Goan Priest Fr. Terence Abranches Named National Director of Family Rosary Crusade Philippines

Manila, Philippines, June 9, 2025: Fr. Terence Abranches, a Catholic priest from Goa and member of the South India province of the Congregation of Holy Cross, was appointed National Director of the Family Rosary Crusade in the Philippines on June 3. He succeeds Fr. Wilson Thoppilan, who served in this position from 2019 till May 31, 2025.

Fr. Terence answered God’s call after completing high school and entering the seminary of the Congregation of Holy Cross. He pursued his philosophy and theology studies at Jnana-Deepa, a Jesuit-run institute in Pune, India, and was ordained a priest in 2014.

Since then, he has served in various roles, including administrator and assistant parish priest at St. Louis School and St. Louis Church in Mumbai, secretary to the provincial administration of his congregation, and formation director of the seminary for undergraduates and the integration programme for candidates entering the religious order of Holy Cross. Most recently, he served as vocation promoter of his congregation in the Philippines.

The Family Rosary Crusade began in 1947, founded by Holy Cross Father Patrick Peyton in Albany, New York. Dominican priests brought it to the Philippines in the 1950s. This multimedia-based ministry actively promotes families praying the Rosary together. It also makes families spiritually resilient by grounding them in Christian values and infusing them with positive energy and inspiration.

Fr. Terence joins a distinguished line of Indian priests who have led the Crusade in the Philippines, including Fr. Jimmy (National Director, 2016–2019), Fr. Mathew (Mission Director since 2019), and Fr. Wilson Thoppilan (National Director, 2019–2025). Under Indian leadership, the Family Rosary Crusade continues to flourish, embodying its unwavering commitment to nurturing family spirituality through prayer.

Source: Radio Veritas Asia

Image Source: Radio Veritas Asia