Providence of God has led us to begin in one of the most challenging missions for the Franciscans of the Immaculate, namely the center of Hinduism in the world—INDIA. St. Maximilian Kolbe once dreamt of opening a foundation for a new City of the Immaculate in India during his lifetime. St. Francis Xavier, wrote a plea for missionaries to the University of Paris to come to Asia especially in India, for there is a need for missionaries in these places when the truth of the Gospel is scarcely known.

The possibility of opening a foundation in India for the Franciscans of the Immaculate began when an Italian priest friend introduced the friars, in particular Fr. Vincent Amores to his cleric friends in India. It was in Kerala (the city’s name: means: God is with us) that the mission will take place. Kerala is a state on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India. To its east and northeast, Kerala borders Tamil Nadu and Karnataka; to its west and south lie the Indian Ocean islands of Lakshadweep and the Maldives, respectively. Kerala nearly envelops Mahé, a coastal exclave of Pondicherry. Kerala is one of four states that compose the linguistic-cultural region known as South India. The principal spoken language is Malayalam, but other languages are also spoken. Kerala ranks 21st by area and 12th by population nationwide.

It was in the Diocese of Neyyattinkara that the Franciscans of the Immaculate planned to begin its foundation. Although Bishop Vincent Samuel, the bishop of this diocese was favorable, there are many signs that indicate that another diocese would be a better alternative. Given the visa situation of missionaries who can only have the maximum of three months and then must leave the country, and can only re-apply after duration of another three months, make it difficult to establish an extended time of stay for them. India has a very strict rule for missionaries which regards to conversion to Christianity. In spite of these hovering shadows and difficulties, there are a lot of promising lights in this new mission.

Here is the personal account of Fr. Vincent Mary Amores regarding his stay in the new Archdiocese of Trivandrum, the capital of the state of Kerala:

“Providential circumstances brought me in contact with the Archdiocese of Trivandrum in the person of Msgr. James Culas, the Episcopal Vicar for Anjengo, Puthukurichy, Pettah and Palayam Forane Vicariates. Through him, I came to know different foreign religious congregations which had similar difficulties in starting up their mission. Among them is the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo – Scalabrinians.

The said Congregation initially entered the Archdiocese in 2004. The pioneering sister since then and until now has been coming with a tourist visa of four to six months. With the support structure available in the Archdiocese, the first community of the Congregation in India was made a reality immediately the following year, 2005.

The above mentioned community is made up of three Filipina sisters alternating their presence in the country, each entering with a tourist visa of three to four months. In 2006, they started vocation promotion from within and outside the Archdiocese of Trivandrum. On the same year they received their first 2 Indian aspirants. The following year (2007), their vocations numbered to 8. They continue to have bright prospects in terms of quantity of new vocations.

Another foreign congregation in the same Archdiocese started their presence by renting a house where four Spanish sisters lived for a while but who soon after had to buy their own because of the influx of vocations. Houses for rent are easily available in Trivandrum especially during the close of the school year.

Comparing the distinct realities of the Diocese of Neyyattinkara and the Archdiocese of Trivandrum, I find the latter to be more favorable, practical and permissive for starting a mission. In fact, in my few days of contact in the Archdiocese, I was able to make progress in the process of starting our community, in contrast to the long time spent in Neyyattinkara which did not produce as much result."

Only after three months of stay in this diocese, Fr. Vincent was able to attract vocations. Two of them have already joined even there is no fixed house or community at hand. There are other potential vocations that would certainly come, according to Fr. Vincent especially in the month of April when the diocese organizes every year a vocation encounter with young boys and girls. Fr. Vincent expects to have about ten more vocations.

Because of this, there is a need to move to a more stable place to live. Following the experience of other religious communities, renting a house and turning it into a friary would be the best immediate solution. The diocese recommends this approach as well. As for the visa situation, the possible alternative is to bring friars there who alternate every three months so as to maintain continuity of the presence of the community in India. On top of this, the poverty level in Kerala is so high that missionaries would need help outside of India both for material and financial support. The deep religiosity of the people and their sincere hospitality make this nation a promising source of many vocations who will one day will be honoring and glorifying the august Mother of God.