Jesuits in kolkata & West Bengal
How Many Jesuits Are There?
Felix Raj, SJ
According to a recent Jesuit Documentation, No. 81, published from Rome, as of January 2001, there were 21,063 Jesuits in the world - 14,852 priests, 3,997 scholastics, and 2,311 Brothers. The net loss from January 2000 is 320 members. Between January 2000 and January 2001, 500 men entered the Society of Jesus, 479 died and 339 left the order. While the relative numbers of entrances and departures is consistent with the trend of the last few years, the number of deaths is higher.
The highest number of Jesuits in their 460-year history was in 1965 with 36,038 members, 20,301 Priests, 9,865 Scholastics and 5,872 Brothers.
The overall decline in number from 1965 to 2001 is 41%, of which the share of the brothers is 16.9%, scholastics' is 16.4% and priests' 7.7%. In the last 35 years, the overall fall of brothers is 60.6%, scholastics is 59.5% and priests 14.7%.
The Jesuit Headquarters is situated in Rome: Curia Society of Jesus, Borgo S. Spirito, 4 – 00193 ROMA, Italy. Superior General: Most Rev. Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbagh, SJ.
NUMBER
OF JESUITS IN THE WORLD - 2001(Region-wise)
Africa.......................................
1296
America Latin (Merid)............
1685
America Latin (Sept)...............
1588
Asia (Merid)............................
3889
Asia (Orient)............................
1633
Europa
Centr........................... 1037
Europa Merid..........................
2904
Europa Occid...........................
2266
Europa
orient...........................
1215
USA..........................................
3549
Total (2001)............................. 21,063
IN THE WORLD (YEAR WISE)
1960................................... 34687
1965................................... 36038
1970................................... 32898
1975................................... 28856
1980................................... 27053
1985................................... 25549
1990................................... 24421
1995................................... 22869
2000................................... 21354
Jesuits in South Asia
The Indian Assistancy has the highest number with 3,851 Jesuits (18%), followed by USA with 3,635 (17%). Of the 3,851 Jesuits in India, 2,174 are priests, 1,363 scholastics in training and 314 brothers. The ratio of priests/scholastics in India is 1.60. There are 17 Provinces and 3 independent Regions in the South Asian Assistancy. Madurai Province has the highest number with 495 Jesuits, followed by Patna with 376. Karnataka Province has the highest number of scholastics - 146, followed by Patna with 128. Bihar is the most blessed State for Jesuits. There are five Jesuit Provinces with 1,265 Jesuits, one-third of all Jesuits working in India.
SOUTH ASIAN JESUIT ASSISTANCY ASSEMBLY
LIVING AND SHARING THE GOOD NEWS IN SOUTH ASIA TODAY
The first South Asian Jesuit Assistancy Assembly, October 22-28, 2001, was held at St. Pious Seminary, Goregoan, Mumbai. It was a call to the world’s largest Assistancy to come together and discern for more effective and more meaningful ways of reaching out to people and to set new far reaching trends in the society.
170 delegates including the provincials and regional superiors from the 17 provinces and 3 regions in South Asia attended the Assembly. Each province and Region had sent eight to ten delegates. There were 5 non-Jesuits – 3 laywomen (Goa, Mumbai and Pune), one layman (Madurai) and one SND sister (Patna). There were also some visitors: Frs. Franke and Peter Belleis, the provincial and mission procurator respectively from South Germany province, the provincial of Japan and his socius and Fr. Valerian Shirima, the moderator of the African Assistancy.
The theme was “ Living and Sharing of the Good News in South Asia Today”. The assembly was inaugurated on 22nd evening with a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Angelo Gracias, auxiliary Bishop of Mumbai. Fr. George Pattery of Kolkata Province gave the Keynote address. He spoke of Jesus’ way of living and sharing the Good News and the opportunities and challenges facing the Jesuits today in South Asia. The keynote address was followed by random group discussions and a general session on the theme.
