List of Regional Superiors And Provincials
1951 - 1956 - Vice Provincial Ranchi Fr. Phil McInerney District Superior
1956 - 1962 - Fr. Austin Kelly Regional Superior
1962 - 1968 - Fr. Edward O-Connor Regional Superior
1968 - 1974 - Fr. Maurice Dullard Regional Superior
1974 - 1980 - Fr. Bernard Donnelly Regional Superior
1980 - 1986 - Fr. Phillip Crotty Regional Superior
1986 - 1992 - Fr. R. C. Ckacko Regional Superior
1992 - 1998 - Fr. Edward Mudavassery Provincial Superior
1998 - 2004 - Fr. Gaudentius Kongari Provincial Superior
2004 - 2010 - Fr. Thomas Venad Provincial Superior
2010 – 2016 - Fr. Francis Kurien, Provincial Superior
2016 – 2022 - Fr. Santosh Minj, Provincial Superior
2022 - ______ Fr. Vincent Hansdak, Provincial Superior
CHAPTER ONE
1949-1953
1. In May, 1949, Fr. Janssens, the Jesuit Superior General wrote to Fr. Kelly, the Jesuit Vice Provincial of Australia, suggesting the Australian Vice Province could sent men to held in the Ranchi Mission and in July 1949, Fr. Kelly replied saying all his advisors agreed to take up this mission.
2. The first six are chosen and sailed from Melbourne on 6th Feb, 1951, arriving in Ranchi on 28th February to begin Hindi studies
3. After various suggestions on starting schools in different places, it was finally decided to start an English medium school in Hazaribag. In July 1951, a large house called Balmoral on five acres of land was bought for the proposed school and in September 1951 John Moore was informed that he was to be the Principal of the school which should be opened in January 1952! There was good news that Br. Nicolai Bilic s.j. expert carpenter and all trades person who was working in the Kolkata mission was transferred to Hazaribag to help build the school.
4. Hectic work by John Moore getting materials, making out a syllabus, appointing staff resulted in St. Xavier’s School opening for boarders on Sunday 27th January 1952 and on 28th January classes began with 22 boarders and 15 dayscholars. There were four standards, 3,4,5,6 and the boys ages were from eight to fourteen. By the end of the year, there were 70 boarders and thirty day scholars.
5. After experience in other parishes, in 1953 Fr. Lou Lachal was appointed parish priest of Mahuadanr and Fr. Kevin Grogan parish priest of Hazaribag. Fr. Lou had as one of his main catechists Philip Xaxa, the father of Br. Francis Xaxa s.j. The proposal to raise St. Joseph’s middle school to high school level was not approved by the Ranchi mission superior to the disappointment of many in the Chechari. Disappointed by the decision, the government decided to open a welfare department high school.
6. Plans for Mahuadanr parish: Fr. Lou goes to work with touring of the huge parish. What was then one parish stretching up to Mayapore is now 8 parishes. He had two assistants, Frs. Albert Vanden Abeele and Fr. Pancratius Toppo. Visits were even made to Nagesias on the plateau including Chiro where there was a “school of sorts and a catechist of sorts.”
7. Struggles and hopes in Hazaribag parish: Fr. Kevin Grogan inherited a parish with practically no money and had to borrow from St. Xavier’s to pay his teachers and catechists. There were promising signs as a number of Oraon families in Khonhar were showing interest in the faith and Kevin visited them scarcely a week after taking charge. On the other hand, while Mahabir, the catechist was involved in instructing some Bhuiyas in Gadokhar, he was attacked and beaten up. On top of this, a trumped up charge was made in the police station against the catechists of Fr Kevin, which eventually came to nothing.
8. Meanwhile the other four pioneers were busy: Fr. Bert Balding from the beginning of 1953 was in Mahuadanr and from August was the headmaster of the Middle School. Fr. Len Forster after his tertianship in Sitagarha was appointed to Samtoli parish sometime in 1953. Fr. Ted O’Connor after finishing his tertianship was appointed to Rengarih parish. Fr. Phil McInerney after spending some time in Samtoli parish was appointed to St. Xavier’s Hazaribag as Vice Rector. More importantly, Fr. Moyersoen, the Superior of the Ranchi Mission appointed him District Superior of Hazaribag, the first step towards having an independent mission field of Australian Province.
9. Expansion of St. Xavier’s: A fine three acre plot was purchased and a double storey building called Hampton Court, formerly a private hotel was acquired and all classes from the beginning of 1953 conducted there. Meanwhile plans for a new block with twelve classrooms were drawn up by Fr. Geerhaert s.j., the Ranchi Mission architect.
CHAPTER TWO
1953-1956
1. Very good news: On 20th June, 1954, Gaudentius Kongari became the first of numerous locals to join the Hazaribag mission. Gaudie while in the apostolic school had tutored some of the Australians in Hindi and apparently felt they were OK so he joined them. He later became the first Hazaribag Jesuit from Jharkhand to become our Provincial.2. Thrusts in Bhurkhunda: Fr. Huyghe had been travelling from the Ranchi seminary to say Mass on Sundays to about 100 labourers mainly working in the glass factory. Fortunately he was relieved from teaching in 1955 to be full time pioneer in Bhurkhunda and 8.5 acres of land was bought. So were the humble beginnings of our now flourishing Bhurkhunda parish!
3. Pioneering in Palamau: Ranchi men were at the helm, Fr. Harrison at Daltonganj, Fr. Wijnant at Kanjia and Fr. Ignatius Xalxo at Chandwa. The going was tough with few Catholics and no money to set up schools or convents for Nuns. There was a chance to buy an eleven acre plot of land just opposite the airstrip even which would have been a good place for a school but there was no money.. Eventually Chandwa in 1955 was made the centre with Len Forster the PP. Chandwa had a primary school run by St. Anna Sisters.
4. Mahuadanr school slow progress: St. Joseph’s School, with Fr. Bert Balding as headmaster was up to class 8. Government education department officials were keen that the school go up to high school but this was vetoed by Fr. Moyersoen. The result was that the government opened welfare department residential school.
