Our heavenly patron, St. Francis of Assisi – (Giovanni Francesco di Bernadone) was born in 1182 and died October 3, 1226. He was the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. As a youth, Francesco – or Francis in English – was generous and fun loving, a devotee of Troubadours. His ambition was to become a knight in the service of his beloved city, Assisi. In 1201 in a battle against the neighbouring city of Perugia, Francis was wounded and taken prisoner. He returned to Assisi a year later, a physically and spiritually broken young man. Upon recovering, he was a changed person and began to experience a great longing to recognize God’s will in his life.
St. Francis Group of Institutions in Mumbai are a chain of Christian/Catholic Minority Educational Institutions located in the Western Suburbs of India’s Financial Capital, Mumbai. St. Francis Group of Institutions have become a pride of Mumbai and India’s most sought-after academic community for its focus on excellence in value-based education and beneficial & educative extracurricular activities. Today, after 123 years of its inception, the Franciscan Brothers continue to train young minds and find solutions to address tomorrow’s challenges.
St. Francis Group of Institutions are established and run by the Franciscan Missionary Brothers, an International Organisation headquartered at Borivali (West), Mumbai. Rev. Bro. Paulus Moritz has founded the CONGREGATION OF THE MISSIONARY BROTHERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI in 1901 with the vision of reaching out to the poor and the less privileged. Bro. Paulus Mortiz was appointed the first Superior General of the Congregation of the CMSF. He worked tirelessly for the welfare of the Brothers and the missions. His famous dictum was: “As long as you look after the poor, God will look after you!” He was a man with a deep spiritual conviction and of prayer and contemplation. He knew that only a deeply religious person could become a great missionary, and he formed his Brothers in that pattern.
It was a relentless pilgrimage for him and his early companions in the mission of the Lord, serving the poor and needy at all costs in the villages of the entire country wherever they had been called to from 1901 till date, the inspiration of our Founder continues in the Brothers’ Love and Service to the Indian people and beyond. Starting missions all over India, guiding the Brothers through many vicissitudes and storms for over four decades, Bro. Paulus Mortiz relinquished the office of Superior General in 1941. He was called for his eternal reward on Nov 19 1942, after a brief illness, which he joyfully accepted as a prelude to his heavenward journey.
May he intercede for us, his children, from his heavenly dwelling to keep the mission of love to all, especially to the oppressed and marginalised!