Parish Staff

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

With immense joy and gratitude to God, I would like to introduce myself to you all. I am Fr. Arul Francis Arputham, (you may call me as Father Francis), belonging to the Religious Order of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS), also known as Fransalians.

I was born on June 8, 1975, in a traditional catholic village called Elayankanni, in the state of Tamilnadu in India, which lies in the southern part of India and the village is surrounded by hillocks and lush green sugarcane and paddy plantations.

My father Arputham was an employee working in the Sugar Factory in the neighboring Village and my mom Sammanasu Mary was a home maker. I was the eldest of the five children and the only son and I have four younger sisters. One of them is Religious Nun and other three sisters are married and have their families.

I grew up in a very devout catholic family, attending daily mass and praying the family rosary and participating in the other devotional practices in the parish. As I completed my primary schooling in the Our Lady of Carmel School in my village, then I was sent by my parents to a boarding School, called St. Anns Higher Secondary School in Tindivanam for my secondary school education.

Since my parents were very pious and God-fearing souls, they had already sowed the seeds of love of God in me. But I began to sense an inclination towards the priesthood during my seventh grade. Since I was already in the boarding school, I came across number of the missionary priests, who inspired me and encouraged me to become a priest. But being the only son in the family, it was a herculean task to be accepted into the seminary. However, I stood firm in my decision to become a priest.

After the completion of school studies, I joined in the seminary in 1990, at the age of fifteen to become a missionary priest, in the order of MSFS. Subsequently I made my 1st religious profession in 1994 and then I pursued my graduate studies in philosophy and sociology. It was followed by a year of pastoral practice. Afterwards, I went on to complete my graduation in Theology during which I made my perpetual profession and received the order of Diaconate. At the completion of the 12 years of priestly formation, I was ordained as a priest on 19th April 2002 at the age of twenty-seven.

In these 23 years of my priesthood, I have served as an Associate Pastor, Secretary to the Provincial Superior and the Procurator of the Catholic School. Meanwhile, in view of taking up the ministry of education in schools, I was asked to pursue my Master’s degree in English and Education. Then for 13 years I was serving as the Principal of number of Secondary Schools administered by our Religious Order. During this time, I too was elected to assist the Provincial Superior as his Councilor and Admonitor.

In the year 2022, I was given an opportunity by my religious congregation, to serve the Archdiocese of San Antonio. After my arrival here, I have served as the Parochial Vicar in St. Anthony Mary Claret in Roft Road, San Antonio and in St. Rose of Lima Church in Marbach.

As a Priest, I enjoyed meeting with parishioners, interacting with them and assisting them on their faith journey. I hope and pray that I continue to live my vocation to priesthood, always relying on the grace and strength that comes from God. I request you all to kindly keep me in your valuable prayers. I am really excited and looking forward to being with you and meeting you in person. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our beloved Archbishop Most Rev. Gustavo Gracía-Siller, for entrusting with the pastoral care of St. Andrew’s Parish, Pleasanton and for graciously inviting me to minister in the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

With Prayerful Wishes

Fr. Arul Francis Arputham MSFS