5. Mahuadanr parish moving ahead: A church and school was built at Sale and a multi purpose hall in Mahuadanr compound and a new hostel under construction. Fr. Lou Lachal visited Surkain, Chiro, the first time a priest visited these villages for many years. A dharm school was organised for eight days at Daona, and Fr Regnier baptized a dozen grown ups. And a young boy from Asnari Camillle Kujur on 20.6.1955joined the novitiate the first of many from the Chechari who would join.
6. St. Xavier’s Hazaribag moves ahead: In 1955 the building of the main classroom block was well on the way as was the construction of the science block. Moreover a little less than two acres of land had been acquired. School numbers also were on the increase with 200 boarders and 80 day scholars.
7. More good news for St. Xavier’s: In April 1956, the Senior Cambridge results were announced with all four boys of St. Xavier’s passing. This was a great boost for such a new school. And there were six regents appointed to teach and supervise hostels, Ambrose Byrne, Jim Collins, Peter Nolan, ChaKen Mc’Namara, Maurie Dullard and Michael Doyle.
8. We get a Catholic hospital: In the beginning of 1956, Holy Family Hospital Koderma was blessed and opened by Archbishop Kujur and the Medical Mission Sisters took charge. Fr. Bertrand s.j. from Ranchi settled in as the chaplain. The land had been donated by Mr. G. Samanta, the local mica mining business man.
9. Hazaribag mission coming of age: On 12th March, 1956, Ranchi was raised to the status of a Jesuit Province and Hazaribag mission became an independent region with its own Major Superior. On 5th May, Fr. General appointed Fr. Austin Kelly who had been so prominent as Provincial of Australia in supporting the fledgling mission the Superior of the Hazaribag Region.
CHAPTER THREE
1956-1962
1. Fr. Kelly took up his appointment with great enthusiasm and his experienced leadership was much appreciated by the men who had arrived in India before him. He encouraged his men and was open to new ideas. This meant later that he took a very important decision to start the Primary Teachers Education College about which we will see details later.2. Local vocations: The good news so early in the Hazaribag mission was the entering of local young men in the novitiate. Already in 1954, Gaudentius Kongari who was to be our second Provincial entered the novitiate and was followed in 1955 by Camille Kujur from the then Mahuadanr parish.
3. St. Xavier’s Hazaribag: The school continued to grow but with it Fr. John Moore’s continued to stress the importance of the moral education of the students with he himself spending much time on his moral science classes for the senior students. His hope was “that no boy will leave our school without a habit of charity towards others.” Obviously John’s classes have had an impact with now at the time of writing some of his former students at the last stage of publishing a book containing the speeches and class notes of John.
4. Hazaribag parish: The parish was huge in area but with only about 2400 Catholics. Fr. Phil Mc Inerney was the PP from 1956 to 1960 when he was replaced by Fr. Len Forster. The parish included Danto, Jori, Jamuari, which now are separate parishes and stretched to Madarnpur near Chatra. Fr. Len also toured Santhal villages in the Charhi/West Bokaro area, and rediscovered dalit Christians in Gadokhar and Hurhuru some of whom began to attend Sunday Mass.
5. Bokaro Thermal: With PP Fr Verbraeken s.j. away for a year, Fr. Michael Brady moved in as PP. Sisters were running Mount Carmel School. Fr. Brady opened schools at Kargali and Jarandih which are now flourishing schools. Michael also on 8th September 1957 arranged the transfer from Dhori colliery to St. Anthony’s chapel at Jarandih of the statue of Mary and Child which had been found the previous year by some workmen digging at the mine site. This shrine flourished as a place of pilgrimage especially at the time of the feast.
6.. Bhurkunda: Fr. Brady moved to Bhurkhunda early in 1958. Before he arrived. a church building was under construction and on 7th December 1958, Archbishop Nicolas Kujur s.j. solemnly blessed the beautiful yet simple Church of Our Lady of the Poor. Michael was always a man on the move, both with various schemes including starting the Bhurkhunda Woodwork Industries Co=operative and thinking of starting a technical high school. He did not neglect the villages where small groups of Catholics lived, visiting 32 villages mainly on foot every two months. He was also harassed by land problems which went on for many years after Michael.
7. Teachers Training Institute Sitagarha: After much discussion on the pros and cons of having an agricultural institute or Teachers Training Institute in Sitagarha, a very important decision was taken to open a Teachers Training Institute and so in June 1958, began a Teachers Training Institute with 15 trainees. And on 23rd July 1958, Dr. Zakir Hussein, the Governor of Bihar visited the Institute and was very favourably impressed. So small beginnings have now blossomed into great things for thousands of teachers throughout Bihar and Jharkand . In January 1962, Fr. Ted O’Connor took over from Fr. Depypere as the Principal. At that time, Gaudentius Kongari was there as a regent.
8. Maheshmunda: Parish and school mission continued to expand among the Santhals with scholastics Phil Crotty and then Hans Hendriks joining as regents. Hans took up seriously the study of Santhali which proved to give a glimpse of his future mission among the Santhals.
9..Mahuadanr: The Catholic laity took up strongly the idea of upgrading St. Joseph’s Middle School to High School as in May 1958 a delegation of village leaders met Fr. lou Lachal the parish priest. In August a well attended Catholic Sabha meeting decided that each household would give Rs.4 as contribution to the high school building fund. Finally though Fr. Lachal was not initially in favour, Fr.Kelly in October 1958 announced that a high school section would begin in 1959. As the future will show, this was an historic decision. And by February 1959, there were 45 boys in class 8.
10. Parish ministry in Palamau: The fairly well established parish at Chandwa in 1957 had Fr. Len Forster as PP with Fr. Huysman as the assistant. The parish had 17 village schools dependent on the parish and at the parish itself a middle school up to class 5. Moreover in mid 1958, St. Anne’s Sisters opened a convent. Meanwhile Fr. Schill was in Kanjia parish and it was decided to set up permanently Daltonganj as the new parish centre of the area stretching as far as Barwadih and Chhipadahor.
