The Province's 12 fraternities — 7 Guardianates and 5 filial houses — are spread across Maharashtra, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. A Guardianate is a fully constituted and canonically erected local fraternity governed by a guardian, while a filial house is a smaller, dependent community attached to a guardianate.
Established as a Franciscan house in 1993, Assisi Sadan grew out of a pastoral presence dating back to 1964, when diocesan priests first began visiting the area to celebrate Mass for Catholic families working in the local coal mines. Originally set up as a parish under the Archdiocese of Nagpur, the pastoral centre gradually developed into a full-fledged parish community. Today, Assisi Sadan comprises a parish church, a formation house, the administrative office of the Province, and a range of social service activities, serving around 25 Catholic families and approximately 150 parishioners.
This parish traces its Franciscan roots to the Portuguese colonial period, when a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel existed at Sion as a subsidiary of St. Michael's Church, Mahim. Parish records show a resident chaplain from 1919 onward. In 1949, the chapel was separated from St. Michael's and constituted as an independent parish, entrusted to the Franciscans of the English Province of the Order of Friars Minor, and it soon grew into a significant centre of pastoral ministry, evangelization, education, and Franciscan life in the area.
The present church building was constructed and blessed in 1995. It is especially known for its Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua and the Tuesday novena devotions celebrated there since at least 1953, as well as for its stained-glass windows depicting the Franciscan martyrs of Thane and other Franciscan saints. The parish is closely linked to Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, which began as a primary school in 1939 and was upgraded to a high school in 1958. Today, OLGC Sion remains a vibrant hub of parish life, devotion, education, and community service in Mumbai.
St. Anne's Church traces its history to 1700, when the original church — dedicated to St. Anne and St. Anthony — was established in Ponda, then a mission station under the pastoral care of the Jesuits. Baptismal records dating back to 1860 are preserved in the parish archives. Pastoral care of the parish was later entrusted to the Order of Friars Minor.
Over the years, the parish has continued to grow: the parochial residence was built in 1967, and the sanctuary was enlarged and remodelled in 1987. The parish is also closely associated with Catholic education through St. Mary's High School, which traces its origins to the parish school. Today, St. Anne's remains a vibrant Franciscan pastoral centre in Goa, and its annual feast continues to be celebrated with deep faith and traditional Goan devotion.
Established in 1997, Shantivanam Ashram offers a peaceful, natural setting for prayer, silence, contemplation, and spiritual renewal, drawing individuals and groups in search of a deeper encounter with God. Alongside its role as a spirituality centre, the ashram also functions as a quasi-parish, serving the pastoral needs of around 80 local Catholic families.
Established in 1992, St. Francis Friary has grown into a major centre of Franciscan pastoral, educational, and missionary activity. The friars serve St. Francis Parish, comprising a parish church and nine chapels, bringing pastoral care to roughly 916 Catholic families (around 6,000 parishioners) spread across 17 villages. Their ministry includes the celebration of the sacraments, catechesis, faith formation, and regular accompaniment of these scattered village communities.
Education is central to the mission at Basen, where four schools under the friars' care serve the children of the surrounding villages. The friars are also engaged in evangelization, social outreach, youth ministry, and vocation promotion — carrying forward the Franciscan values of fraternity, simplicity, and service among rural communities.
Located in the Diocese of Simdega and established in 1992, St. Francis Friary serves a parish of one church and eight chapels, reaching Catholic families scattered across 50 villages — a community of 556 families and approximately 3,360 parishioners. The friars' pastoral work includes the sacraments, catechesis, faith formation, and pastoral visitation across this wide rural area.
Six schools, including St. Francis High School, fall under the friars' care, forming an integral part of their commitment to educating children from disadvantaged communities. Given the parish's vast geographical spread, ministry here depends heavily on regular travel and close collaboration with catechists and lay leaders. Nanesera stands today as a key centre of the Province's mission in Jharkhand.
Established in 1995, St. Anthony's Friary serves a parish of one church and 16 village chapels, providing pastoral care to around 600 Catholic families (approximately 4,500 parishioners) across 18 villages. In addition to the sacraments, catechesis, and pastoral visitation, the friars oversee four schools that serve the educational needs of local children. Through these ministries, St. Anthony's continues to embody the Franciscan values of fraternity, simplicity, service, and solidarity with the poor.
The Community was established in 2026 though the property was purchased in 2008. The land remained vacant for several years before the friars began residing there to look after and maintain it. The friars now hope to establish a new educational institution on the site to meet the needs of the local community.
A newly established mission on farmland in an area with no existing Catholic population, Barul Mission does not yet have a formal pastoral ministry. The friars are focused on developing organic farming on the property and undertaking small-scale social initiatives, laying the groundwork for the mission to grow according to the needs of the area.
Sanjeevan Ashram is a place of Franciscan presence, prayer, fraternity, and pastoral outreach in the Nashik region. The friars living here strive to witness to the Franciscan values of simplicity, fraternity, and service, while engaging with the local community through pastoral and social activities.
Established in 2023, this formation house accompanies young friars pursuing their Plus Two (higher secondary) studies as part of their initial formation, supporting their academic, spiritual, human, and Franciscan growth as they prepare for the next stage of formation.
A small and prayerful chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, entrusted to the pastoral care of the friars. It offers a serene environment for the faithful to gather for the Eucharist, prayer, and other devotions.
