Franciscans Mark 800 Years of St Francis with Call for Greater Collaboration

BENGALURU, October 26, 2026: Franciscan superiors from 32 congregations across India have called for a renewed commitment to Gospel living and greater collaboration in serving the poor, as they gathered in Bengaluru to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi.

The three-day national assembly of the Association of Franciscan Family of India (AFFI), held at St John’s Medical College Annexure from October 23 to 25, brought together 110 major superiors from the Franciscan First and Third Orders. The gathering concluded with a celebration attended by 245 additional Franciscan brothers and sisters from Bengaluru.

Under the theme “Let Us Begin Anew… Returning to Our Franciscan Roots, Renewing the Charism, Living the Gospel Today”, the assembly examined how Franciscan communities could remain faithful to their founding charism while responding to the challenges facing the Church and society.

Br Henry D’Souza OFM Cap challenged religious leaders to examine whether institutional priorities were overshadowing the Gospel in their communities. His keynote address set the tone for discussions on leadership, formation and mission. Br John Sekar OFM followed with reflections on translating these concerns into practical decisions.

The discussions also highlighted the need to combine the distinctive charisms of individual congregations with a stronger sense of shared Franciscan identity. Addressing the assembly, Br Arul Edward OFM Cap spoke of authority as service and emphasised the importance of interior freedom, fraternity and mission. A session led by Sr Prabha FCC challenged participants to consider whether Franciscan communities were reaching those most neglected and what they could accomplish by working together.

The wider Franciscan gathering on October 25 turned the focus to the place of Franciscan religious in contemporary society. Br Xavier Alexander CMSF addressed the participants on “Rediscovering Our Identity as Franciscans: The Lesser Brothers and Sisters the Society Needs Today”.

Archbishop Peter Machado of Bengaluru presided over the Jubilee Mass. The celebrations included a musical drama, songs and dances presented by Franciscan religious, along with messages from superiors general. Religious celebrating 25, 50 and 60 years of consecrated life were also honoured.

A Transitus service led by Capuchin friars recalled the final hours of St Francis, who died in 1226. His deathbed exhortation to begin anew provided a fitting backdrop to the assembly’s deliberations on the future of Franciscan life in India.

The superiors identified cooperation in formation, joint initiatives among vulnerable communities and the removal of barriers between congregations as priorities for the years ahead. The emphasis was on moving beyond discussions towards practical partnerships, including sharing formation resources and developing a common response to pressing social needs.

The assembly concluded with a call to translate the legacy of St Francis into renewed Gospel commitment and closer collaboration, ensuring that the diversity of Franciscan congregations becomes a strength in their shared service to the Church and society.

By Catholic Connect Reporter