The following two days, 24th and 25th, were spent on seven sub-themes like Evangelisation as proclamation in a pluralistic society; dialogue with other religions and cultures; Christian and other religious fundamentalism; Evangelisation and the challenges of media and technological advances; evangelisation as concern for ecology and environment; evangelisation as walking with the poor and evangelisation and human rights in order to enrich the assembly’s understanding of the main theme in the context of growing fundamentalism, globalisation, saffronisation of education consumerism and ethnic nationalism. The inputs by resource persons chosen from different fields helped the subsequent discussions in interest groups. The outcome of these discussions was collated according to our ministries - education, pastoral work and social action, and target groups - dalits, tribals and women and, a draft of the Action Statement was presented to the assembly.
The draft document was further discussed in interest and zonal groups, and also in the general assembly. The delegates sat through till midnight on 27th October and gave a final shape to the Statement. On the 28th morning, the last day, the assembly unanimously approved the Action Statement after some clarifications and a few further amendments, which were discussed and voted for. The Statement includes some important and concrete action programmes like ‘solidarity with the poor and target groups like dalits, tribals and women’, ‘networking with like-minded agencies’, ‘ a culture of dialogue’ and ‘participatory approach in our community life and our ministries’.
The assembly came to an end on 28th noon with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by the oldest and the veteran member, Fr. Joseph Neuner (Pune), 92 years old. Immediately after this, the JCSA had its 3-day meeting at Vinayalaya, Andheri. The proceedings of the assembly and the final Action Statement will be sent to all the provinces and regions for study, reflection and execution in our communities and ministries.
Issues in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim and Jesuit works there were presented to the house. To improve our way of proceeding, accountability structures were reviewed and new modalities were proposed for province, zonal and assistancy level.
The whole assembly had been efficiently organised to the satisfaction of all participants. The hospitality was warm; the hall was beautifully decorated with banners of vision statements, pictures and photos of different Provinces and Regions; food was tasty and sumptuous, thanks to Fr. Oscar Rosario (Mum), the minister of the seminary; Eucharistic celebrations and evening prayers organised by various provinces and regions were meaningful and a source of strength; the video presentations after supper by provinces on some of their works informative and enlightening; the sessions had been meticulously planned; the generous supply of several computers and laptops by the IT friendly Mumbai provincial gave a high tech dimension to the whole assembly; Robert Athickal’s incisive and humorous caricatures caught the many moods of the delegates brought out the lighter side of the assembly; the Mumbai dharsan and visit to Borivili National Park were refreshing; arrangement had also been made to display books, pamphlets and audio-cassettes of delegates and organisations, and the whole mood was lively and pleasant. It was a great success. The credit goes to the organising team, headed by the ever smiling and young Errol Fernandes (Mum), local co-ordinator. The POI, Fr. Lisbert D’Souza aptly expressed the gratitude of the assembly and the assistancy to all those responsible for the success, Jesuits and non-Jesuits, in the concluding session.
There was openness, friendliness and the joy of being and sharing together as friends in the Lord. One experienced the Jesuit companionship and team spirit in abundance. ‘It was’, some participants expressed, ‘a deep and fruitful experience of communal discernment’. There were young, competent and committed Jesuits besides some eminent men. It was a sign of hope for the future of the Assistancy and the whole society.
JESUITS IN CALCUTTA:
Calcutta Jesuit Province is one of the 18 provinces in India. There are around 200 Jesuits engaged in educational, pastoral, media, social and other fields. The Calcutta Jesuits run one college, six schools two media centers, two documentation research centers and many parishes and mission stations.
Provincial: Rev. Fr. Jerome Francis, SJ.
