Ranchi: Father Louis Francken, a Jesuit missionary from Belgium who worked hard to educate poor tribal people in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, died October 5 in Ranchi. He was 82.
“With great sadness we inform you that Father Louis Francken, S.J. breathed his last at 11:00 pm on 5th Oct. 2020 in Constant Lievens Hospital and Research Centre, Mandar,” says a message from Father Raymond Kerketta, socius (secretary) to the Ranchi Jesuit province.
Mandar is some 25 km west of Ranchi, the state capital.
Father Kerketta’s message to Jesuits in the province says the burial is scheduled at 2:30 pm October 6 in Kishor Nagar, Namkum, some 10 km southeast of Ranchi.
“As we have to follow the protocol of Covid-19, only a few Jesuits will attend the Holy Mass and the burial ceremony,” the October 6 message adds.
Father Francken who taught economics at Ranchi’s St Xavier’s College for several years and served as its principal from 1982 to 1986.
He also served as the director of the Xavier Institute of Social Sciences set up as part of the Jharkhand state’s efforts to bring higher education to the people of the state.
He also served as the director of Kishor Nagar, a social service center.
Father Francken was born on July 28, 1938, at Wuustwezel in Belgium. He joined the Jesuits in 1957 and came to India in 1964. He was ordained priest in 1970.
A graduate from Delhi School of Economics, Father Francken taught economic at St Xavier’s College before moving to XISS as director. He was well known to provide opportunity in academics to weaker sections of society.