CHAPTER 4
1962-1968
1. Fr. Austin Kelly’s term as Regional Superior ended and Fr. Ted O’Connor, one of the first six took over as the new Superior on 22nd April, 1962. The region was very grateful for the way Fr. Kelly at the age of 65 took over the leadership. His vast experience first as Vice Provincial of the Australian Province and then as Provincial of the Province enabled him to guide the Region in its early growth. And when in doubt, he relied on the guidance of Archbishop Pius Kerketta s.j. of Ranchi. It was decided that Fr. Kelly by returning to Australia and working with co-missionaries in fund raising could best help the Region.2. Hazaribag parish first with Fr. Len Forster as PP and then Fr. Lou Lachal continued to minister to the adivasi Catholics of a huge area including Danto on one side and Chatra in another direction. At the same time, contacts continued with the dalits. Of special note was the visits to a little group of dalits at Babupara which eventually expanded into a flourishing mission with a high school run by the Clarist Sisters.
3. Changes in St. Xavier’s Hazaribag and growth: Maurie Dullard took over in 1965 as Principal of St. Xavier’s, TTI continued to grow and get more land, Fr. Os Summerton at the parish at Bokaro Thermal had a residence built on land given to the Apostolic Carmel Sisters who started a school.
4. An invitation was given by Bokaro Steel Company to Fr. O’Connor to start an English medium school at Bokaro Steel at a meeting held late in 1965. Consultors agreed. Fr. John Moore was appointed founder Principal and in July 1966, classes began in a ramshackle building for 54 children. One special feature was it was co educational, the first such school in India, maybe in the world!
5. Bhurkhunda on the move: Besides the various parish activities with Fr. Jim Thwaites as the parish priest, Fr. Michael Brady recovering from his motorcycle accident in which his leg was amputated decided to start Maria Rehabilitation Centre. Miss Shirley Mann, senior physiotherapist at a centre in Melbourne to make artificial limbs agreed to come to Bhurkhunda to guide the making of artificial limbs and arrived in January 1965. On top of this, an English medium school was started at the beginning of 1966 but failed to enthuse the parishioners and after a year ceased to function.
6. Maheshmunda: After finishing theology, Fr. Hans Hendriks was appointed parish priest in Maheshmunda. Already as a scholastic, he had been there and had started learning Santhali. Now as parish priest, after settling in to the ordinary parish duties and visiting Catholics in villages, he started contacting the Santhals, including those he had taught earlier in the school. Slowly interest in the faith was aroused in some and they came for catechumates.
7. Mahuadanr: Fr. Ken McNamara’s appointment in early 1964 as headmaster of St. Joseph’s High School began a new era in education in the Chechari valley. By continual trips to Patna to meet education officials and by very often answering letters sent by the education department regarding the facilities of the school, followed by inspection of the school, eventually in 1966, the high school was recognized, a huge step eventually resulting in government paying teachers’ salaries and stipends to tribal students.
8. Mahuadanr: In 1968, the Indian government brought out the Kothari National Commission on Education. A recommendation in the report was to set up school complexes, sharing of resources, by connecting a high school with a number of close by middle and primary schools. Ken McNamara saw the benefit of this complex and also of the sharing of facilities between the three Mahuadanr high schools, St. Joseph’s, St. Teresa’s Girls High School and Government Residential High School. On 25th April,1968, a meeting chaired by the Palamau District Education Officer, attended by Fr. Theo Mathias s.j., Secretary of the Jesuit Educational Association of India, the three Mahuadanr High School heads discussed the possibility of such a school complex, not only at the vertical level as proposed in the Kothari Report but also at the horizontal level. To be a first class set up at the horizontal level enormous funds would be needed. This set Fr. Ken McNamara on the road to foreign funding by Misereor.
9. Famine Year: Because of the complete failure of the rice crop in 1966 especially in Palamau district, there was a very bad famine in 1967. Daltonganj became the centre of operations for famine relief work with Fr. Michael Windey s.j. of Ranchi Province in charge. The Papal Internuncio, Archbishop James Knox from Delhi and Mother Teresa from Kolkata visited Daltonganj to assure support. Nuns of different congregations from different parts of India came to serve the people and help with distributing relief rations. Unfortunately Fr. John Reilly who had been working in Daltonganj before Fr. Windey was falsely accused of anti national statements and was ordered to leave India.
10. Koderma Hospital: The Medical Mission Sisters running Holy Family Hospital Koderma informed Ted O’Connor that they could no longer staff the hospital so Ted sent Fr. Des Purcell to Kerala to ask help from the FCC and CMC Mother Generals. They agreed to send Sisters to take up this new mission. The wonderful result was that not only did the FCCs take over Holy Family Hospital and the CMCs start Carmel Hospital Mahuadanr but both congregations expanded their mission with schools and health centres in many places of the region and beyond.
11. New Superior: In June 1968, Fr. Maurie Dullard took over as Regional Superior from Fr. Ted O’Connor. Ted was a sick and exhausted person, especially because of the hectic time he had during the famine relief programme. Hence it was decided that he return permanently to Australia where he did good parish work for a number of years.
CHAPTER 5
1968-1986
PART ONE
1. Mahuadanr School Complex: Ken McNamara in June 1969 went to Misereor agency in Aachen Germany and presented an application for Rs 32 lakhs for the construction of a class room block, hostel, along with a common laboratory and trades block for the three high schools. In August 1972, Misereor approved the project and construction began, employing a workforce of more than 400 persons.2. Hazaribag Parish: Fr. Hans Hendriks in January 1969 was appointed the parish priest. He began to tour the Catholics in far flung villages more regularly. He carefully studied the tribal customs relating to marriage, and saw that after the sacramental marriage in the church, the marriage party returned to the village to celebrate the “real” marriage according to tribal customs. Hans began to make the ceremony one but inserting the Mass and nuptial blessing in the village itself at the village marriage ceremony.
3. St. Xavier’s School, Bokaro: Fr. John Moore early in 1968 suffered a heart attack and Fr. Tom Keogh took over temporarily as Principal. School numbers continued to grow so that in 1970 there were about 800 students. At the same time, a “social service” school for children of low paid unskilled labourers and others began with senior students and some teachers managing this little school.
