St. Francis Monastery, Barlowganj, Mussoorie on the Garwal Hills was founded by Archbishop Michaelangelo Jacopi of the Tuscany Capuchin Province. It was dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi on December 08, 1874. Since 1880, the Monastery was used as the novitiate, study house and the residence of the retired capuchin missionaries. In 1900, St. Francis Monastery became the major seminary for students of the Florence Province who were sent to Indian Mission. From 1924 to 1927 it served as the seminary of the Indian Commissariat (similar to a Vice-Province). When the Monastery was founded, St. Michael’s Parish was attached to it in a perpetual manner. When the Italian Capuchins of Tuscany Province invited the Indian confreres to Bilaspur (U. P. ) in 1967, it was agreed that the St. Joseph’s province will also take-over the Monastery at a future date. The Mission Chapter held in Dhariwal, in November 1983, welcomed the proposal to take-over of the Monastery, Br. Jose Kurian and Br. P. A. Joseph were pioneers to be sent to Barlowganj in 1984.