The Franciscan Sisters of St. Thomas are a Congregation of Indian origin. It was founded in India by Bishop Thomas Fernando, who promoted the spread of a religious order inspired by the apostle Tommaso and his example.
According to tradition, the doubting disciple was the first to bring the Christian message and conversion to India. The Congregation was officially founded on 11 February 1978 in Fathima Nagar, in the diocese of Trichirapalli. On that occasion, the nineteenth centenary of the apostle’s arrival in the East was being celebrated. Even today, Christian India continues to have a very special veneration for St. Thomas. In the city of Madras, now Chennai, the Saint’s tomb is preserved inside the basilica of St. Thomas.
The Franciscan community originally developed as a diocesan Institute. It was only 21 years after the community’s development that Bishop Lawrence S. Gabriel, during his episcopate in Trichirapalli, approved the rules of the Congregation. It was 21 November 1999. Subsequently, the Holy See recognized the women’s community as a Religious Institute of diocesan right.
The Generalate of the Sisters of St. Thomas is located in Fathima Nagar, in the Diocese of Trichirapalli, in the State of Tamil Nadu, one of India’s 28 federated states. The Congregation currently has 85 professed sisters and 30 candidates at various stages of formation. We have 29 communities spread across 12 dioceses, with others ready to be opened wherever the Church hierarchy calls us to assist in the Church’s mission.
The principal mission of the Sisters of St. Thomas is to proclaim the Good News to the poor and the oppressed. The Indian communities are among the most fervent in faith and zeal, as also demonstrated by the sisters’ tireless attitude of prayer and service as they care daily for the neediest and those who are alone. The Congregation is very active, not only with children, but also in caring for the sick. Indeed, many of the sisters are nurses and work every day in contact with the most defenceless people in dispensaries and residential homes. Often, this involves not only material assistance but also, and above all, spiritual assistance. These are places where the most marginalized members of society are frequently encountered.
The sisters’ two principal houses in India are dedicated to St. Thomas: the House of Mercy , which accommodates 85 girls, and the House of Love , which houses 45 children, mainly orphans or children whose parents are unable to care for them. In particular, the “St. Thomas House of Mercy” was founded in 1976 to house poor and orphaned girls. It was entrusted to the Franciscan Sisters of St. Thomas in 1987. To this day, the Congregation cares for the residents, providing food, shelter and education to many young women in need. Some of them, in addition to facing problems of survival, have suffered violence and therefore need strong moral support. The sisters’ spirituality states: “We believe that commitment to educating poor children is never a useless service: all children are the future of society, the country, the world in general and our Christian communities”.
The communities
State of Tamilnadu – India
- Diocese of Thiruchirapalli
- Diocese of Palayamkottai
- Diocese of Madurai
- Diocese of Thenkasi
- Diocese of Tindivanam
- Diocese of Dharmapuri
- Diocese of Dindigul
Italy
- Anghiari (AR)
- Lucca
Spain
- Santander
Contact Us
Franciscan Sisters of St. Thomas, Sethurapatty Road, Fatimanagar, Tiruchirapalli – 620012, Tamilnadu, India
Cell. +91-9442851819