ASIA/INDIA - Augustinians in India since 1572

Thursday, 2 October 2008

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Aluva Kerala (Agenzia Fides) – The Augustinian Order has been present on the Indian subcontinent since 1572, in the area of Goa and Cochin. In 1834, the Portuguese suppression of the religious orders led to the absence of the Augustinians for over a century. They would have to wait until 1968, when Augustinian Father Augustine Trape, in a General Chapter held in the United States, made the proposal that the Order return to India.
In 1969, they contacted the Bishops in the southern Indian state of Kerala, site of the old mission for evangelizing the East. In 1970, the Augustinian Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in the Philippines approved the establishment of a new Delegation in Fort Cochin. The solemn inauguration of the building to be use for seminarians took place on February 4, 1982, on the 425th anniversary of the foundation of the Diocese of Cochin (February 4, 1557).
In the years to come, a minor seminary would be opened, in affiliation with the parish of Saint Anthony of Padua in Edacochin. In 1996, the parish property was donated by the Diocese to the Augustinian Order, who built a new Church which is today the home parish of the Augustinian Delegation in India. In the 90s, another house of study was opened at Aluva, 35 km from Edacochin. Until 2006, the three foundations had been a part of the Eastern Vicariate in the Philippines Province, but in July 2006, the General Curia established the Indian Delegation. That same year, the Delegation acquired the property of a primary and secondary school in the city of Pollachi (in the state of Tamil Nadu, on the border with Kerala to the east). In accordance with the law and customs of India, the school is open to children of all religions. With the arrival of the Augustinians, the number of students has gone up 10%.
In 2008, according to OSA, the delegation has 19 priests, 34 seminarians, 8 novices, 7 with temporal vows, and 2 with solemn perpetual vows. All the members are of Indian origin. (AM) (Agenzia Fides 02/10/2008)