BIRTH AND GROWTH OF ANDHRA MISSION TO A PROVINCE
Beginning of the Mission

The Capuchins began the Andhra Mission in 1968; but there was already Franciscan presence in Andhra Pradesh from as early as 1541. They began the work in Vijayanagaram even before St. Francis Xavier set foot in the Indian soil.

 In 1950, the Indian Capuchins wanted to begin a house in Guntur for implanting the Order in Andhra Pradesh and it could not be materialized. But later on at the request of the Archbishop of Hyderabad, Br. Seraphine of Maijummel was sent to Bollaram, Hyderabad, where he worked for a year. But being a military area, it was not found to be a suitable place for an Ashram.

The first two pioneers of Andhra Mission:
At the invitation of Bishop Alphonse Beretta, PIME, of Warangal, Br. Berchmans Puthuparambil, the then Provincial Minister of the undivided Capuchin Province of India, sent Br. Adolph Kannadipara, who arrived at Warangal on 13 May 1968. He was appointed as the Parish priest of Warangal and on 3 July 1968, he took up his residence at Vangapadu (Reddipuram), one of its sub-stations since there was neither church nor presbytery in the town. Meanwhile Bishop Ambrose de Battista of Vijayawada invited the Capuchins to his diocese. Accordingly on 5 September 1968, Br. Avito Pottukulam arrived at Pedavutapally. He was appointed assistant to Fr. Calderaro, PIME. A year later, Fr. Calderaro left the place after 43 years of hard work as Parish Priest. Br. Avito Pottukulam succeeded him.

Many more missionaries to Andhra Mission:
These two pioneering missionaries were followed by Bros. Oswald Pratap Kumpalakuzhy, Jeremias Ambelathuruthel, Peter Canisius Palamthattel, Edgar Joseph Kavalanal, Pastor Chettukulam, etc. Through the untiring efforts of these brothers, the Andhra Pradesh Capuchin Mission made steady progress. In 1974, it was established as Custody. Br. Peter Canisius was the first Superior Regular. In the beginning, they engaged themselves in pastoral ministry and in works of evangelization. The first step towards the implantation of the Order was taken by starting the Minor Seminary at Warangal in 1981 and recruiting local vocations. Later on as the brothers increased in number, new houses were begun in different dioceses of Andhra Pradesh. The ministry was also extended to the areas of education, health-care, social and developmental sectors.

Since 1974:
The beginning of the recruiting of the local Vocations in 1974 ·
Minor Seminary was established at Enikepadu in Vijayawada in 1983 ·
The first Ordination of the local Capuchin on 19 August 1986 ·
Andhra Mission celebrated Silver Jubilee on 10 October 1993 in Warangal ·
Vijnananilayam, Institute of Philosophy (1998) and Religion (1990) was established.
Mission was extended to the neighboring state of Orissa in 1995 .

Vice province in 1997:
In recognition of the growth and vitality of Marymatha Custody, it was established as a Vice province on 30 January 1997 (Prot. No. 00092/97). Br. Mathew Parinthirickal was the first Vice Provincial Minister.

Mission Extended to Orissa:
With a view to implant the Order also in the neighboring state of Orissa, the brothers began recruiting vocations there from as early as in 1992. In 1995, the first house in Orissa was started in the diocese of Berhampur as a Minor Seminary. Later on, two more houses were opened in the Arch-diocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar. Marymatha Custody was raised to Vice Province on 30 January 1997. Br. Mathew Parinthirickal was appointed as the first Vice Provincial Minister.

Vijnananilayam:
Another significant event in the growth of Andhra Pradesh Capuchin Mission was the establishment of Vijnananilayam, an institute of Philosophy and Religion at Janampet in Eluru Diocese. This opened up a new scope to serve the church in Andhra Pradesh and neighboring states by imparting priestly formation.

Province in 2008:
The General Definitory noticed the growth of the Marymatha Vice Province. Hence, the Definitory decided positively to establish the Marymatha Province on 13 June 2008 (Prot. No. 00028/08). Br. Thomas Sebastian Panachickavayalil was appointed the first Provincial Minister of Marymatha Capuchin Province of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.