St. Francis of Assisi's life (1181-1226) began in the town of Assisi, about 130 kilometers from Rome. St. Francis of Assisi has captured the imagination of millions of people attracting admirers among believers of all faiths and atheists, rich and poor, intellectuals and workers, philosophers and theologians, poets and novelists, artists and filmmakers, historians and sociologists, peacemakers and environmentalists. Today, more biographies exist of the Little Man of Assisi than of any other saint with new studies appearing every year. For the first time, we have a Pope who has chosen the name "Francis'. Why do so many people look up to St Francis of Assisi today?

Born into a rich merchant family, Francis left his material wealth to seek wealth with the Lord. Taking the Gospels as his way of life, Francis worked and lived with the poor. Part of his charisma is his very ordinariness, his closeness and accessibility to the average person. His influence spread and soon followers came to be with him, to live as he did. These we call Franciscans. Today, they try to re-live the life of St Francis who was a rich witness to the life of Christ. Before Francis died in 1226 at the age of 44, he founded three Catholic Religious Orders. His gift to mankind was his love of God as he experienced Him in all of His creation. His imprint on history are the men and women who identify with his vision in the Franciscan way of life. That legacy lives on in the followers of Francis who today seek to inspire in themselves and others the ideals of peace and justice of the gospels.

St. Francis School, Samlong, Ranchi, which is owned and operated by the Congregation of the Missionary Brothers of St. Francis of Assisi (CMSF), has the spiritual affiliation to one of the Orders founded by St. Francis of Assisi. The Society has long been characterized by the wide diversity of its service and talent for innovative service. Today the Society continues the mission of St. Francis of Assisi to make this world a better place to live in harmony with the whole creation through its varieties of services to the humanity in different parts of the world.