The year 1956 marked a significant turning point in the history of the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation. At a time when the Congregation was passing through a period of uncertainty and anxiety, Divine Providence placed in the path of the Sisters a remarkable spiritual guide in the person of Rev. Fr. Pacificus, OFM Cap., the Capuchin Novice Master. His arrival proved to be a source of encouragement, guidance, and renewed hope for the Sisters. With his fatherly concern and deep spiritual insight, Fr. Pacificus gradually became a trusted Father and guide to the Congregation.
Recognizing the need for a firm spiritual foundation and a deeper ecclesial identity, Fr. Pacificus took the initiative towards the affiliation of the Congregation with the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. His efforts, together with the dedicated collaboration of Mother Mary Agnes Mathias and Mother Genevieve, eventually bore fruit. In 1956, the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation was affiliated to the Franciscan Order of the Capuchins. This affiliation opened a new chapter in the history of the Congregation and gave a fresh impetus to its spiritual journey and apostolic mission.
Fr. Pacificus played a particularly important role in helping the Sisters understand and embrace the richness of Franciscan spirituality. He personally conducted conferences and spiritual instructions for the Sisters, guiding them in the deeper meaning of the Evangelical Counsels and introducing them more fully to the spirit and ideals of St. Francis of Assisi. Through his teachings, the Sisters were encouraged to deepen their commitment to Christ, to live the values of simplicity and humility, and to serve others with greater love and dedication.
In that same year, all the Sisters made their profession of the three religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. This was a moment of profound spiritual significance for the entire Congregation. The profession of the vows expressed the Sisters’ wholehearted desire to consecrate themselves to God and to live their religious vocation more faithfully in the spirit of the Gospel and the Franciscan tradition. The event brought great joy and renewed enthusiasm throughout the Congregation. It strengthened their sense of unity and gave them a clearer direction for the years ahead.
Fr. Pacificus continued to be an able and devoted spiritual guide to the Sisters for many years. His fatherly presence, wise counsel, and spiritual instructions left a lasting impression on the Congregation during its formative years. After him, Fr Ligoury Noronha and Fr Remigius Sequeira generously assisted the Sisters as spiritual directors, continuing the tradition of spiritual accompaniment and formation that had become an important part of the Congregation’s life.
The Franciscan affiliation also gave the Sisters greater confidence and courage to look beyond the boundaries of their familiar surroundings. A new missionary spirit began to emerge within the Congregation. There was a steady inflow of candidates who were attracted by the spirit of prayer, simplicity, service, and dedication that characterized the Sisters’ way of life. The Congregation gradually began to experience new vitality, both in its religious life and in its apostolic outreach.
With this renewed spirit, the Sisters also ventured beyond the frontiers of the Diocese of Mangalore. They courageously responded to the needs of people in places that were distant and often unfamiliar to them. In 1956 itself, the Sisters made their way to Hunsur in the Diocese of Mysore, marking an important step in the Congregation’s expansion. From Hunsur, their mission gradually extended to the surrounding remote villages, where they encountered communities with varied needs and circumstances.
These early missionary ventures demanded courage, sacrifice, adaptability, and a deep trust in Divine Providence. The Sisters willingly embraced the challenges of travelling to distant and less-developed areas, bringing with them not only their apostolic services but also the compassionate presence of Christ. Their ministry among the people became an expression of the Franciscan spirit they had come to embrace, a spirit of simplicity, humility, fraternity, and loving service.
Thus, the Franciscan affiliation of 1956 was far more than a formal association with a religious order. It became a new spiritual milestone in the journey of the Congregation. It strengthened the Sisters in their consecrated life, deepened their Franciscan identity, and gave fresh direction to their apostolic mission. The guidance of Fr. Pacificus and the dedicated leadership of Mother Mary Agnes Mathias and Mother Genevieve helped the Congregation move forward with renewed faith and confidence. The seeds sown during this period would, in the years to come, grow into a wider network of communities and ministries, enabling the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters to carry their mission far beyond their original boundaries.
