Feast of St. Francis of Assisi celebrated in the Assisi Nilaya at Kattingeri

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 04 October 2010:  The feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the Capuchin Friars and the Secular Franciscan Order (Tertiary Order) was celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm at the Assisi Nilaya, the Formation House (Minor Seminary) of the Capuchin Friars near Naalku Beedhi in Kattingeri on Monday, 4th October 2010 at 6 pm.

 

St. Francis is called the ‘little poor man of Assisi’. He was born on 4th October 1182 in the town of Assisi in Italy. His father was a very wealthy merchant of Assisi and Francis was brought up in luxury and gaiety. He spent a considerable portion of his wealth in extravagant pleasures. One day Francis came across a beggar crying for alms. Francis, who was soft-hearted, gave whatever he had in his pocket to the beggar. The sight of the beggar set him thinking about the poverty and misery of the earthly life. Sometimes later, Francis seriously fell ill and was about to die. However, he was miraculously saved by the Lord and Francis decided to devote his life in the service of God and humanity.

 

 

As soon as Francis got well, he gave up his old ways and habits and was determined  to serve God. He distributed clothes, goods and money to the poor. His father was very much annoyed towards his son and turned him out of the house. Francis lived like a beggar. He wore a coarse dress and ate simple food. Francis lived in a cave in the mountains of Assisi and spent his time in prayer and meditation for two years. Some kind people gave him food, but very often he had to starve.

 

Francis was humble and loved God’s creatures-birds and animals. He loved the depressed and the outcastes. He treated the birds, the animals and all beings as brothers and sisters. Francis went from village to village preaching the love of God. He invited people to join him in his life of service if they were willing. Bernard, a rich man of Assisi, was very much attracted by the saintliness of Francis and joined Francis. He was the first follower of Francis. He placed all his wealth at the altar of God. Gradually, others also joined Francis. They distributed all their wealth to the poor. Francis and his followers went all over Italy preaching, teaching, healing and blessing wherever they went.

 

The gospel of kindness and love of Francis soon spread all over Europe. People called him the ‘little poor man of Assisi’. St. Francis collected many followers and founded the Order of Mendicant Friars or Franciscans. The members of this Order have to take a vow of poverty, chastity, love and obedience. St. Francis went to his heavenly reward in 1228. The Catholic Church has honoured St. Francis of Assisi  as the patron saint of the animals and ecology.

 

Before the commencement of the feast Mass, Fr. Maxim Pinto, Superior and Director of the Assisi Nilaya welcomed the chief celebrant of the Mass, Rev. Dr. Vincent Gabriel Furtado, the Provincial of  the Holy trinity Province of Karnataka, Rev. Dr. Baptist Menezes, the Episcopal Vicar of Udupi who preached homily, Fr. Manoj D’Souza, Secretary to the Provincial, Fr. Peter Cyprian D’Souza, Superior of St. Anne’s Friary at Bejai, Mangalore and the Diocesan priests from the Udupi Varado. He also welcomed the Bethany Sisters from the Loreto Convent and the members of the Secular Franciscan Order.

 

The feast Mass was concelebrated by 16 priests. Following the Mass, Fr. Maxim Pinto thanked everyone especially those who had helped the congregation in establishing the Formation House from June 2010. 

According to Fr. Maxim, besides himself as the Superior and Director of the Assisi Nilaya, there are two other priests and two Regents who constitute the staff of the Minor Seminary-Fr. Archie Lewis and Fr. Valerian D’Silva and Br. Andrew Jayaraj and Br. Wilson Sequeira. 

 

The Formation House admits those young boys who are inclined to join the priesthood in the Capuchin Order and helps them to complete their Pre-university studies. Presently there are 42 candidates in the Assisi Nilaya out of whom 20 are studying in the First Year PUC and 22 are in the Second Year PUC in St. Lawrence Composite PU College, Moodubelle. Among these young boys  two are from Nagaland and two from Mizoram. Remaining candidates are from different part of Karnataka.

 

After completing their PUC studies, these aspirants to join the Capuchin Order of priesthood will be sent to Farangi-pet   Friary for the Postulancy and Novitiate and will be trained for priesthood.

 

Fr. Maxim Pinto

Fr. Maxim Pinto (OFM-Cap) is from Paladka. After his ordination in 1994, he had served in Bhopal, Shivmoga, Chikmagalur and Mangalore before being appointed as the Superior and Director of the Formation House at Kattingeri, the premises of which were made available by Bernard D’Souza (son of Monnu Master).

 

The Karnataka Province of the Capuchins has 23 houses and 25 mission centres spread across India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Uganda in East Africa, Turkey and the Middle East.

 

Following the feast Mass the guests were treated with sumptuous feast dinner.