Fr. Francis Poran Marandy, TOR, 56, of the Third Order Regular Franciscans of the Commissary of St. Bonaventure, Bangladesh died after a long illness on April 14, 2023 at Pathorghata, Thangapara, Bangladesh at his home, while he was on vacation to see his relatives.
Fr. Francis resided at Franciscan Friary, Shantinivas, Dhaka since 2013 and served the Delegation of St. Bonaventure as Delegation Superior until his sickness in 2020. He was born on December 29, 1967 at Thangapara village, in Joypurhat District. He was the son of the late Chotto Marandy and late Shohane Soren and the third of five children.
He attended Roman Catholic school in Thangapara for his elementary education. After completion of primary education, he came to Dinajpur St. Philip’s High school and passed School Secondary Certificate examination. During the study in the high school, he began to discern joining the Franciscan TOR Order. He completed his Higher Secondary (IA) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Notre Dame College, Dhaka. After philosophical study of two years in Holy Spirit Major Seminary, Dhaka he went to Sri Lanka and entered the Novitiate together with the Novices of the Vice Province of Our Lady of Lanka, Sri Lanka. Finishing canonical year of Novitiate, he returned to Bangladesh and professed his Temporary Vows on November 10, 1996. He continued his Theological study in the Holy Spirit Major seminary, Dhaka. He professed his Solemn Vows on November 27, 1999. In February 2001, he was ordained a Deacon and on November 23, 2001 he was ordained a priest.
He was appointed as the Director of the candidates in Assisi Bhavan and Assistant of the Sacred Heart Church, Suihari for pastoral ministry. After attending a Formation Course in Bangalore, India, in 2009. He went to the Philippines for higher studies on Formation. After returning from the Philippines in 2013 he was appointed Delegation Minister during the Canonical Visitation. He was also the Chaplain of the Catholic Nurses Guild of Bangladesh.
In 2020 October, he contracted tuberculosis and this led to many other complicated health issues. He was taken to different hospitals for better treatment. In February 2023, he wished to visit his family members and relatives. So, he was given permission to go to his village and to be with his relatives for few days. Unfortunately, while he was there his sickness grew worse and he died on the 14, April 2023 at the age of 56, in the 27th year of profession in the TOR religious life and 22 years as a priest.
Mass of Christian Burial was concelebrated on, April 15, 2023 at 3.00 p.m. at the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Dinajpur with Most. Rev. Bishop Sebastian Tudu Bishop of Dinajpur as principal celebrant. After the Mass, burial took place in the Cathedral Cemetery, Dinajpur. The friars of the Commissary, relatives, priests and nuns from the parishes of the Dioceses of Dinajpur & Rajshahi and many observant faithful were present to bid their farewell.