An Italian priest namely, Rev. Fr. Don Luigi Piccenelli who was a Parishioner of Sarnico Parish in the Diocese of Bergamo laid the foundation to our congregation during the time of his mission here in Sri Lanka in 1876. When Fr. Piccenelli left the Island he placed this congregation under the care of the Arch Bishop of Colombo. At the beginning this congregation had its rise at times and also its setbacks at times and during that period it badly felt the need to be an independent religious congregation.

This dream came true in 1935 when they were given a constitution drawn up according to the injunction of the Third Order Regular. As an indigenous congregation our pioneers had to make strong efforts to develop our congregation and they took courageous steps to develop the congregation and place it on a steady footing. As the result of their untiring efforts this congregation which was the main male indigenous congregation in Sri Lanka up to 1982 was able to be united with an international Order in Rome, namely the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi. Since then, the congregation of Franciscan Brothers of St. Vincent de Paul is known as the TOR FRANCISCANS of the Vice Province of Our Lady of Lanka, Sri Lanka.