The Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier, Pilar ( la, Societas Missionariorum Sancti Francisci Xaverii), abbreviated SFX and commonly referred to as the Society of Pilar or the Pilar Fathers is a
Roman Catholic
society of apostolic life of Pontifical Right for men (
priests
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in p ...
and
brothers). Its members add the nominal letters S.F.X. after their names to indicate their membership in the Congregation.
History
The Society was formed on September 26, 1887, at Agonda (Canacona) by a priest in south
Goa,
India named Father José Bento Martins Ribeiro, who, together with his three companions, decided to dedicate their lives for the service of God's people. Their aim was to serve the diaspora Catholics of the predominantly non catholic areas of Goa called the 'Nova Conquistas' and to proclaim the Gospel in these areas. In 1890, the headquarters of the Society were transferred from Agonda to Pilar where the Society has its Mother House today. In 1891, the Society's Rules (Constitution) were approved by a local bishop. Father Bento Martins became the Society's first superior.
The Society grew slowly. From 1887 to 1934, the Society had no more than a total 21 members, and from 1896 to 1934 the Society never exceeded eight priests at one time.
In 1939, when only one member remained, the Society was reorganised, primarily by Fr. Conceicao Rodrigues and Fr. Francisco Sequeira with four others. Today the Society is spread over 38 dioceses in India and 8 dioceses abroad with 3 Bishops, 383 priest members and 9 lay brothers. Its Generalate is in Porvorim Goa, and its mother house is in Pilar Goa.
See also
* http://www.delhiprovincesfx.com/Default.aspx
* http://societyofpilarkolkataprovince.org/history_prov.html
*
Agnel Ashram
*
Fr. Agnel Multipurpose School and Junior College
Fr. Agnel Multipurpose School and Jr. College also known as 'Agnels', is a private school in Juhunagar, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, India. Fr. Agnel Multipurpose School was established in the year 1982 in Juhunagar, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, with the objective ...
*
Fr. Agnel School, New Delhi
Fr. Agnel School, is a private co-educational English medium school run by the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier, Pilar in New Delhi, India. It was established by Fr. Conceicao Rodrigues, an Agnel Ashram priest in 1979. The scho ...
*
Fr. Agnel School, Noida
*
Fr. Agnel Stadium
Fr. Agnel Stadium is a football stadium located at Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It is located at the premises of Fr. Agnel Multipurpose School and Junior College which was established in the year 1982. The stadium is India's first m ...
*
Fr. Conceicao Rodrigues Institute of Technology
Father Conceicao Rodrigues Institute of Technology (FCRIT) is a private engineering college affiliated to the University of Mumbai located in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. The institute offers the B.E degree courses in Computer Engineering, Electrical En ...
*
Fr. Conceicao Rodrigues College of Engineering
The Fr. Conceição Rodrigues College of Engineering (CRCE; popularly known as Fr. Agnel Bandra) is a private engineering college in Mumbai, India.
History
The college was started in 1984 with a single course of production engineering with a ...
*
Fr. Conceicao Rodrigues Memorial Debate
*
Agnelo de Souza
*
Aleixo das Neves Dias
References
External links
Official Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier, Pilar website
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Christian seminaries and theological colleges in India
Catholic seminaries
Christianity in Goa
Colonial Goa
Education in North Goa district
Societies of apostolic life
Educational institutions established in 1887
1887 establishments in India
1880s establishments in Portuguese India