Mumbai — As the numbers of Jesuit priests decline, and the times change, the Jesuit order across Maharashtra is having laypersons head its educational institutions for the first time in its history, which spans about 150 years.
Over half of the Jesuit-run institutions in Maharashtra have appointed non-priests as their principals in the past few years. The latest in the list are St Xavier’s College at Fort and St Stanislaus School at Bandra, which are set to appoint non-priest principals next month. Economics Professor Agnelo Menezes (58) will replace Fr Frazer Mascarenhas at St Xavier’s College and Anna Correa will be replacing Fr Jude Fernandes at St Stanislaus School.
Members of the priestly order of the Society of Jesus are known as Jesuits. Pope Francis also belongs to this order. The society is basically a male religious congregation of the Catholic Church which is engaged in 112 nations on six continents. It works in education, research, and cultural pursuits. In Maharashtra it runs 60-odd schools and colleges.
Among Jesuit schools in Maharashtra which have non-priest principals are Campion school at Colaba, St Xavier’s High School at Fort, St Xavier’s Boys academy, Marine Lines, St Xavier’s BEd College at Marine lines, Engineering College at Mahim and two schools in Vasai and Nashik.
“Principals of at least 50% institutions in Maharashtra are lay now. All 17 Jesuit schools in Thane are headed by non-priests. So are as many schools in Mumbai,” says Fr Francis Swamy, chairman of the Jesuit School Board.
He said the declining number of priests is the major reason behind this shift in the Jesuit policy. “There are only 3,000 Jesuit priests in India compared to 7,000 three decades back. The trend of nuclear families and having less number of children have led to the sharp decline. Besides, youngsters look for more lucrative options than becoming priests or nuns. Hence, we are appointing non-priests as the school heads. They are equally qualified.”
Moreover, societal perception towards teachers and principals has also changed over the time. “A non-priest academician is now regarded as more liberal, modern, up to date with technology and having a broader global outlook than the priests, which might also have impacted the decision of the Jesuit board,” said Ryan Pinto, an IT engineer and father of two college going girls.
Fr Swamy said, “The older generations regarded priest principals as more dedicated and better suited persons for the job. Young students identify more with lay principals who have a more liberal and tech-savvy approach. Hence not only principals, vice principals and members of governing bodies of many Jesuit schools are also non-priests now.”
There is also the fact that these Jesuit institutions cater to more non-Christians than Christians. “A lay head will be more acceptable to all,” said an observer.
(This appeared in DNA on May 15, 2015)