The site of Bethlehem Ashram was donated to us mainly by the late Rev. Fr. John Kizhakooden, a diocesan Priest and by Mr. Joseph Plackal in 1960. The foundation stone of the Chapel was blessed on 13th of August 1962 by Rt. Rev. Dr. George Alappatt, the Bishop of Thrissur in the presence of Br. Cassian of Timmins, the Commissary Provincial and faithful. The Chapel was blessed on 13th of May, 1963 by the Bishop of Thrissur in the presence of Br. Bechmans, the Provincial Minister, and a large congregation of Priests, Religious and faithful. Written permission for constructing a friary at Elinjipra was received on 23 January 1963 from Br. Clement of Milwaukee, the Minister General and from the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church. On 9th of June 1969 the Friary was blessed and was raised to a canonical house of Syro Malabar Church. Br. Athanesius Cheruvil, Guardian of the time, built a two-storied building adjoining the Chapel and it was blessed on 1st of May, 1971. The friary was again extended by Br. Joseph Anil Panamkoodan when the seminary formation began in Bethlehem in 2000.

SFO was very active in Bethlehem from 1963 It had a vibrant wing of ‘You-Fra’ called ‘Yuvajana Samajam’. A project of social concern was initiated informally by Br. Rene Panattuparambil and it was formally registered as ‘Bethlehem Franciscan Charities’ by Br Francis Alappatt. It had the units of tailoring, plastic weaving, welding, nursery school etc. As there was scarcity of water a site with a pond was bought in 1979 nearly one kilometre away.

On September 8, 1998 with the official approval from Bishop’s Curia, St. Francis Assisi Parish was formed at Bethlehem, Elinjipra and the Friary Chapel was used as the Parish Church. Br Antony Manjiyil was the first Parish Priest.

The foundation stone for the extension of the Chapel was laid by Bishop Mar James Pazhayatil on 18 June 2007, and the related works were carried out by Br. Pauly Madassery, the Parish Priest. It was blessed on 30th of September 2008 by Mar Pauly Kannookadan, the Bishop of Irinjalakuda. The consent to construct a cemetery for the Parish was given from the Provincialate on 21st of March 2001. On 27th of October 2001 it was blessed and inaugurated.

With the establishment of St. Thomas Province in 1999 the Minor Seminary was started at Dhynashram, Mupliyam. But later it was shifted to Bethlehem on 3rd of July 2000. The seminary functioned as a venue for the initial training of brothers.