We are contemplative women sharing in the charism of Sts. Francis and Clare and our foundress, Marie Claire Bouillvaux. We form a sisterhood centered in Eucharist, and committed to radical gospel living. Together we embrace a poor and humble lifestyle in total dependence upon God.

The Franciscan Family

Our origins date back to the 13th century, to the Franciscan movement initiated by St. Francis and St. Clare in Assisi, Italy. This movement which, in the beginning, was simply to live faithfully the gospel of Jesus Christ in brotherhood and sisterhood, eventually became the three Franciscan Orders: the Friars Minor, the Poor Sisters (Poor Clares), and the Secular Franciscans.

Our Holy Mother St. Clare

St. Clare was a noble woman of the Italian town of Assisi at the end of the 12th and the beginning of the 13th centuries. Known from her youth as a devout girl, Clare was touched to the heart by the preaching of her contemporary St. Francis of Assisi. On the night after Palm Sunday in 1212, Clare left her family home and followed Francis in giving herself to living a poor, simple, Gospel life at the little church of San Damiano on the outskirts of Assisi. Although her family was initially furious with her decision, many young women followed Clare's example within a short time, including a number of members of her own family.

Our Community

The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration is one of the several branches of the Order of St. Clare. It was begun in France in 1854 by Marie Claire Bouillevaux in response to her call to contemplation and adoration of the Eucharist in a spirit of praise and thanksgiving.

This community, first known as the Franciscan Nuns of the Blessed Sacrament, adopted the contemplative way of life, and were given the privilege of solemn exposition of the Eucharist. In 1921, the first American foundation was established in Cleveland, Ohio. Several other monasteries have since been established in this country and in India .In 1947 a foundation was made in Quilon and in 1987 march 25 th in diocese of Alleppy our monastery was opened in the presence of Bishop Michael Arattukulam.

Devotion to Christ in the Eucharist is and always has been the central element in the Franciscan family. For the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, this devotion is expressed in a particular way through adoration of the exposed Eucharist. This is a special aspect of our effort to live out our call to offer praise and thanksgiving to God with and through Jesus on behalf of all people throughout the world.

Conscious of our unique call in the heart of the church as enclosed contemplatives, we dedicate our entire selves to living the Eucharistic Mystery. Through our daily celebration of the Eucharistic Liturgy and time given to loving prayer before the exposed Eucharist, we are graced to incarnate this Mystery in our own lives.

• by personal conversion to the gospel
• by offering loving adoration, praise and thanksgiving to God on behalf of all people
• by our efforts to live and work contemplatively, and to deepen our union with God in times of silence and solitude
• by our intercessory prayer for the Church and all people
• by our efforts to love and serve our sisters in true community
• by extending spiritual and material assistance to others in ways compatible with our contemplative life
• by showing sisterly hospitality and care to those who come to our monastery and in our relations with all persons.
• This is our cherished gift and call from our gracious God for which we are deeply grateful.