4. Bokaro Thermal Area: In 1971, Fr. Camille Kujur took over as parish priest from Fr. Len Forster. New classrooms were built for St. Anthony’s School, Jarangdih and Loyola School Gomia. Early in 1973, the Samaritan Sisters settled in at Jarangdih, opened a dispensary, a small hospital for leprosy patients and began teaching in the school. In 1974, the Christ Jesus Sisters came to Gomia where they opened a dispensary and a place to accommodate poor live in patients.
5. New diocese: On 5th June, 1971, the new diocese of Daltonganj was erected with Fr. George Saupin s.j. as the first Bishop. He was consecrated on 13th October, 1971 in Ranchi. For his first Mass in the new diocese, he went to the Dhori Mata Shrine at Jarangdih to consecrate to Our Lady of the Mines his work and the people he was to serve. Returning to Daltonganj, he set up the first “Bishop’s House” on the top floor of a private Nursing Home in the bazaar! Fr. Tom Lees s.j. was appointed the Diocese’s first Vicar-General.
6. Mahuadanr parish: Fr. Phil Crotty in May 1970 was appointed parish priest with Fr. Gaudentius Kongari as his assistant. Prior to this in his tertianship he had spent a month in village Barahi in the home of Marcus Barwa, father of future Jesuit, Ignatius Barwa, learning the Oraon customs and language. On assuming charge, he learnt that the previous parish priest had suggested the parish should be moved to a new site near to where at present is Carmel Hospital. He mentioned this to the parishioners. Though the Ranchi tradition was to separate school and parish, the parishioners vehemently opposed the idea. The parish with its historic church building was stay where it is. Fortunately, the Archbishop and his counsellors listened to the voice of the people so there was no change.
7. Further movement in Mahuadanr: At the suggestion of the Archbishop, plans were made to set up a new parish in Gothgaon. Land was obtained and the Holy Cross Sisters agreed to build up a middle school and a girls hostel. Fr. Bob Slattery pushed the school complex idea by having the three high schools more responsible for the middle and primary schools of the valley. One result was common middle school final exams for all the middle schools.
8. Ups and downs at Bhurkhunda: Despite valiant efforts by Fr. Michael Brady and Miss Shirley Mann, the Maria Rehabilitation Centre failed to be a success and folded up in 1971. Fr. Brady returned to Australia. On the other hand parish activities expanded in 1969 with Fr. Gorgonius D’Mello as the parish priest and Fr. Lou Lachal as the assistant. Land was bought at Kankebar where eventually the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis opened a dispensary and school. In 1971, Fr. D’Mello was succeeded by Fr. Peter Lewis who began to make regular contact with the Bedias, a small tribal group, regarded as a branch of the Santhal tribe.
9. Brothers in the lead: During this time and later, we had great Brothers. Br. Brian Slack after being in St. Xavier’s and other places for many years, was the Director of Catholic Charities in Chandwa at the time of the 1966-67 famine. Br. Yacub Tirkey was a man of many talents, Principal of TTI, Sitagarha, of St. Robert’s Middle School, Hazaribag, of the undergraduate college in Chainpur, Ranchi Archdiocese. Brs. Francis Xaxa and Nicolai Bilic were great builders throughout the Hazaribag region. Br. Otto Bhosle was a quiet provider as Minister in many communities. Br. Lawrence Saldanha was the technical man for many years in Mahuadanr and later the Minister in many communities. Br. Francis Mathias was also a man of many talents serving in many communities and at one stage with Br Yacub Tirkey managing the TTI.
CHAPTER SIX
1968-1986
PART TWO
1.To the Santhals: Fr. Hans Hendriks in January 1973 was assigned full time to evangelisation of the Santhals in the Charhi area and beyond. A small team was formed Hans, Santhal Jesuit scholastic Raska Soren and Holy Cross Sister Edith Prabha. They absorbed the Santhal way of living, lived a simple life with no fixed centre, travelling from village to village. Their approach bore fruit and small numbers of Santhals were baptized.2. To the Hindi literary word: Fr. Bill Dwyer following on his B.A. in St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi with Hindi as one of his subjects, then much later in June 1967 began the M.A. Hindi course in the Allahabad University, finishing the course not far from the top of the class. Very much encouraged by his superiors, in June 1970, Bill went to the Delhi University to begin a Ph.D. thesis, a study of the devotional thrust in the works of the poet Kabir. In November 1973, he successfully defended his thesis and earned himself the Ph.D. degree.
3. To the world of Islamic spirituality: Right from his time as a regent, Paul Jackson had begun his interest in the world of Islam. This lead to many years of study including learning Arabic, Urdu and Persian. Paul eventually moved to Patna and by laborious study gained a Ph.D on the writings of Bihar’s most eminent Sufi, Sharafuddin Maneri. In this he was greatly helped by his guide Professor Syed Hasan Askari. Even after his doctorate, Paul continued on in Patna and in his outreach to Muslims by his writings and his many contacts. Paul Jackson writes about Maneri;” “I had no difficulty in acknowledging him, along with countless Muslims, as one of God’s greatest saints. I reaized that his world was filled with God. He lived in God’s world. God, being his all, comes through in Maneri’s book, “The Hundred Letters” as the hero, as the One who is real beyond compare.”
4. Development Thrust in the diocese: For ten years from June 1975 Fr. Tony Ryan was a key person in the diocese, wearing many hats, diocesan treasurer, managing Catholic Relief Services at Chandwa, parish priest of Daltonganj and many other ministries. In 1978 again famine struck Palamau district and Tony was busy in relief efforts of Catholic Charities. In fact for so many years, Tony had the over all responsibility of economic and development works of the diocese.
5. Mahuadanr parish on the move: As we have seen, Fr. Phil Crotty took over as parish priest in 1970 after completing in Delhi his M.A. in Social Anthropology. He brought in many changes. Instead of the touring priest staying in the village chapel, eating food brought from the centre, the priest stayed in the home of one of the villagers and enjoyed their hospitality. He involved village heads in decisions concerning the Catholic life of the village, upgraded the preparation for marriage school and encouraged traditional dances that earlier had been termed not Christian.
6.Chhipadahor: Fr. Tony Homen was parish priest of Chhipadahor for nearly five years, at different times from 1972 till 1979 . As well as being busy in the parish centre and villages, Tony took a great interest in the school shown by his saying: “The more I see of these children, the more I see great potential for the future.” He also strongly supported the Mahila Sangh (Women’s Sodality). He encouraged the women to take part in regional and even national conventions.
