Capuchin Foundation in Pondicherry

The French Invite the Capuchins

When Colbert formed the French India company in 1664, it was made obligatory on the part of the company to propagate Christ to the world.[1] The Royal Edict of Article xxx issued on August 27, 1664, the company had to make suitable arrangements for the establishment of the Roman Catholicism in all its territories. François Martin a staunch and practicing catholic was glad to invite the Capuchin fathers from Madras to assume their religious duties in Pondicherry. When the French were taking initial steps to acquire Pondicherry from the Muslim governor in 1671, they had invited the Capuchins to care for their spiritual needs.[2]  According to Clemente de Terzorio, Fr. Cosmos de Gien went to Pondicherry in 1671 and served as a chaplain to the French colony. Since it was not a permanent stay even for the French, whenever they left, he had to leave for Madras.

 Fr. Cosmos De Gien – Founder of the First Christian Mission in Pondicherry

The French established themselves at Pondicherry in 1673 and invited the French Capuchins of the Tourine province from Madras to be their chaplains and to do whatever missionary work was possible.[3] Fr. Cosmos de Gien who had been with the French at Pondicherry in 1671 and he was now sent officially to establish a permanent Capuchin mission in Pondicherry.[4] Fr. Cosmos de Gien a true follower of St. Francis came to Pondicherry and established the mission on January 15, 1674.[5] He was a man of great missionary zeal and his edified life of simplicity and poverty attracted many non-Christians to Christ. It is Fr. Cosmos de Gien who laid the foundation of the Christian community in Pondicherry and he could be rightly honored as the founder of the Pondicherry mission. The Capuchins were given a small church in the Fort built by the French.[6]

The Capuchin Missionaries from Madras

            Fr. Cosmos de Gien continued to be in Pondicherry till 1691. He worked tirelessly to fulfill the spiritual needs of the people.[7] Because of the increase in the Christian community, it was very difficult to serve them as a single person. Therefore Fr. Gien sought help from Fr. John Baptist of Aignant the superior of the Eastern Capuchin mission in Syria and he directed him to the Capuchin missionaries in Madras.[8]They positively responded to his request and sent three missionaries Frs. Jacques of Bourges, Lawrence of Angouleme and Spiritus of Tours to Pondicherry in 1686.[9] These four Capuchin missionaries looked after the spiritual needs of the French, the Portuguese, the Eurasians and Malabaris or the native Christians.[10]

            Pondicherry was under the diocese of Mylapore and the Capuchins subjected themselves to the Bishop of Padroado’s jurisdiction and acknowledged Portuguese patronage.[11] The Capuchins were very successful in their missionary activities. These Malabaris are not to be confused with the people of Malabar region in Kerala today but the Christians from Madurai, Mysore and Karnatic regions whom the Jesuit missionaries specially Fr. Robert de Nobili (+1656) allowed to retain certain Hindu practices and customs even after their conversion to Christianity.

 New Missionaries in Pondicherry

            At  the time of François Martin there were only three streets in the growing French township of Pondicherry and the residence of the Capuchins friars area was called the Capuchin street and today it is known as Roman Roland street.[12] The Capuchins since their first arrival in 1632 or rather since their establishment in 1674 were the only missionaries in Pondicherry and in the surrounding districts till 1688.[13] Therefore the Capuchins can be rightly called the first missionaries of Pondicherry.

 M.E.P Fathers

            A great revolution broke out in Siam (Today’s Thailand) in 1687 and the missionaries endured a lot of sufferings and many were expelled.[14]  In the same year Fr. De La Vigne, MEP (the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris), came and established a MEP procure in Pondicherry.

Jesuits

The mission of the French Jesuits failed in Siam and they came to Pondicherry for the first time in 1689.[15] Fr. Cosmos de Gien the mission superior of Pondicherry received them with great affection and Franciscan hospitality.[16] The Jesuits were honoured as dignified guests of Capuchins.[17] They continued to assist the Capuchins from 1686-1693 and lived in perfect harmony. The Capuchins used to invite the Jesuits from Madurai mission to Pondicherry to instruct the Tamil Catholics and administer the sacraments.[18] John de Britto the future martyr at Oriyur(XhpA+H), Marva(kwtehL) country came to Pondicherry at the invitation of the Capuchins. He baptized five adults, one child and blessed three marriages on July-August 1691.

