The Capuchin friars of Kerala, India, became mission partners in Papua New Guinea nearly twenty‑five years ago. The state of Kerala is in the far southwest corner of the subcontinent. The Church was established by St. Thomas the Apostle, not too long after the resurrection of Christ. As it is today, Christianity is a minority religion in the overwhelmingly Hindu nation. Capuchins have seen a rapid rise in vocations in recent decades in the region. In fact, there are more Capuchin friars in Kerala than the US, Europe and Asia combined! The friars have sent missionaries to many parts of the world and India, establishing parishes, schools and healthcare facilities. Many of the friars work among the poorest in India, including the “untouchables,” the lowest caste in the Hindu country. In fact, some of the friars are from that caste. They do heroic work in India and around the world. The Seraphic Mass Association helps the Capuchins of Kerala with the costs of seminary training, emergency relief centers, and the missions entrusted to them. Missionaries from Kerala are hard-working and devout. They are a blessing for the work of the missions in Papua New Guinea.