7. Parishes old and new: Fr. Steve Daly became parist priest of Kanjia from 1959 to 1976, surely a record of sorts and in this time he built a new convent and church, and more importantly a strong Catholic community, scattered in many villages. During this period in June 1973, a new parish was set up in Gothgaon with Fr. Gaudentius Kongari as the first parish priest. And in November 1974, another new parish was set up in Sale with Fr. Barry O’Loughlin as the first parish priest. Though in both places for many years the Jesuits from Mahuadanr were visiting the villages of these new parishes, there was no parish establishment and for many years until a church building was constructed, Sunday Mass was celebrated in the open.
8. Expansion and changes in the School Complex in Mahuadanr: The common final exam for all the middle schools in the Chechari was conducted successfully in December 1974. Moreover middle school students were able to make use of the commn science facilities. Combined classes of all three high schools in the science block in the government residential high School campus began in January 1975. At the same time discussions began to hand over the primary schools run by the mission and have the mission school middle schools at Mirgi and Sale recognized. Enthused by the success of the school complex in Mahuadanr, the Bihar government decided on an experimental basis of introduce it in Sitamarhi, Nalanda and Palamau districts.
9. Movement at Teachers Training Institute(TTI) Sitagarha: Principal Fr. Michael Eather in 1974 arranged with the government for his trainee teachers as part of their course to teach in neighbouring government schools. The previous year the Holy Cross Sisters had taken over the administration of the Institute’s own Practice Middle School. In July 1974 there was further collaboration with Holy Cross as for the first time the TTI became coeducational 15 young women admitted in July 1974, a very big step ahead, with the girls in the Holy Cross hostel.
CHAPTER SEVEN
1968-1986
PART THREE
1.Changes and expansion of works of St. Xavier’s Hazaribag Community: St. Xavier’s became only a day school from January 1977, much to the disappointment of some parents. At the same time, St. Robert’s Hindi medium High School students moved from the Hazaribag parish compound to St. Xavier’s campus in a building which was formerly a hostel. St. Roberts was recognised by the then Bihar education department, its teachers paid by the government and minority status granted in October 1980. Fr. Peter Doherty residing in another former hostel building former a kirtan singing group which spread the Gospel message to villages near Hazaribag. And in August, 1978, another former hostel building became the residence of pre novices.2.Jesuit personnel changes in schools: Bob Slattery was transferred from Principal of St. Xavier’s to Headmaster of St. Robert’s in June 1978 and at the same time Bill Dwyer became the Principal of St. Xavier’s, Hazaribag. Ken Mc’Namara in 1980 took over from John Moore as Principal of St. Xavier’s Bokaro and Tom Keogh became the Headmaster of St. Joseph’s High School, Mahuadanr. In his time, due to difficulties working with the administration of the government residential high school, the school complex was phased out and St. Joseph’s had to set up their own laboratories.
3. Bhurkhunda parish on the move: Phil Crotty became the parish priest in May 1977. He invited Sr. Eleanor, Holy Cross to oversee the construction of a new building for Catholic Ashram School. Holy Cross Sisters were already running a school close to the parish and then at the invitation of Phil established a community at Barthua and eventually opened a school there.
4. Movement in Chiro and environs: Fr. Xavier Diraviam from the time he was appointed parish priest of Gothgaon in January 1978 took an interest in the welfare of the Nagesias on the Chiro plateau and in January 1982, Chiro was made a separate parish with Xavier as the first parish priest. Xavier extended his outreach to the Nagesias in the Puranpani area in the neighbouring state of Madyha Pradesh. There was no parish residence in Chiro so Xavier first lived in a room of one of the villagers. Already in 1980, a middle school was opened in Chiro run first by the Assumption Sisters. Xavier set up regular circle and village meetings to increase awareness of the people’s rights, in the context of the way the traders in Mahuadanr were taking exorbitant interest on loans taken by the people to hire bullocks. Then Xavier with the help of funding agencies himself arranged for bullocks for the farmers. At the same time, he took care of the small number of Catholic Nagesias and others interest in the faith.
5. Awakening in Mandair: For some time, Mandair’s care was quite unstable, sometimes looked after by Bhurkhunda or Lapra or Chandwa or Chatra parishes. But finally Fr. A.T.Thomas was confirmed as the first resident parish priest of Mandair in 1982. Fr. A.T. was a man very close to the people and their problems. He encouraged the thrust against injustice and exploitation. He was close to the youth of the parish. He lived very simply. His first aim was not to construct buildings but as he said “for greater unity and fellowship to tackle such evils as excessive drinking, injustice and to regain one’s lost humanity.” By the time A.T. departed from Mandair in July 1985, the building of the parish school was almost complete, the SCN Sisters had moved into their convent in a neighbouring village, and more importantly, the church was being firmly established with new hope for the people of all faiths.
6. Awakening among the Bhuiyas: Fr. Tony Herbert in saying Mass at Babupara for the Ravidas Catholics every month came in contact with another dalit group, one considered the lowest in status, the Bhuiyas of Tilwa village, one kilometre from Babupara. They showed interest in the “mission” by deciding to come to the Mass at Babupara. A three point programme was mapped out. They would attend Mass once a month at Babupara, there would be a kirtan satsangh( singing together of their own devotional songs) every Monday evening, and the children would attend a simple school in the village. Eventually this small group of bhuiyas asked to be a complete part of Christian worship and community, a Holy Cross Sister from Bartua with the local catechist gave instructions and there was great rejoicing when in June 1980, a small group was baptized. Tony began to offer the Eucharist in Tilwa and the Clarist Sisters began living in the village, to involve themselves in ministry to the Bhuiya people and other groups.
7. Further developments among the Santhals: Hans Hendriks and his team, including Sisters, continued to visit the villages around Charhi to spread the Gospel messages. On 12th March, 1970, came the first fruits when sixteen Santhal families of Chenaro village, not far from Charhi, were baptized. Small village schools were opened. Medical work was done by Sisters as they visited the villages. And very importantly, the Medical Mission Sisters showed their interest in being part of the Santhal apostolate. There was still no Jesuit centre but more and more the need was felt for a parish and school in Charhi. This development only came in the early 1990s.
