Franciscan sisters of st. Thomas
St. Thomas the Apostle – The Patron of the
Congregation Fransciscan Sisters of st.Thomas
Little is recorded of St. Thomas the Apostle. Thomas was probably born in Galilee in a humble family, but there is no indication that he was a fisherman. He was a Jew, but there is no account of how he became an apostle to Christ. Thomas’ name occurs in Mathew (10:3), Mark (3:18), Luke (6) and Acts of the Apostles (1:13), but in the Gospel of John he plays a particularly distinctive part. Thomas is often condemned for his lack of belief, but Thomas was equally courageous, willing to stand by Jesus in dangerous times. He also relentlessly sought the Truth. Like an inquisitive child, he constantly asked questions. And, his wonderful profession, “My Lord and my God,” is the clearest declaration of Jesus’ divinity in Holy Scripture.
Our Patron Feast Day on 3rd of July
“Let us rejoice and help one another that we will be worthy of God’s grace.”
Founder’s Name : Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Fernando
DATE OF BIRTH : 09- 05 -1913 IDINTHAKARAI
ORDINATION : 18 – 03 -1938 (ROME)
BISHOP ELECT : 25 – 06- 1950
EPISCOPAL ORDINATION : 01- 10- 1950
BISHOP OF TUTICORIN : 23- 09- 1953
BISHOP OF TRICHY : 24- 01- 1971
RETIRED : 30 – 12 -1990
DATE OF DEATH : 04 – 07 – 2006
Founder
Bishop Thomas Fernando was an Indian Roman Catholic Bishop. He was born on May 9, 1913 at Idinthakarai, a coastal catholic village, in Tirunelveli district in the diocese of Tuticorin, India. He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Tuticorin on March 18, 1939. After his higher studies in theology, Indian philosophy and Canon law in Rome, he was appointed coadjutor bishop of Tuticorin on June 25, 1950 and was ordained bishop on October 1, 1950. He succeeded Bishop Francis Tirturtius Roche on June 26, 1953 as the second bishop of the diocese of Tuticorin. After twenty years, on November 23, 1970 he was transferred to the diocese of Tiruchirapalli. As a bishop of Tiruchirapalli, having felt the need of female missionary collaborates, he founded the Institute of Catechetical Sisters of St.Thomas in Tiruchirapalli. After 56 years of being as a bishop, he died on July 4, 2006.
Our Congregation was an indigenous institute of the Catechetical Sisters of St. Thomas, founded by His Excellency Most Rev.Thomas Fernando D.D, on 11-02-1978 in Tiruchirapalli. In 1995, our institute was entrusted to the Capuchins of the Amala Annai Province, Tamilnadu for the holistic development of the Institute. Hence we are now known by the new name as Fransciscan sisters of st.Thomas. It was canonically erected as a Religious Institute of Diocesan Right, by His Excellency Most Rev. Lawrence Gabriel Sengole, Bishop Emeritus of Tiruchirapalli on September 25, 1999. At the request of the priests of the diocese of Tiruchirappalli, then Bishop of the Diocese Most Rev.Thomas Fernando founded this Congregation. It was functioning as a Diocesan Institute in the beginning. Most Rev.S. L. Gabriel promulgated the Constitution and the Statutes of the Congregation on November 21, 1999. In the same year, it was approved by the Holy See and graded into the status of the Diocesan Congregation.
We celebrate our congregation’s foundation day on 11th of february
Images
- Sister Mary Freeda Varghees