During this time the governor François Martin reorganized the mission that the Capuchins to be in charge of the white and the mixed population, but the Jesuits to work exclusively among the natives.[19] The Jesuit missionaries who wee in-charge of the native Christians had built the church of the Immaculate Conception[20] in Black town, 1691 by the financial help obtained from King Louis XIV.[21] This church was demolished during the Dutch occupation in 1693[22]  and was rebuilt into a big structure in 1726-36.

The Apostolic Prefecture of Pondicherry

            The Jesuits were suppressed by the French government on November 18, 1764 but allowed to minister as Jesuits in their colonies.[1] In 1773 Pope Clement XIV declared a universal suppression of the Society of Jesus. As Jesuits, they could no longer continue their mission therefore the Jesuit Malabar or Carnatic mission in Pondicherry was officially handed over to the “Missions Estrangers de Paris” (Foreign missions of Paris) by King Louis XVI in March, 1776. Rome appointed Mgr. Peter Brigot MEP, bishop of Tabracca on 30^th September 1776 as the Superior of the Malabar mission with the faculties of a Vicar Apostolic.

            Meantime, the French governor requested the Sacred Congregation in Rome to appoint one of the Capuchins to be Prefect Apostolic of Pondicherry over the Europeans and Eurasians.[2] He asked this favour in order to curtail the influence of the bishop of Mylapore who was under the Padroado system of Portugal. The Cardinal of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide, Joseph Mary thus appointed Fr. Sebastian of Nevers a Capuchin from the province of Tours as the first Prefect Apostolic of Pondicherry over the Europeans and Eurasians on 28^th September 1776 in Rome. The Capuchin Prefecture was extended to all the French colonies in India. This double jurisdiction brought a lot of difficulties over in knowing the clear distinction between the Creoles, the Topasses and the Malabaris.[3] This problem existed until when this was handed over to the Holy Ghost Fathers in 1828. In 1827, the sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny came to Pondicherry to work among the French under the Capuchin Prefecture.

New Missions in the French Colonies

            The relations between the MEP Bishop-Superior over the Natives and the Capuchin Prefect over the Europeans were cordial. They agreed to exchange their faculties in case of the grave sickness or death of one of them.[4] The French invited the French Capuchins in Pondicherry to be their spiritual shepherds in all their settlements in India. Thus The Capuchins were privileged to work in all the French colonies and the Capuchin Prefecture was extended where ever their missionaries had worked.

 Karaikal

            In 1737 the French acquired Karaikal(fhiuf;fhy;) a small territory 85 km from South of Pondicherry.[5] Monsieur Dumas the governor requested Fr. Dominic of Vallance the superior of the Capuchin mission in Pondicherry to extend their ministry activities to Karaikal. He could send a Capuchin missionary only in 1740, when a batch of missionaries arrived from Savoie. This mission flourished well and became a great centre of missionary scope. The Capuchins were the in charge of the mission until it was handed over to the MEP Fathers in 1820

Machilipatnam

            The Christians at Machilipatnam and Bimlipatnam were of Cosmopolitan origin.  These Christians communities were the Natives, the Dutch, the French, the English and the mixed races. The Theatine Fathers from Goa were in charge of these people.[6] When they left by 1694, the Augustinians succeeded them. The French at Machilipatnam asked for a French priest. The Capuchins of Pondicherry responded to their call in 1750. Fr. Augustine of Poitiers, a Capuchin was appointed by the Bishop of Mylapore as parish priest of Machilipatnam the Capuchin Superior confirmed it on 6^th July 1752. An Austrian Capuchin Father John from Machilipatnam had worked at Guntur in 1789 and another Capuchin missionary Benjamin had served at Vishakhapatnam in 1798. The Capuchin friars of Pondicherry worked in all these coastal areas of Andhra till the end of the 18^th century.