8. Nayakhar and beyond: Fr. Camille Kujur was appointed parish priest of Nayakhar in March 1976. Two years earlier Holy Cross Sisters arrived in Nayakhar and were running a primary school. Camille was busy with the Oraon Catholics of the area. One day in May 1978, a group of Oraons from Rohtas came to meet Camille, asking for a school for their children, while also showing interest in the Catholic faith. Camille appointed catechists to visit Rohtas, he himself visited every two months and a small primary school was opened and the Sisters of St. Anne’s established themselves on the plateau and ran the school. But in June 1980, the Naykhar parish and its outreach was handed over to the diocesan clergy and Camille was transferred to Mahuadanr as parish priest.
9. Among the Brijias: Fr. Savarimuthu, in January 1978, was appointed parish priest of Garu. So began his apostolate among the Brijias, a very small and poorly educated tribe. There were 1500 Catholic Brijias spread out among 14 villages in the area. Savari in 1979 opened a primary school in Garu. Then he bought a plot of land at Armu, about 3 Km from Garu. The school was shifted there, a hostel built with 100 Brijia boys and girls. And the Holy Cross Sisters settled there and looked after the school and hostel.
10. Education expansion in the Chechari: With more children going to school in middle schools, the need was felt for us to increase the opportunity for high school education. The result was that Holy Cross Sisters in Gothgaon and Nazareth Sisters in Sale Kutuderi upgraded their middle schools to high schools in year ? And in 1984, when the state government announced that government high schools would be raised to class 12, i.e. plus two, St. Joseph’s High School also applied and was granted plus two status but without government aid. Raising St. Joseph’s to plus two was a huge step for education in the Chechari and in fact only many years later the Ranchi Jesuit Province followed suit.
11. After retirement as Principal of St. Xavier’s Bokaro, John Moore was still busy. He helped with suggestions for the “Characteristics of Jesuit Education” document published by the international Jesuit commission. He published a booklet “Our Schools”. He was busy in introducing the “Colloquium on the Ministry of Teaching” programme in India. Every year he offered the Tertian Fathers a course on Jesuit Education.
CHAPTER 8
1986-1992
1.Our First Indian Major Superior: In 1986 Fr. R.C. Chacko was appointed the Regional Superior. He faced the challenges of possibly having more permanent structures in education for our work by Fr. Peter Doherty and Fr. Tony Herbert among the dalits and Fr. Hans Hendriks among the Santhals.
2.Movement in Tarwa: Fr. Xavier Diraviam took charge in Tarwa early in 1987. Besides continuing Satsang sessions in villages and mobile grihinis, Xavier expanded the educational outreach. He increased the number of day schools to 6 and non formal night schools to 62. At the same time, the small primary school at Tarwa was upgraded to class 6, there was a small hostel for boys and girls, and the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary(SCJM) came to Tarwa to teach in the school, look after the girls hostel and work in the village apostolate. Then in October 1991, five acres of land was bought in Tarwa to make it possible for future expansion of the educational thrust.
3. Mahuadanr parish: For three years Fr. Peter Jones was assistant parish priest to Fr. Camille Kujur and learnt a lot from Camille who after all was from and of the Chechari. In January 1985, Camille was transferred and Peter was appointed parish priest. Frs. Suleman Minj and Ignatius Barwa, both from the Chechari as Peter’s assistants were also great guides in his pastoral apostolate. Peter encouraged regular village retreats with a team including catechists, Sisters, scholastics and seminarians. During this time, Charles Soreng s.j. was consecrated Bishop in Mahuadanr.
4. Tundtoli, the focus for research: Fr. Michael Eather was transferred to the Mahuadanr community in 1985. His focus was on how tribals learn maths. Every day he cycled to our primary school at Tundtoli, taught maths, studied the maths teaching of the other teachers. The result was his publication of textbooks of English and Maths which subsequently have been used for many years in our schools.
5. Chiro on the move: Fr. John Minj became the parish priest in June 1988. The Assumption Sisters had withdrawn from Chiro. To improve the teaching in the eleven government primary schools, John sent a teacher paid by the Mission to also teach in these schools. Fr. Gyan took over as parish priest in May 1990. At that time, a bauxite company came to the Chiro area and put pressure on the people to hand over their lands. Most of the people resisted but the pressure continued. Eventually Fr. George Thomas and Fr. Gyan filed a writ in the Supreme Court The Supreme Court issued a stay order and the bauxite mining process was delayed at least for some years. Gyan continued the policy of strengthening of the government schools with our teachers. At the same time, he added class 4 to the Chiro mission school which was class 5 to class 8. Eventually it would be class 1 to class 8.
6. Two schools work together: With St. Robert’s High School moving into the former hostel building of St. Xavier’s in 1977, there were two schools on the same campus. This challenge was taken up by Bob Slattery as HM of St. Robert’s and Bill Dwyer and Bernard Donnelly as Principals of St. Xavier’s. There was a sharing of facilities, play grounds, laboratory, hall, and even at one stage one football team with boys of both schools as members of the one school team. Gradually St. Robert’s building was extended to accommodate more office space and classroom space, a simple science laboratory installed, a library fitted up. And a new innovation was the teaching of Santhali even for the matriculation board examination.
7.Bokaro Steel Parish very much alive: Fr. Tony Homem was parish priest from January 1985 to December 1993. His assistant for most of the time was Fr. Gavin O’Sullivan. Both Tony and Gavin were meticulous in visiting their parishioners, keeping up parish records. Tony did much to put the parish on a sound financial footing by introducing a regular monthly contribution system. During this time, land was purchased at Balidih and a middle school started for the people of that area where in fact there are many Santhals. It was named St. Louis School, no doubt keeping in mind the early days of Fr. Louis Lachal in the area.
