The Custody of Prem Jyoti, New Delhi

The foundation of this mission goes back to 1915, when a small chapel was opened at Gudahal Mohalla, Shahdra, Delhi. After the lapse of many years during which many Diocesan priests served Shahdra mission, the Archdiocese of Delhi entrusted it to the Capuchins in 1972. Later, the mission was entrusted to St. Francis of Assisi Province, Kerala.

Prem Jyoti Custody under the patronage of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelccina was inaugurated on 22 Nov 2003. In Custody, we have nine fraternities and four schools. In Delhi, we have three friaries and two schools, viz., Premjyoti Headquarters at Yamuna Vihar, St. Joseph Ashram, St. John’s Academy and Assisi Informal Technical Education Endeavour at Jwala Nagar and Shanti Bhavan at Naveen Shahdara along with St. Joseph Academy at SavitaVihar. In Haryana, we have two friaries and a school with a social centre, St. Francis Ashram and St. Francis Academy at Kala-Amb, and a formation house named Navjyoti Gurukul and a Mass Centre in Bawal along with a social centre.

In Punjab, we have only one friary, Portiuncula Ashram, Patiala.

In Himachal Pradesh, we have three friaries, three parishes, a school and a Play School and a Social Center. La Verna Ashram in Nahan has a parish and a Play School and a social centre attached to it. St. Francis Ashram in Dadahu, Renuka, is also a fraternity with a school attached to it. The construction work of the school near our Friary in Renuka is in progress. We have a historical heritage of St. Francis Assisi Church, a Parish at Subathu, founded by Italian Capuchin Missionaries. Moreover, we have formed a community at St. Patrick’s Church, Dagshai.