The Capuchin Friars Minor began their mission in the region of Andhra Pradesh in 1968; but there was already the Franciscan presence in Andhra Pradesh from as early as 1541. They began their work in Vijayanagaram even before St. Francis Xavier set foot on the Indian soil. In 1950 the Indian Capuchins, before they were constituted as a Province, wanted to begin a house in Guntur for implanting the Order in Andhra Pradesh; but it could not be materialized. But later at the request of the Archbishop of Hyderabad, Br. Seraphine Manjummel 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 starting a Capuchin Ashram.

At the invitation of Bishop Alphonse Beretta, PIME, Provincial Minister of the undivided Capuchin Province of India, sent Br. Adolph Kannadipara to the Andhra Mission, and he 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 13 A Glance at its Birth and Growth Marymatha Capuchin Province Peddavutapally. He was appointed assistant to Fr. Calderaro, PIME. A year later, Fr. Calderaro left the place after 43 years of pastoral service as Parish Priest. Br. Avito Pottukulam succeeded him.

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 a Custody. Br. Peter and his companions engaged themselves in pastoral ministry and the work of the Order was taken care by starting the Minor Seminary at Warangal in 1981 and recruiting local vocations. Later on, as the brothers increased in number, new houses and services were begun extended to the areas of education, health-care and social and developmental works.

Another significant event in the growth of the capuchin mission in Andhra Pradesh was the establishment of Vijnananilayam, an institute of philosophy and religion, at Janampet in the diocese of Eluru. This opened up a new area to serve the Church in Andhra Pradesh and the neighboring states by giving priestly and religious formation to numerous candidates.

With a view to implant the Order also in the neighbouring state of Odisha, the brothers began recruiting BIRTH AND GROWTH 14 Directory 2023-2026 vocations and opened the first house in the diocese of Berhampur in 1992, as a Minor Seminary. Later on, two more houses were opened in the Archdiocese of Cuttack, Bhubaneswar. In 1997 the Marymatha Region was raised to the status of a Vice-province, and Br. Mathew Parinthirickal was appointed as the first Vice provincial Minister.

In recognition of the further growth and expansion of the order, the authorities, on 19 September 2007 decided to raise it to a Province. The Province of Andhra Pradesh - Odisha was established on 13 June 2008 (Prot. No. 00028/ 08) and Br. Thomas Sebastian panachickavayalil was appointed as the first Provincial Minister. He was succeeded by Br. Praveen Kumar Boyapati at the first Provincial Chapter held on 9 - 13 May 2011. Br. Chinnu Polisetty was elected as the Provincial Minister in the Second Provincial Chapter held on 17 - 22 March 2014. Br. Melchior Kata was the next Provincial Minister, elected in the Third Provincial Chapter held on 20 - 24 February 2017. Br. Karunakar Kasu was elected Provincial minister in the Fourth Provincial Chapter held on 24 - 28 February 2020. Br. Mariadas Prathipati was elected Provincial minister in the Fifth Provincial Chapter held on 27-31 March 2023

1968: Starting of the Capuchin Mission in Andhra Pradesh.

1974: February 25-27: The First Mission Consultation, in the presence of Fr. Hippolytus Kunnumkal, Provincial Minister of St. Joseph Province, with all 11 members at Peddavutapally. Br. Peter Canisius Palamthattel was elected as the Provincial Delegate. Br. Oswald Pratap Kumpalakuzhy and Br. Edgar Joseph Kavalanal were elected as Councilors.

1974: December 2-3: The First Mission Chapter was held at Peddavutapally. Br. Peter Canisius Palamthattel was elected as Superior Regular. Bros. Oswald Pratap Kumpalakuzhy and Suman Plathottam were elected as Councilors.

1974: July: Andhra Capuchin Mission was registered as a Charitable Society.

1977: The Second Mission Chapter was held from November 15-17 at Kovvur. Br. Peter Canisius was elected as Superior Regular, and Bros. Mathew Manakkat and Alex Andukunnel were elected as Councilors.

1980: The Third Mission Chapter was held on November 11-13 at Warangal. Br. Mathew Manakkat was elected as Regional Superior. Bros. Manuel Munduvelil and Thomas Ampattukuzhy were elected as Councilors.

1983: Minor Seminary cum Regional House at Enikepadu (Vijayawada) was blessed.

1986: August 19: The First Ordination of the Local Capuchin, Br. Papy Reddy, took place.

1986: The Fifth Mission Chapter was held from September 1-4 at Enikepadu. Br. Thomas Ampattukuzhy was elected as regional superior. Bros. Adolph Kannadipara and Alexander Madathil were elected as councilors.

1988: Vijnananilayam, Institute of Philosophy, was started at Janampet in the Diocese of Eluru.

1989: The Sixth Mission Chapter was held from 2–6 September at Enikepadu. Br. Adolph Kannadipara was elected as Regional Superior. Bros. Cherian Chemplany and Prashant Madakel were elected as Councilors.

1990: In June, the Theology section was started at Janampet, making Vijnananilayam a full fledged Major Seminary. The Capuchin students began their philosophical and theological studies there.