8. Challenges at St. Xavier’s School, Bokaro: Fr. P.O.Chacko was Principal from 1990 to 1997.. It was a difficult time as some disgruntled elements were not happy with the way Chacko was running the school. At one occasion, he was the victim of physical assault. There were also elements in the employ of the school, especially among the maintenance/security/transport staff who were not comfortable with the way they found things had become. Chacko was presented with a “Charter of Demands” on behalf of a few disgruntled employees backed by a local trade union. Chacko weathered all these storms, supported strongly by the Fr. Koshy, the community superior and the Jesuits. And as Fr. Kevin Cronin pointed out in his book “In Ever Increasing Measure”, “St. Xavier’s was never as well administered as during the term of Chacko’s term of office as Principal.
9. Bhusar a multi purpose centre: At least from 1985, Br. Michael Kujur moved permanently from Chandwa parish 5 Km away to Bhusar, asked by Bishop George Saupin to develop something there! And Br. Michael just did that. He set up a training centre to train young people as masons, to learn agricultural pump maintenance, bicycle repairing, elementary land measuring techniques, all handy skills to get jobs. Eventually Br. Michael wrote two books, one on the cultural traditions of the Oraon people, the other a practical manual on how to carry out simple but accurate land measuring tasks. Obviously Br. Michael was a man of many talents, used in the service of the people.
If Br. Michael cannot talk about his experiences in Bhusar, maybe photos of Michael and of Bhusar.
CHAPTER 9
1992-1998
1. Hazaribag Region becomes a Province: Fr. General Peter Hans Kolvenbach established the Jesuit Province of Hazaribag from 22nd April, 1992 with Fr. Edward Mudavassery as the first Provincial. At that time the Province numbered 119 members: 65 priests, 9 brothers, 30 scholastics and 15 novices. Edward moved the Province offices from St. Xavier’s campus to Loyola Centre, our house for candidates.2. The Chechari and the proposed field firing range: The army for some years had been conducting occasional field firing exercises on the hills above the Chechari. But in 1993, news came that this would be extended to the Chechari itself resulting in people being forced to periodically move from their lands and houses. In Mahuadanr, an action committee was formed to resist strongly this proposal of the government. The cry was raised – and emblazoned on many a village home wall: “We will give up our lives if need be, but our lands – Never!” In the face of such vigorous opposition, the Government gave up the plan.
3. New Schools and Parishes in the Chechari: In 1997, a parish was started in Pakripath with Fr. Xavier Xalxo as the first parish priest and not long afterwards a middle school was started run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes. At about the same time, a parish was started at Tundtoli with first Fr. Jacob Almeida and then Fr. Suleman Minj as the parish priest. And the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition who were residing in nearby Kapu village began to reside in Tundtoli and were running the school.
4. Apostolate among the Korwas: When Fr. Xavier Diraviam was appointed to the Bishrampur parish in June 1993 first as assistant parish priest and in January 1994 as parish priest, his attention was drawn to the plight of the Korwas, very many illiterate and having lost their lands to other more powerful groups. In late 1996, Xavier was transferred to start a new parish at Jamuniatanr, again a Korwa area. Xavier worked might and main for the Korwa people, even facing hostile opposition from other groups. He set up a school and hostel and by March 1998, there were 500 boys and girls attending the school and 150 students in hostels. Xavier would be very happy looking down from heaven to see now a flourishing high school with over 1200 students and over 300 in hostels.
5. Prerena Resource Centre: In 1993, Frs. Tony Herbert and Francis Kurien returned from studies in Gujerat and set about making the new acquired residence in Hazaribag a resource centre for the dalit apostolate. Francis became the superior of the Prerena community and Tony director of the documentation centre and coordinator of the Satsang ministry . Francis and Tony conducted a number of training courses for Sisters and others and several awareness community bonding camps for village representative.
6. Patra mission and the murder of Fr. A.T. Thomas: To further the mission for the dalits, Patra was made the centre, with the Clarist Sisters running a health centre, eventually a grihini too, and moving from village to village providing health care and organising self-reliance groups. A Jesuit residence was then set up. There were eleven regular day schools and twelve non formal night schools. Christopher Kerketta, A.T. Thomas and later George Thomas and M.K. Jose were involved in this outreach to the dalits. A.T. Thomas working against the injustices on the dalits by high caste people took up the dalits cause in a land case and some high caste people were jailed for a time. But when by chance A.T. visited Sirka in October 1997, he found armed men beating up a villager. They recognised him as the person who had got them jailed, took him to the nearby forest and killed him. Since then, every year the fight by A.T for the dalits is remembered in a big celebration celebrated in Babupara and a Mass at the place of the murder of A.T.
7. Improvements and Expansion in the Santhal Apostolate: In January 1994, Fr. Edward blessed the new school building at Charhi and in March 1995, was celebrated the silver jubilee of the first baptisms of the parish of 16 Santhal families of Chenaro village, not far from Charhi. In the Kajarkilo area, Frs Hans Hendriks, Daniel Besra, Clarist Sisters and catechists were establishing the faith among the Santhals and eventually a school was built, run by the Clarists. Meanwhile, again among the Santhals, the CMC Sisters in 1998 began a small school in Patki. Small beginnings which would lead to amazing expansion into high schools.
8. Changes in Bhurkhunda: The huge parish area of Bhurkhunda was lightened in January 1995 when the eastern portion was cut off and a new parish of Ramgarh established with diocesan priest Fr. Isaac Damien as the first parish priest. In July 1994 three CIC sisters began to reside in Patratu and in January 1995 opened a primary school. In January 1997, Catholic Ashram Middle School, Bhurkhunda was upgraded to high school and in April 1997, Fr. Francis Lopez was appointed the headmaster in place of Fr. Suleman Minj.
9. Challenges at Primary Teachers Education College(PTEC), Sitagarha: The Bihar Government with Chief Minister Lalu Prasad issued a law that to teach in schools there was no need of a Teachers Training Certificate. And the Central Government decided that further recognition was needed by the National Council for Teacher Education(NCTE). Fr. Xavier Tigga taking over as Principal in January 1995 faced all these challenges. In February 1997, the PTEC was granted recognition, but for many years, no exams were held. Some other private Christian teacher education colleges therefore closed down but our PTEC courageously carried on and eventually, after many years, because of Xavier’s perseverance with the government, examinations were held for many pending batches.
