Portiuncula Friary
Encyclopedia
The Franciscan Portiuncula Friary is the oldest Friary in Pakistan, founded in 1940. It is located in Gulshan-e-Iqbal
, Karachi, adjacent to the Christ the King Seminary
.
It was named after the chapel Portiuncula (meaning little portion in Italian) dedicated to St Mary of the Angels near Assisi
in Italy. It was here that Saint Francis of Assisi
first heard the call to rebuild the Church.
The Friars Minor arrived in Karachi from the Netherlands on January 13, 1934. They officially took over the mission from the Society of Jesus
on June 22, 1935.
Father Valens Wienk became the first provincial superior of the mission. In November 1936, Father Salesius Lemmens became the ecclesiastical superior of the Karachi mission.
Fr. Liberius Pieterse
OFM was one of the first to join the teaching staff of the Friary. He taught philosophy, Greek, Hebrew and music.
The friars and diocesan priests worked in the mission of Sindh and Baluchistan administering parishes in Karachi, Kotri, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Quetta. The friars eventually began to visit prisoners and work among drug addicts and the handicapped.
In 1951, 25 Catholic families living across the Lyari River
from the Friary formed the beginning of St. Jude's Parish
. The Friars were asked to take responsibility for the new parish. Fr. Edouald OFM was the first parish priest.
The Friary celebrated its golden jubilee on September 17, 1990. Speaking on the occasion, Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Theodore Lobo
of Karachi said the mission of the friars is similar to that of Saint Francis of Assisi
, who stressed the need to live the Gospels in daily life.
Over the years the Friary has produced some important workers for the Church in Pakistan:
To increase co-operation between provinces, in 2009 Vernon Chua, a 5th year friar from Singapore came to the Karachi friary for studies and to share in the life of the friars here.
The friary has become an important venue for seminars and conferences, like the seminar on the "Importance of human rights in the current scenario" organized by the National Commission for Justice and Peace
on September 26, 2009.
Gulshan-e-Iqbal
'Iqbal Goth' is a large residential and commercial neighbourhood of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.The name "Gulshan-e-Iqbal" means "the garden of Iqbal", referring to the national poet of Pakistan, Allama Muhammad Iqbal....
, Karachi, adjacent to the Christ the King Seminary
Christ the King Seminary (Pakistan)
Christ the King Seminary is a Roman Catholic seminary in Karachi. It is located adjacent to the Portiuncula Friary. In its early years most of the faculty were provided by the Franciscans....
.
It was named after the chapel Portiuncula (meaning little portion in Italian) dedicated to St Mary of the Angels near Assisi
Assisi
- Churches :* The Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi is a World Heritage Site. The Franciscan monastery, il Sacro Convento, and the lower and upper church of St Francis were begun immediately after his canonization in 1228, and completed in 1253...
in Italy. It was here that Saint Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
first heard the call to rebuild the Church.
The Friars Minor arrived in Karachi from the Netherlands on January 13, 1934. They officially took over the mission from the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
on June 22, 1935.
Father Valens Wienk became the first provincial superior of the mission. In November 1936, Father Salesius Lemmens became the ecclesiastical superior of the Karachi mission.
Fr. Liberius Pieterse
Liberius Pieterse
Liberius Pieterse was a Franciscan priest working initially in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi in Pakistan.-Early Life:He was born in Wageningen, Holland on 12 February 1905. He did his schooling in Rotterdam, Schiedam and Utrecht. He studied at the Conservatorium of Music in Rotterdam....
OFM was one of the first to join the teaching staff of the Friary. He taught philosophy, Greek, Hebrew and music.
The friars and diocesan priests worked in the mission of Sindh and Baluchistan administering parishes in Karachi, Kotri, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Quetta. The friars eventually began to visit prisoners and work among drug addicts and the handicapped.
In 1951, 25 Catholic families living across the Lyari River
Lyari River
Lyari River is a small ephemeral stream that flows through the Pakistani megacity of Karachi from north east to the center and drains into the Arabian Sea at the Monora channel. It is one of the two rivers of Karachi, the other one being Malir River. The river is about 50 kilometres long...
from the Friary formed the beginning of St. Jude's Parish
St. Jude's Church
St. Jude's Church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi, is situated in North Nazimabad in Karachi, Pakistan.-History:In 1951 Gabriel Indrias did a survey of 25 Catholic families living across the Lyari River from the Portiuncula Friary. Fr. Edouald OFM was the first parish priest...
. The Friars were asked to take responsibility for the new parish. Fr. Edouald OFM was the first parish priest.
The Friary celebrated its golden jubilee on September 17, 1990. Speaking on the occasion, Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Theodore Lobo
Anthony Theodore Lobo
Anthony Theodore Lobo is a Pakistani Roman Catholic bishop. He was born in Karachi, Pakistan on July 4, 1937 to parents of Goan origin. He received his early education at Saint Patrick's High School and religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi, and was ordained a priest in...
of Karachi said the mission of the friars is similar to that of Saint Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
, who stressed the need to live the Gospels in daily life.
Over the years the Friary has produced some important workers for the Church in Pakistan:
- Bonaventure Patrick PaulBonaventure Patrick PaulBonaventure Patrick Paul was born in Karachi, Pakistan on 26 March 1929. He received his early education at St Patrick's High School, Karachi. He received his religious training under the Order of Friars Minor at the Portiuncula Friary in Karachi, and was ordained a priest in Karachi on 1 March...
, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad. - Father Augustine Fernandes, Professor, gifted preacher and relationship counselor
- Sebastian Francis ShahSebastian Francis ShahSebastian Francis Shah was born in Padri-Jo-Goth, Pakistan on 14 November 1957. He received his early education at Fatima High School and attended the Government Degree College. He received his religious training under the Order of Friars Minor and at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi and...
, Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of LahoreRoman Catholic Archdiocese of LahoreThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore is an archdiocese in Punjab, Pakistan.-History:It was founded as a diocese on 1 September 1886, having previously been the Vicariate of Punjab. On 23 April 1994 the diocese was elevated to the rank of Archdiocese. Fr...
To increase co-operation between provinces, in 2009 Vernon Chua, a 5th year friar from Singapore came to the Karachi friary for studies and to share in the life of the friars here.
The friary has become an important venue for seminars and conferences, like the seminar on the "Importance of human rights in the current scenario" organized by the National Commission for Justice and Peace
National Commission for Justice and Peace
The National Commission for Justice and Peace was formed in 1985 by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Pakistan. It provides services in the field of human rights advocacy. It has six regional offices in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Hyderabad and Quetta, and a head office in...
on September 26, 2009.