Socius: Fr. Albert Huart, SJ
Treasurer: Fr. Raphael Hyde, SJ
Xavier Sadan, 9/3 Middleton Row, Calcutta - 700 071, INDIA
Xavier Sadan is the provincial's office of the Calcutta Province of the Society of Jesus. The administrative work of the province is done in this office. Father Socius assists the Provincial. The treasurer looks after the accounts and the finance of the province. Calcutta Jesuit News Letter containing news and views of the Calcutta Jesuits and the periodical Calcutta Jesuits and Friends are published from this office. Email: calsj@vsnl.com
St. Xavier’s College, 30 Park Street, Calcutta – 700 016. Founded in 1860. The motto is Nihil Ultra (Nothing Beyond) means our aim is set on the highest ideals. The college runs five Departments: Arts, Science, Commerce, Education and Business Administration. There are around 5,000 students in the College. Principal: Fr. P.C. Mathew, SJ; Vice-Principal (Commerce Dept.): Fr. Felix Raj, SJ; Vice-Principal (Commerce Evening) Dr. M. M. Rahman, Vice-Principal (Arts & Science Dept.): Fr. P. Eaton, SJ. BBA Director Fr. Dominic Savio, SJ Email: xaviers@cal3.vsnl.net.in, Web site:www.sxccal.edu
St. Xavier's Collegiate School, 30 Park Street, Calcutta - 700 016. The school department is affiliated to the Council of the Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi, up to class XII. There are around 2,300 students. There are 83 teachers, 34 men and 49 women. Headmaster: Fr. Jerome Francis, SJ. Email:sxc@cal.indiax.com
St. Lawrence High School, 27 Ballygunge Circular Road, Calcutta – 700 019. Founded in 1937. There are around 1800 students. There are 71 teachers, 42 men and 29 women. The school runs a hostel for the Catholic boys. They come from different parts of Bengal. At present the hostel has around 80 boys. Principal: Fr. Sebastian Nallail, SJ. Email:sljc@cal3.vsnl.net.in
St. Xavier’s H. Sec. School, P.O. Haldia Township, Dist Midnapore, W.B. – 721 607. Established in 1971. This co-education school has around 4,000 students. There are altogether 150 teachers for all three sections--- Higher Secondary, Secondary, and primary. Headmaster: Fr. K.C. Jacob, SJ.
St. Paul's High School, P.O. Nepalganj, Dist. 24-Parganas (S), 743 508. The school was started in 1940. It is fully a Bengali Medium school with 850 students of whom 530 are Catholic. There are 4 Jesuits working in the school with the co-operation of 20 teachers. The school has boarding for the boys. There are 80 boarders. Headmaster: Mr. Amit Chatterjee.
St. Xavier's School, Burdwan, WB - 713 103. Founded in 1964. There are around 1,000 students including 10 Catholics. The school is run by 2 Jesuits and 32 teachers, 10 men and 22 women. Headmaster: Fr. Paul Arockiam, SJ. Email:sxsbdwn@dte.vsnl.net.in
St. Xavier's School, ABB Township, Durgapur, WB - 713 206. Started in 1963. It has around 1650 students. 950 are in the primary section and 700 in the secondary section. There are 60 teachers and 4 Jesuits on the staff. Principal: Fr. K.K. Devasy, SJ
Shanti Bhavan, 1/32-B Prince Golam Mohammed Road, Calcutta – 700 026. A small hostel and study centre for college students. There are 10 students. It is also a centre for Bengali studies and translation work. Mohana, a half-yearly Bengali magazine is published from this house. The director of the house and the editor of the magazine is Fr. Schillings, SJ.
Prabhu Jisu Girja, 76 Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, Calcutta - 700 016. The church takes care of the spiritual need of the nearby Catholics. Bengali Liturgical Centre is situated here. It is also a formation centre for Christian Life Community (CLC) and Leadership Training Service (LTS). The institution has a very good library named Duff Hall. The students of the locality use the library.
Loyola Jesuit Study House, 76 Rafi Ahemd Kidwai Road, Calcutta - 700 016. Centre for young Jesuits in training. Most of them study in St. Xavier's College, some in the Scottish Church College. There are about 20 scholastics staying now.
Chitrabani, 76 Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, Calcutta – 700 016. Founded in 1973. It is a Social Communication Centre.