Chandernagore

            The French established a settlement in Chandernagore a small town in West Bengal, 1690. The Capuchin Fathers of Tibet mission came to Chandernagore and built their first church dedicated to Our Lady of Loreto[7], later the Capuchins from Pondicherry took of this mission from 1706.[8] Since there were only European Catholics, the Capuchin Prefect Apostolic of Pondicherry firmly believed that Chandernagore came under his jurisdiction.[9]  The issue of jurisdiction was settled on 17^th September 1793 by an agreement signed by Nicholas Champenois MEP Bishop-Superior of Pondicherry and Fr. Benjamin OFM.Cap the Vice Prefect Apostolic of Pondicherry that the mission of Chandernagore to be part of the Capuchin Prefecture.[10] The Capuchins remained in serving the faithful in Chandernagore till 1882.[11]

The Prefects Apostolic of Pondicherry Capuchin Mission[12]

1. Rev. Fr. Sebastian of Nevers OFM. Cap.,               (23/09/1776 – 26/11/1780)

2. Rev. Fr. Donatus of Aurelinensis OFM. Cap.,        (27/11/1780 – 10/09/1786)

3. Rev. Fr. Hilarius of Pictaviensis OFM.Cap.,          (11/09/1786 – 23/11/1788)

4. Rev. Fr. Damasus of Oleron OFM Cap.,                (24/11/1788 –

5. Rev. Fr. Benedictus of Monterotundo OFM Cap., (21/02/1792 –

A clear detail study on the Prefects Apostolic of Pondicherry is not available but this list of Prefects is the study of Fr. Clement of Terzorio from the General Archives of the Capuchin Order in Rome.

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[1] Here and the following, Yacobu, 17-19.

[2] Here and the following, Peter Celestine, 31-33.

[3] Here and the following,  Sampathkumar, 81.

[4] Hambye,183f.

[5] Here and the following, Peter Celestine, 26.

[6] Hambye, 324-326.

[7] Peter Celestine, 32f.

[8] Christopher O’Mahony, Church History A Summary, vol., ii, Alwaye: Pontifical Institute Publication, 1987, 294.

[9] Sampathkumar, 35.

[10] Peter Celestine, 34f.

[11] Joachim (ed.), 11.

[12] Here and the following, Clemens a Tezorio, 149f.

                                                                                      
                                                                                     - Fr. A. Thainis, OFM. Cap.,
                                                                                        thainiscap@gmail.com
                                                                                        thainiscap@yahoo.co.in

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[1]. Here and the following. Ibid, 198.

[2] Here and the following, Clemente de Terzorio, MHMOMC, Isola Del Liri: Soc.Tip, A Macioce and Pisanie, 1926, 23.

[3] Collectiona Franciscana, 273.

[4] Joseph Thekkedath, 199.

[5] Here and the following, Collectiona Franciscana, 275.

[6] Sampathkumar (trans.), History of Pondicherry mission-an out line, Chennai: University of Madras, 2000, 8.

[7] Joseph Thekkedath, 199.

[8] Collectiona Franciscana, 275.

[9] Clemens a Terzorio, 148f.

[10] Joseph Thekkedath, 199.

[11] Here and the following, Lucius, Capuchin Studies, “The Capuchins in India,” vol., iv, no., 4, Quilon: Assisi Press, December 1959, 23.

[12] Madanakalyani (trans.,), Puducherry-a City of Trade (GJr;Nrhp xU tzpfj;js Chpd; tuyhW), Puducherry: French College, 1998, 60.

[13] Thomas Pothacamury, 60.

[14] Collectiona Franciscana, 276.

[15] Thomas Pothacamury, 60

[16] Peter Celestine, 20.

[17] Here and the following, Norbert Wolf, 18.

[18] Here and the following, Hambye, History of Christianity in India, vol., iii, Bangalore: Church History Association of India, Theological Publications in India, 1982, 170f.

[19] Joseph Thekkedath, 199f.

[20] Hambye, 172ff.

[21] Gabriel 73.

[22] Ibid, footnote, 73.

[23] Hambye, footnote, 173.