Mangaluru: St Ann’s Friary was soaked in the festal cheer on 02 August 2017, as the Capuchin friars along with the faithful celebrated the feast of Our Lady of the Angels of Portiuncula.

The solemn Eucharist in the evening was presided over by Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Dsouza, the Bishop of the Barelli Diocese and was concelebrated by a good number of guest priests from near and far along with Fr Melwyn, the guardian, and all the community friars. In his inspiring homily, Bishop Ignatius recalled his own experience at Portiuncula, Assisi. As a 'Little Portion' – Portiuncula helped St Francis to carry out the will God, may it help us too to understand the plans that God has for us’, he said. He then invited all the faithful to take the inspiration from St Francis of Assisi, for whom this Chapel of Portiuncula was a cradle of wisdom, knowledge, and devotion.

The soulful choir was rendered by the Padre Pio Choir group guided ably by Mr. Joel Pereira. Soon after the Holy Eucharist Rev Bishop Ignatius was felicitated for his great service to the Diocese of Barelli. Fr Paul Melwyn introduced the community of St Ann’s to all the guests.

He also shared the information regarding the service rendered by the capuchins in the Diocese of Mangalore and gratefully remembered everyone, especially, the benefactors, domestic staff. A book ‘Rozar Mayek Utram Kurov’ - reflections on the various titles of Mother Mary was released during this program by Bishop Ignatius. Fr Manohar thanked all the guest priests, religious brothers and sisters, friends, benefactors and the gathered faithful for their loving presence and Fr Jawahar compèred the whole program. The guests were served with a sumptuous dinner.

History of the Feast:

St.Francis of Assisi had a very special love for the Blessed Virgin Mary and this was reflected in the solicitude he always cherished for the Chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels, located 5 kilometer beyond Assisi’s town walls.

The small piece of land on which the Chapel stood was also known as Portiuncula, the 'Little Portion' or Porziuncula in Italian, ceded to him by the Benedictine monks of the Monte Subasio. Tradition has it that Francis personally restored this chapel and later took up residence here with his friars. It was here on the Palm Sunday of 1211 that Francis received St Clare into religious life.

During the lifetime of Francis, the nascent Minorite Order used to hold its General Chapter here. It was again here that at the sunset of October 3,1226 Francis concluded his earthly course. The holy Founder obtained for this chapel from Pope Honorius III the well–known indulgence which the Supreme Pontiffs Successively confirmed and extended to numerous other churches .

Importance of the Place

It is here the order of Lesser ones had its beginning.

Saint Francis loved this place more than any other because of the growth of the order and he believed that divine grace was given to God’s chosen ones in every place but in this place in a very special way full of grace and filled with visits of heavenly spirits.

This place was known for humility and simplicity. So often he told the brothers “see to it my sons that you never abandon this place. If you are driven out from one side, go back in from the other, for this is truly a holy place and dwelling place of God. Here the Most High increased our numbers when we were only a few, here he enlightened the hearts of his poor ones with the light of his wisdom, here all who pray wholeheartedly will receive what they ask.