Chetana , a branch of the centre produces educational programs for Radio Varitas, Manila. The institution organizes many Communication-media programs and courses. There is an audio-visual centre here. Director: Fr. P J Joseph, SJ. Email:cbcal@cal.vsnl.net.in
Dhyan Ashram, Diamond Harbour Road, Konchowki, P.O. Bishnupur, Dist. 24-Parganas (S).– 743 503. Started in 1974. It is a Jesuit formation Centre with two years of Novitiate and one year of Juniorate programs. It also has a Retreat House, which is used by the people of all faith, especially students, teachers, family members and religious. People of good will come from all over the wold here. There are 6 Jesuits and around 40 in training. Email:dashram@vsnl.net
Catholic Church Raghabpur, P.O. Nepalganj, Dt 24 Parganas (S) – 743 508. Raghabpur St. Joseph's Parish was started in 1868. It is one of the oldest parishes in Bengal.There are several sub-parishes under this parish. At present 2 Jesuits are working there. They take care of the spiritual aspect of the parishioners. Parish Priest: Fr. T. J. Thomas, SJ.
Parasmani, Ratan Palli, Santiniketan, Birbhum Dt. W.B – 731 235. Bengal Regional Theology Centre started in 1997. Jesuit Scholastics go through one year of theology programme prior to going to Vidya Jyoti, Delhi, a theology center. At present there are 8 Jesuit scholastics from the Northern Jesuit Provinces studying here. Email: jesmoni@dte.vsnl.net.in
Udayani, Social Action Forum,75/1 Ballygunge Place, Calcutta – 700 019. It is the Province Social Apostolate Centre. It houses a good library and documentation centre. The Centre organizes adult education and other social programs. Recently it has started a diploma course in social work. The course is affiliated to St. Xavier's College, Calcutta. There are 6 on the staff including 2 Jesuits. Director: Fr. Xavier Jeyaraj, SJ. Email:jscentre@vsnl.com
E M R C, 50 Circus Avenue, Calcutta - 700 017. Founded in 1986. This Education Media Research Centre is attached to St. Xavier's College and sponsored by UGC. It produces educational TV programs. It is one of the best centres in the Country. This esteemed Institution has 21 staff working under Jesuit Director: Fr. G Ponodath, SJ. Email:george1@cal.vsnl.net.in
Premananda Ashram, P O Demouli, via Salua, Chamrusai, Midnapore - 721 145. The centre was founded in 1975. In Chamrusai there is a boarding school with 800 students predominantly Santal tribal students. There are 22 teachers and 5 Jesuits.
Loyola Jayanti Vidyapith, Mithila village, P. O. Keshiakole, Bankura, W.B.- 722 155. It is a boarding for the local santal tribal boys, founded in 1990. There are 30 boarders who are looked after by 2 Jesuits. In 1997 the Jesuit Pre-novitiate (the initial stage of Jesuit formation) was shifted from Siliguri to LJV. There are 16 Pre-Novices. Director: Fr. Arul Joseph, SJ
Maria Snehasadan, Vill & P.O. Gurap, Dt. Hooghly, W B - 712 303. A boarding school for santal tribal boys started in 1993. There are around 130 boys staying over there. Some of the boarders go to nearby schools for education. There are 8 teachers both men and women. The director of the boarding and as well as the in-charge of the place is Fr. E S Joseph, SJ.
Khristo Seva Ashram, Kalna, Dt. Burdwan, W B - 713 409. Started in 1963 this ashram is also predominantly for santal tribal boys. There are around 130 boarders; most of them are studying in the local schools. There are 5 teachers along with 2 Jesuits to look after the boys. In charge: Fr. Eric Tigga, SJ.
Shanti Sadan, Vill. Mirga, P.O. Karra, via Chhatna, Dist. Bankura, W B - 722 132. This abode of peace is started in the year of 1980. It is a boarding school both for boys and girls. Their number is 160, 110 boys and 50 girls. Fr. Julian Das, SJ and Fr. C. John, SJ are helping them out with the help of 12 teachers.
Jisu Ashram, Pandua, Dist. Hooghly, W B - 712 149. There is a boarding and a primary school. The boarding is started in 1982 and the school in 1997. There are 150 students and 7 teachers in the school. The boarding has 150 boys.
Jesuit Residence,
Bangladesh. 142/1A, Monipuri Para, Dhaka - 1215. The Calcutta Jesuits
have started a house in Bangladesh in 1997. Presently they are involved in
Spiritual Ministry and Youth Apostolate.
There are 2 Indian Jesuits working there in collaboration with other 2
Bangladeshi Jesuits. Email: sjdhaka@bdcom.com