10. Changes in St. Xavier’s Hazaribag: Fr. Michael Eather was appointed Principal in November, 1993 in place of Bernard Donnelly. He faced the pressure from different sources for two changes: to make the school co educational and to upgrade the school to class 12. Michael agreed to these changes backed by the school’s managing committee and the governing body, headed by Provincial Fr. Edward approved these changes from the new session of 1995. Michael also encouraged Christian parents to admit their children in St. Xavier’s and also set up a National Open School Centre to enable students to complete high school education. Prisoners in Hazaribag’s Central Jail also benefited and classes were held in the jail premises.
11. Accompanying the youth: Fr. Yacob Almeida from February 1988 was secretary of the Bihar Regional Youth commission which meant the supervision of the youth ministry throughout the state. This meant that often he was on the road organising rallies and exhibitions enthusing and guiding the youth. In 1989 he accompanied a group of young people from India to a Youth Congress at the Taize Ecumenical Centre in France.
12. A Bishop from Hazaribag Province: In 1995, the diocese of Daltonganj which embraced the Hazaribag Jesuit region was divided and Hazaribag district was made a separate diocese with Bishop Charles Soreng s.j. shifted to Hazaribag as the Bishop. In November 1997, Fr. Gabriel Kujur who at that time was the Master of Novices received his appointed as the third Bishop of Daltonganj. Bishop Gabriel was consecrated Bishop on 8th January, 1998.
CHAPTER 10
1998-2001
1. A new Provincial: Fr. Gaudentius Kongari assumed office as Provincial on 22nd April 1998. He was our first Jharkhand born Provincial. Besides his various studies in India, he had done his tertianship in Melbourne and later a three months spirituality course in Pymble, Australia. For six months in 1984, he had been serving in Rome in the Hindi service of Vatican radio. He had been Rector of St. Xavier’s Hazaribag and St.Stanislaus Sitagarha and parish priest in Hazaribag, Gothgaon and Mahuadanr. Gaudie, as well as guiding all the ministries of the Province, started an apostolic school at Ankur, close to St. Robert’s, for young 8th class boys from different parishes to study at St. Robert’s and possibly decide to become candidates as Gaudie himself had done very many years before at the apostolic school in Ranchi. Fr. Lawrence Tirkey was appointed in charge of these boys.
2. Movements in St. Robert’s and Masi Marsal School Charhi: Under the leadership of Headmaster, Fr. Dominic Lakra, St. Robert’s High School was moved in June 1999 from the St. Xavier’s campus to Sindur about 2 Km away where since the beginning of the school the school hostel was situated. In February 1999, Fr. Bob Slattery, after finishing his term as JEA secretary in New Delhi was appointed Headmaster of the incipient Masi Marsal High School, Charhi. The numbers in the school grew in 2001 to over 1000 students, about 75% Santhals. Santhal language was a subject in classes one and two and would eventually be taught till class 10 as a subject for the matriculation exam. Under the guidance of Fr. Shyam Kishore Tudu, Santhali textbooks were being composed by two of the Masi Marsal Charhi teachers.
3. The special thrust of St. Xavier’s School, Bokaro: In 2000, as well as running the English medium school with nearly 3000 students, the Jesuits, Frs. Geoff Meagher, George Thomas, Ken Mc Namara and Augustine Tigga are also managing a Hindi medium school for about 500 poor students on the same campus. Though the students of the Hindi medium school pay some school fees, the school is subsidized by the fees of the students of the English medium school. Also some students of the English medium school are members of the school’s social service league which each year raises considerable sums for the care of leprosy and TB patients in and around the city.
4. Apostolate among the dalits in Patra and Tarwa: Frs. M.K. Jose and Yugal Kishore and the Clarist Sisters at the Patra centre and Frs. Gyan and Tom Rodrigues in Tarwa continue to place stress on the need for economic independence of the dalit people. To help in this, the Jesuits and the Clarist Sisters in Patra have started two schemes, the individual savings scheme for men, and a separate savings scheme for women. The amounts deposited are banked locally to gain interest. In this way, the people are freed from money lenders. There are similar schemes in Tarwa . The Clarist Sisters run a grihini school especially for dalits of the area.. And at Tarwa, satsang, a gathering of dalits to pray, sing and listen to a Gospel message is often organised in different villages.
5. Significant ministries by our Province men outside the Province: As the Province celebrates its silver jubilee, we need to mention Province men who have made significant contributions in ministries at the all India level and beyond.
Fr. Paddy Meagher and Tom Venad: After completing doctoral studies in Sacred Scripture, Paddy at Vidya Jyoti College New Delhi and Tom especially at the regional theologate in Ranchi have been teaching Sacred Scripture to hundreds of theologians.
Fr. Oswald Summerton: Os stationed in Delhi has been for many years Co-Director of the Transactional Analysis Centre for Education and Training (TACET), and has given seminars in different parts of the world
Fr. P.J. Francis: Francis is a qualified Doctor in Clinical Psychology and is the Director of the Sadhana Institute at Lonavla in Maharastra. The institute is one of the common works of the South Asian Jesuit Assistancy.
Fr. Paul Jackson: Paul”s research area is the study of the writings of the Bihari Sufi, Sharafuddin Maneri. He resides in Patna to be close to the sources of Maneri in library in Patna. Paul has been associated with the Islamic Studies Association since 1979 and a regular contributor to their quarterly magazine “Salaam”. Besides his doctoral study on Maneri, he has also written a short account “ A Jesuit among Sufis”.
Fr. R.C. Chacko: Chacko was first co director and then director of the tertians of the South Asian Assistancy in Patna and Sitagarha and much later in Nairobi, Kenya the director of tertians of the African Assistancy.
Fr. Bob Slattery: Bob was the Secretary, Jesuit Educational Association of South Asia in New Delhi from 1993 to 1999. With four other Jesuits of India, he participated in the launch of the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm(IPP) in a seminar in Rome, and afterwards with the Indian team spread the IPP in the schools of the Assistancy. He also with two other Jesuits working in Africa gave a seminar in Nairobi on the IPP to the Jesuits of the African Assistancy.
As we know, some of those mentioned above have gone to heaven. Some of the others could relate their experiences in ministries outside the Province.
