Ranchi Catholic Archdiocese 

His Holiness Pope John Paul II

Ranchi Visit

Land & People

 PLATINUM JUBILEE 
May 25, 1927 - May 25, 2002

THIRD ORDER REGULAR OF ST. FRANCIS OF PENANCE

The Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular (TOR) with their Provincial Headquarters at Bhagalpur opened their first house in Ranchi in 1953.  This formation house was meant both for students at pre-novitiate and post-novitiate levels.  The students stationed there were able to pursue seminary as well as college studies.  Originally named Franciscan Monastery, the formation house on Purulia Road is called today Franciscan Training Institute which was blessed by Most Rev. Nicholas Kujur, S.J. on Jan. 5, 1954.

The first place was established in 1977 at Harmu on the outskirts of the city where there was a Sunday Mass Centre of Doranda parish, but taken care of by the TOR Priests from FTI, Ranchi.  The new Church at Harmu was blessed by Most Rev. Pius Kerketta, S.J. on Nov. 11, 1979.  Today, the Friars have at Harmu two schools; St. Francis School (English Medium) established in 1978; and St. Louis High School (Hindi Medium) opened in 1979, each with over 1000 students.

The sub station of Harmu at Banhora was erected into a separate parish and entrusted to the TOR by the Archbishop in 1988.  The parish Church at Banhora was blessed by Most Rev. Telesphore P. Toppo, on Feb. 28, 1993.  Banhora Parish has two Mass Centres, namely - Sundil and Dande Hehel.

Realizing the need to accelerate the promotion of evangelization in the rich soil of Chotanagpur, a Commissariat (Region) was made in 1996, and it was raised into a Vice Province on Dec. 8, 1999, with headquarters at Franciscan Ashram, Harmu.  The vice Province of St. Francis meanwhile has become a Province.

Generalate     Ss. Cosma e Damiano, Via Fori Imperiali, 1, 00186 Roma, Italia.  Phone: (0039)06-699 1540, Fax: (0039)06-678 4970, E-mail: k.queally@agora-stm.it

Provincialate    Franciscan Ashram, Harmu H. Colony, Ranchi - 834 012, Telefax: (0651)240629

Houses    01.  Provincialate, Catholic Church, Harmu, P.O. Housing Colony Harmu, Ranchi - 834 012, Telefax: 240629

02.  Catholic Church, Harmu, P.O. Housing Colony Harmu, Ranchi - 834 012, Ph: 241917, 244229

03.  St. Francis High School, Harmu, P.O. Housing Colony Harmu, Ranchi - 834 012, Ph: 242571

04.  St. Louis High School, Harmu, P.O. Housing Colony Harmu, Ranchi - 834 012, Ph: 243316.

05.  Franciscan Training Institute, Purulia Road, P.B. 123, Ranchi - 834 001, Ph: 314759

06.  St. Francis Church, Banhora, P.O. Hehal, Ranchi - 834 005, Ph: 510660