Suore Terziarie Francescane Regolari - Firenze -Italia
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Golden Jubilee Year - Indian mission 1976-2026
Our Legacy
The Regular Franciscan Tertiary Sisters of Ognissanti (RFTS) were founded on August 22, 1711 by Lady Maria Elizabeth Corsini of Bagnano in Borgo Ognissanti, Florence. Rooted in the spiritual tradition of St. Francis of Assisi, the Sisters originally bore the name "Sisters of Penance", embracing a life of simplicity, charity, and humble service.
Over three centuries, the congregation has grown from its Italian roots to touch lives across India, Brazil, Africa, and beyond—serving through education, healthcare, social outreach, and spiritual guidance.
RFTS in India
A Journey of Faith and Mission
The call to mission in India began when Indian women joined the congregation in 1967. In 1973, this vision became reality when Sr. Margherita Monni, then Superior General, and Sr. Celina Batini, responded to an invitation from Most Rev. Dr. Cornelius Elanjickal, Bishop of the Diocese of Vijayapuram (Kerala).
The first Indian RFTS community was established in 1976, laying the foundation for a mission that would spread across the country.
Timeline of Expansion
1984 – Karnataka
1988 – Andhra Pradesh
2006 – Punjab
2011 – Odisha
2023 – Uttar Pradesh
2024 – Assam
All Saints Province – Growth and Structure
With the continued growth of the Indian mission, the congregation's presence developed into an organized ecclesial structure:
1986 – Recognized as a Delegation
1997 – Elevated to a Vice Province
2006 – Established as the All Saints Province
Current Presence (as of 2025)
Today, the All Saints Province consists of 24 communities across 7 Indian states:
Kerala – 6 Communities
3 in Vijayapuram Diocese
1 each in Changanassery and Kanjirappally (Syro-Malabar)
1 in Thiruvananthapuram (Latin)
Karnataka – 2 Communities
In the Bangalore and Mangalore Dioceses
Andhra Pradesh – 7 Communities
Across Guntur, Vijayawada, and Srikakulam Dioceses
Odisha – 2 Communities
In the Rayagada and Berhampur Dioceses
Punjab – 5 Communities
Within the Jalandhar Diocese
Uttar Pradesh – 1 Community
In the Meerut Diocese
Assam – 1 Community
In the Guwahati Diocese
OVER 50 YEARS OF OUR MISSION
Regular Franciscan Tertiary Sisters of Ognissanti (RFTS) – All Saints Province, India
"In the spirit of St. Francis, serving with love and humility."
Apostolic Ministries
Rooted in the Franciscan charism, the Sisters of RFTS serve in diverse apostolic works, especially among the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable:
Elderly and sick care
Orphanages for boys and girls
Teaching and educational services
Hospital and hospice care
Pastoral ministry and parish involvement
Through these ministries, the Sisters live out their mission with simplicity, compassion, and deep faith.
Mother Generals (Congregation-wide)
We gratefully acknowledge the guidance of our Mother Generals:
Sr. Giacinta Berni (1926–1940)
Sr. Alessandra Brezzi (1940–1966)
Sr. Margherita Monni (1966–1978, 1984–1990)
Sr. Daniela Panicucci (1978–1984)
Sr. Samuela Benvenuti (1990–2009)
Sr. Margherita Zedda (2009–2015)
Sr. Mariangela Gregolon (2015–Present)
Leadership in India
The All Saints Province has been blessed with visionary and committed leaders over the decades:
Rev. Sr. Fiorella Kaniankunnel
Delegate Superior (1986–1992)
Rev. Sr. Thresiamma Moolakkara
Delegate Superior (1992–1997)
Rev. Sr. Anice Uzhathiparambil
Vice Provincial (1997–2003)
Rev. Sr. Thresiamma Muringayil
Vice Provincial / Provincial (2003–2009)
Rev. Sr. Betty Mecheriparambil
Provincial (2009–2015)
Rev.Sr.Valsamma Pandiyalackal
Provincial (2015–2021)
Rev. Sr.Lucy D’Souza
Provincial (2021–2022)
Rev. Sr.Mercykutty Karakkattu
Provincial (2022–Present)
Golden Jubilee Celebration (1976–2026)
“Live Simply, Love Deeply – Embracing Gospel Values in the Footsteps of Francis”
The year 2025–2026 marks 50 years of the RFTS mission in India
a sacred time of gratitude, reflection, and renewal.
Preparatory Spiritual Initiatives:
To spiritually prepare for the Jubilee, the Province has undertaken the following:
Special Jubilee Prayer
Chain Rosary
Intercessory Prayer Groups
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Bible Writing (New Testament)
Bible Quiz on the Gospel of St. Luke
Spiritual Reading: Mirror of Perfection
Year-long abstinence from meat (except Christmas, Easter, and October 4 – Feast of St. Francis)
Inaugural Celebration – September 8, 2025
The Golden Jubilee celebrations were inaugurated with a solemn Thanksgiving Mass, presided over by Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin Alexander, Auxiliary Bishop of Vijayapuram, at Assisi Bhavan, Kottayam.
Present were:
Priests from Vimalagiri Cathedral and local communities
Religious from Kerala communities
Provincial team and well-wishers
The celebration was followed by Agape, marking a grace-filled beginning to the Jubilee year.
Closing Celebration – September 12, 2026
The grand concluding celebration will be held at Vimalagiri Cathedral, Kottayam, in the presence of:
Mother General
Sisters from Italy, Brazil, and Africa
Entire All Saints Province
Clergy, laity, and friends of the congregation
A Legacy of Love and Service
From the heart of Florence to the mission fields of India, the Regular Franciscan Tertiary Sisters of Ognissanti continue to live out the Gospel through humility, simplicity, and joyful service.
