6, 1987 by the Minister General Fr. Flavio Robert Carraro at St. Antony's Friary, Quilon, and Fr. Godwin Gama was appointed as the first Minister Provincial.

In the 2nd Provincial Chapter held at Quilon on March in1990 Fr. Leny Connully was elected as the Provincial. He toiled much to keep the growth steady during his service as provincial from 1990 – 1996.

The Province witnessed a rapid growth in the following years and it induced to think about its own study houses. The extra–ordinary Provincial Chapter held at St. Antony's Friary in 1997 decided to start its own major study house, and thus emerged "The Bhodi Institute of Philosophy and Theology", and it was formally inaugurated on 13, June 1998. Owing to the increase in the number of students, Philosophate was shifted to Marygiri Ashram Kudappanakunnu in 1999 and there we have now "Marygiri Philosophical College" until then it functioned as Novitiate house. The Novitiate was shifted to Sion Capuchin Ashram Manalikkadu in the Diocese of Kottappuram, on 14, May 1999.

The Ordinary Provincial Chapter, held at St. Antony's Friary in 1996 decided to shift the Provincialte for an effective and better functioning from Ponnurunni since, it is a formation house as well. Thus, the Provincialate was shifted to Kalamassery in 1998.