From here we started:
It was in that brief 44 years of his life, St.Francis of Assisi has amazed the world by following the teachings of his Lord Jesus Christ. As he carried the stigmata of our Lord, which has been impressed by divine favor in his own body, he was even called as the second Christ. His path of life indulged in poverty & chastity, to achieve eternity is still an inspiring factor fo
r millions in this world. This very same motivating spirit is the essence of Capuchin congregation. Capuchins spread over in 105 countries with 12000 monks/priests indulged in various devotional & humanitarian services. Capuchin family holds staggering 13 Saints, 43 Blesseds & 150 Servants of God. Embracing the spiritual liveliness from St.Francis, in 1976 Late Fr.Alphonse Kadhalikkaattil took the initiation to build a monastery in Perambra, which was a small town in the district of Kozhikode. It was named as Padua Monastery (Ashram) & a small group of native Catholics used to gather for sacramental and pastoral needs. A temporary Chapel, a Social Centre and a Primary School were built by Fr. Gerald, where the school (St. Francis English Medium School) was handed over to the Clarist Sisters of Malabar Province in 1989. In these early years, the Holy Eucharist was celebrated in the temporary Chapel. The community has gotten bigger as there were more Christian families migrating into the town. In due course, on 1993 January 17th, the St. Francis Assisi church construction was completed & was blessed by Late Bhishop Mar.Sebastian Mankuzhikary. The ashram church was raised to the status of a parish by his Excellency Mar Paul Chittilappilly, bishop of Thamarassery, during the Eucharistic celebration on January 17, 1999
Geographical & Cultural synopsis:
Perambra, a town sits in the valley of hills, consists majorly of Hindu and Muslim communities. Perambra is a fast developing town just 38 km from the city Kozhikode. Francis of Assisi Church is located by the side of Perambra-Kozhikode road 800mts from Perambra town. Although the Christians are minority here, they are very active in religious & social welfare of the society under the church. One notable characteristic of Perambra Christian community is that they have migrated to this town for the purpose of business or job. The parish is still in its infancy. Locate us here: https://www.google.com/maps/place/St.Francis+Church,+Perambra/@11.552186,75.763342,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x3ba67cdee00350fb:0xed2b409b91e22667
What are we:
All families in the parish cooperate well with the church in all its activities. The community is very active and dynamic and for this reason many activities and programs are being successfully carried out. The parishioners are grouped into 8 wards (St.Antony’s, St.Joseph’s, St.Augustine’s, St.Mary’s, St.Mathew’s, St.Alphonsa's, St.Francis's, & St.Thomas’s) according to the locality where they live and they themselves form the prayer groups. Prayer meetings are conducted in one of the house in the ward once in every six weeks with the presence of the parish Vicar or Asst.Vicar along with the Sisters from the nearby FCC or Adoration Convents. These prayer meetings aid the parishioners to strengthen the bond between each other & to come together to work out activities pertained to Church. The Church feast is being celebrated for 3 days which falls in the 1st week of January of every year. Spiritually enriched procession by elevating the Crucifix along with the icons of St. Alphonsa & Mother Mary, to Perambra Town on the 2nd day of feast is a heartwarming visual treat for both believers as well as the non-believers of Perambra. Christmas Night in Perambra parish is celebrated in a unique way by having a competition in carol singing & procession to the church by the wards which will be concluded with the Mid-night Mass. Good Friday Processions, Easter day, St. Thomas Day etc. are all celebrated with spirit & sanctity. Eucharistic adoration is being conducted very often on top of every 1st Friday of the month. A week long Annual Parish retreat also being conducted at the Church in the Lenten season prior to Easter. What we have:
Church owns the relic of its patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, from 31-Dec'15. The parish has an auditorium and facilities in ashram for various needs of the parish. The Sunday school Catechism is very actively conducted in St. Francis English Medium School (run by the Franciscan Clarist Sisters) which is located in the neighboring compound. Perambra Sunday school aced in many activities conducted in Dioceses level to Inter-State level. Besides the church, the parish has a chapel established on the top of Cherumala, which is a very scenic spot in Perambra, which is located only 2 km from the parish church. Way-of-the-cross is being conducted to this chapel on every Good-Friday. Parish is also blessed with an adoration Chapel located with-in 300 Mtr from the Church, which is maintained by the sisters of Adoration Convent. Organizations/Groups in Parish:
1. Franciscan 3rd Order
2. Kerala Catholic Youth Movement
3. Vincent De Paul Society
4. Mathruvedi
5. Pithruvedi
6. Cherupushpa Mission League
7. Choir
8. Intercessory Prayer Group
Institutions in Parish:
1. Francis E.M School (Run by the Franciscan Clarist Sisters)
2. Holy Family Technical Institute (Run by Adoration Sisters)
Convents in Parish:
1. Franciscan Clarist Congregation Convent (FCC Convent)
2. Adoration Convent (Stella Marie Convent)
Our Spiritual 'Power-Houses':
Fr.Alphonse Kadhalikkaattil
Fr.George Mekkara
Fr.Thyagaraj
Fr.Gerald
Fr.Rene
Fr.Jacob Kurisinkal
Fr.Mathew Vattakunnel
Fr.John Mailakkal
Fr.Snehadas
Br.Sebastian Kunnumpuram
Fr.Francis Nambiaparambil
Fr.Mathew Puthoor
Fr.Cyriac Panamthaanam
Fr.Baby Chellanikkal
Fr. Johnson Arassery
Fr.Paul Kainikkal
Fr.Chacko Illikkal
Fr.Paul Kottaram
Br.Joseph Charuplakkal
Fr. Zcaria Kalloor
Fr.Prakash Kanjirathinkal
Fr.Prince Mathew Kudakkachirakunnel
Fr.Thomas Kulangayil
Fr.Roy Joseph Puthenpurakkal
Fr.Mariyadas Thuruthimattom
Fr.Johns Pulparambil
Fr. Shaju Aanithottathil
Fr. Justin Johns
Fr. John Bosco
Fr. Jose Thomas Karingadayil
Fr. Robin Parambanad (Current Asst.Vicar)
Fr Joseph (Tinto) Parathanal (Current Vicar)
We are a total of 145 families & still growing with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!