Guided by the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi and the vision of our foundress, Lady Maria Elizabeth Corsini, we remain steadfast in our mission:
“To serve the poor, heal the broken, and bring hope where it is most needed.”
Sr. Mercykutty Karakkattu
Provincial
Golden Jubilee Inaugural Celebration – 8th September 2025
Venue: Assisi Bhavan, Kottayam
The inaugural celebration of the Golden Jubilee of our Congregation’s presence in India was held on the 8th of September 2025 at Assisi Bhavan, Kottayam. This significant milestone marked forty nine years of our mission and ministry in this blessed land.
The solemn Holy Eucharist was presided over by Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin Alexander Madathiparambil, Auxiliary Bishop of Vijayapuram. We were graced by the presence of the Parish Priest, Fathers from X Pious Priest Home, neighbouring priests, and Religious Sisters. The Provincial, Sr. Mercykutty Karakkattu and Councillors and our dear sisters from the various communities across Kerala also joined us, adding to the joy and solemnity of the occasion.
Following the Eucharistic celebration, we came together for a fraternal agape, sharing in the joy and unity of this memorable day. It was indeed a grace-filled and inspiring moment for all of us — a time to reflect with gratitude on the journey of the past forty nine years and to renew our commitment to the mission entrusted to us.
May this Jubilee year continue to be a time of renewal, thanksgiving, and deepened dedication to our charism.
Sr. Mercykutty Karakkattu, The Provincial
THE BEGINNING OF THE
RULE AND THE LIFE OF THE
BROTHERS AND SISTERS
OF THE THIRD ORDER REGULAR OF ST. FRANCIS
WORDS OF ST. FRANCIS TO HIS FOLLOWERS
(Letter to the Faithful I, 1-19)
All who love the Lord with their whole heart, with their whole soul and mind, and with all their strength, and love their neighbors as themselves, and who despise the tendency in their humanity to sin, receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and bring forth from within themselves fruits worthy of true penance;
How happy and blessed are these men and women when they do these things, and persevere in doing them because "the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon them" and the Lord will make His home and "dwelling place with them". They are the children of the Heavenly Father whose works they do. They are the spouses, brothers and mothers of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are his spouses when the faithful soul is united by the Holy Spirit with Our Lord Jesus Christ. We are brothers when we do the "will of the Father who is in Heaven" . We are mothers when we bear Him in our hearts and bodies with divine love and with pure and sincere consciences; and we give birth to him through a holy life which should enlighten others because of our example.
How glorious it is to have so holy and great a Father in Heaven; and to have such a beautiful and admirable Spouse, the Holy Paraclete; and to have a Brother and Son, so holy, beloved, blessed, humble, peaceful, sweet, lovable, and desirable over all things: Our Lord Jesus Christ who gave up his life for his sheep and prayed to the Father, saying: "Holy Father, keep in your name those whom You gave Me in the world; they are Yours and You gave them to Me". And "the word which You gave Me I gave to them, and they accepted it and truly believed that it came forth from You. And they have accepted that You sent Me". I pray for them and "not for the world" . Bless them and "sanctify them". 1 "sanctify Myself for their sakes"
"I do not pray only for these but also for those who, through their word, will believe in Me", may they be holy "in oneness as We are". Father, I wish that "where I am they too may be and that they may see My glory in Your kingdom" .
"... Now look at what I have done,
most holy and blessed father,
I have seen you through to the end with fitting and worthy praises,
inadequate though they be,
and I have written down your deeds
telling the story as well as I could.
Please allow me,
pitiful as I am,
to follow you worthily in the present,
that I may mercifully merit joining you in the future.
O loving one,
bear in mind your poor sons
for whom, without you,
their one and only consolation,
there is little comfort.
Even though you,
their primary and prized portion,
have joined the choirs of angels,
and are seated with the apostles on a throne of glory,
they still lie in a muddy swamp,
enclosed in a dark cell, tearfully crying out to you:
"O father,
place before Jesus Christ, son of the Most High Father,
His sacred stigmata;
and show Him the signs of the cross on your hands, feet, and side,
that He may mercifully bare His own wounds to the Father,
and because of this
the Father will ever show us in our anguish
His tenderness.
Amen.". (II Celano X)
In that love which is God (1 Jn 4:16) all the brothers and sisters, whether they are engaged in prayer, or in announcing the word of God, or in serving, or in doing manual labor, should strive to be humble in everything. They should not seek glory, or be self-satisfied, or interiorly proud because of a good work or word God does or speaks in or through them. Rather in every place and circumstance, let them acknowledge that all good belongs to the most high Lord and Ruler of all things. Let them always give thanks to Him from Whom we receive all good (Rule and Life 31)
Exhortation and Blessing
Let the sisters and brothers always be mindful that they should desire one thing alone, namely, the Spirit of God at work within them. Always obedient to the Church and firmly established in the Catholic faith, let them live according to the poverty, the humility and the holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ which they have solemnly promised to observe.
"Whoever will observe these, things shall be filled with the blessings of the Most High Father in Heaven, and on earth with the blessing of His beloved Son, with the Holy Spirit, and with all virtues and with all the saints. And I, Brother Francis, your little one and servant, in so far as I am able, confirm to you within and without this most Holy Blessing. (Rule and Life 32)
Ognissanti- Firenze :20-22/08/2012
Via Vittorio - Firenze : 02/07/2012
Mercatale - 27/05/2012
Montecatini 15/08/2012
Capannoli - 28/04/2012
Silver Jubilee of Brazil Mission 1992-2017
In memory of the 3rd centuary of RFTS and the Inauguration of the children's home
"Porciuncula"
Kanjirappally- Kerala-India