1992: The Seventh Mission Chapter was held from 15–18 December at Vijnananilayam, Janampet, Eluru. Br. Mathew Parinthirickal was elected as Regional Superior. Bros. Cherian Chemplany, Manuel Munduvelil, Edgar Joseph Kavanal, and Antony Chirayath were elected as Councilors.

1993: The Andhra Mission celebrated its Silver Jubilee at Warangal on 10th October.

1994: Blessing of the new Regional House at Enikepadu on 10th November.

1995: Blessing of the first house in Odisha at Berhampur on 21st November.

1996: The Eighth Mission Chapter was held from 25–29 March at Enikepadu. Br. Mathew Parinthirickal was re-elected as Regional Superior. Bros. Varghese Manimala, Thomas Ampattukuzhy, Hermes Chakkalamittam, and Emmanuel Kallakulam were elected as Councilors.

1997: Marymatha Region was raised to the status of Vice Province. Br. Mathew Parinthirickal was appointed as the first Vice Provincial Minister. Bros. Varghese Manimala, Francis Kolli, Emmanuel Kallakulam, and Thomas Ampattukuzhy were appointed as Councilors on 30th January.

1999: The First Vice Provincial Election Chapter was held from 19–23 December at Enikepadu. Br. Mathew Parinthirickal was re-elected as Vice-Provincial Minister. Bros. Johnson Puthenpurackal, Praveen Kumar Boyapati, Joseph Kalaparambath and Innaiah Kata were elected as the councilors.

2003: The Second Vice Provincial Election Chapter was held from March 31 to April 4 at Enikepadu. Br. Thomas Sebastian Panachickavayalil was elected as Vice Provincial Minister. Bros. Francis Kolli, Innaiah Polisetty, Joseph Thumma, and Alexander Madathil were elected as Councilors.

2006: The Third Vice Provincial Election Chapter was held from April 3-7 at Enikepadu. Br. Thomas Sebastian Panachickavayalil was re-elected as Vice Provincial Minister, and Bros. Inna Vatti, Thomas Thumpeparampil, Chinnappa Payarda, and Arogyam Bandhanadham were elected as Councilors.

2006: Marymatha Vice Province signed an agreement in collaboration with the Swiss Capuchin Province on 1st September.

2008: Declaration of Marymatha Capuchin Province took place on June 13. Br. Thomas Sebastian Panachickavayalil was appointed as the first Provincial Minister. Bros. Praveen Kumar Boyapati, Joseph Thumma, Stephen Nayak, and Chinnappa Payarda were appointed as Councilors.

2011: The First Provincial Chapter of Marymatha Province, Andhra Pradesh-Odisha, was celebrated at Capuchin Provincialate, Enikepadu, from May 9-13. Br. Carlos A. Novoa, the General Councillor, presided over the Chapter. Br. Praveen Kumar Boyapati was elected Provincial Minister, and Bros. Cherian Chemplany, Suresh Komera, Naveen Deenabandhu Baliarsigh, and Jayaprasad Burugu were elected as Councilors.

2012: Marymatha Capuchin Province signed an agreement in collaboration with the Province of the Sacred Stigmata of St. Francis, USA, on August 10. The contract was signed for two years and later renewed in subsequent years.

2014: The Second Provincial Chapter of Marymatha Province was celebrated at the Capuchin Provincialate, Enikepadu from 17- 22 March. Br. Mauro Johri, the General Minister had presided over the Chapter. Br. Chinnu Polisetty was elected as the Provincial Minister and Br. Lourdu Showry Madanu, Br. Pratap Nayak, Br. Mariadas Prathipati and Br. Melchior Kata were elected as the Councilors.

2017: The Third Provincial Chapter of Marymatha Province (Andhra Pradesh-Telangana- Odisha) was celebrated at the Capuchin Provincialate, Enikepadu from 20-24 February. Br. Michael Fernandez, the General Councillor presided over the chapter. Br. Melchior Kata was elected as the Provincial Minister and Br. lnnaiah Polisetti, Br. Praveen Kumar Gopu, Br. Joseph Michael and Br. Bala Kishore Basani were elected as the Councilors.

2018: Marymatha Capuchin Province had signed an agreement in collaboration with the province of Rio de la Plata, Argentina.

2020: Marymatha Capuchin Province celebrated its Golden Jubilee at Warangal on 7th June.

2020: The Fourth Provincial Chapter of Marymatha Province was celebrated at the Capuchin Provincialate, Enikepadu from 24-28 February. Br. John Baptist, the General Councilor had presided over the Chapter. Br. Karunakar Kasu was elected as the Provincial Minister and Br. Basant Kumar Digal, Br. Sudhakar Lawrence, Br. John Golla and Br. Francis Pasala were elected as the Councilors.

2023: The Fifth Provincial Chapter of Marymatha Province was held at St. Francis College, Janampet from 27-31 March. Br. John Baptist, the General Councilor had presided over the Chapter. Br. Mariadas Prathipati was elected as the provincial Minister and Br. Praveen Kumar Gopu, Samuel Arugolanu, Namdev Dagam and Amar Kumar Singh were elected as Councilors.