Purushottam Nayak
Kerubadi, December 18, 2022: The people irrespective of religion, caste, creed, and color are mourning the death of their honest, simple, and popular catechist.

Jajati Nayak was born July 1, 1950, in Kerubadi, a catholic village which has celebrated 100 years of Christian faith in 2015 of Our Lady of Holy Rosary Parish, Daringbadi under the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar archdiocese.

He died of a massive heart attack at AMR Hospital, Bhubaneswar at 10.20 PM, December 17, 2022.
His parents are Julian and Tarsilina Nayak. He is the eldest of six siblings.

“Late Sir Jajati Nayak will be remembered as the longest-serving Upadesta Mastro(Catechist) in the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar,” says Sarat Chandra Nayak, Bishop of Berhmapur in his condolence message which was read during mass.

He was just the second generation of Christianity in Kerubadi; his father late Julian Nayak, fondly called Lede due to his thin body, was one of the first ones to be baptized from the village. He was just a teenager in the 1960s, when the late Rev. Fr. Alexander Chandi, Parish Priest of Godapur, took him and made him a village Catechist in Saramuli Parish. Later in the 1970s, Rev. Fr. Augustine Karinkuttiyil, the then Parish Priest of Daringbadi appointed Sir Jajati Nayak as the village Catechist of Kerubadi, replacing the veteran catechist Mr. Thomas Singh. Since then he was faithfully carrying out his sacred duty till he breathed his last on 17th December 2022, except for a couple of years’ break in between.

He lived as a true Catechist and died as an efficient and faithful Catechist. He was the referral point for all matters related to the ecclesial life of the village. Under his leadership, the faith life of the Christians of Kerubadi was strengthened and, as a result today the village has sent to the vineyard of the Lord 9 Religious Sisters, including his daughter Sister Anjali Nayak, The Carmelite Sisters of St. Teresa (CSST) and 6 Priests, including his younger brother priest Dusmant Nayak. As a “Mission Pila” ( Mission child), I used to be one of his faithful and obedient boys who would every year help him in making the Christmas Crib. This year Kerubadi will have the Crib without his guidance and coordination. The Postal department will have to find another Post Master for Bhramarabadi, the post which he held for many years till the date says the condolence message of the prelate.

Mastro Bhaina, ( Brother Teacher) Kerubadi Mondoli (Substation) will miss you and your singing of the traditional litany of Our Lord Baby Jesus at the Christmas vigil this year, which was able to unite the hearts and souls of all the faithful to the Divine Babe in the Manger: Swarg….astha Pitankara Pu…..tra…, Sishu Ji…..su, Ambha..man….nku.. kru…pa.. kara”. Continued the message.

There were about 20 priests, 15 nuns, and thousands of people for the last journey of Jajati Nayak.

“Jajati carried out his mission by both word and deed,” said the main celebrant for the funeral mass, Father Pradosh Chandra Nayak, vicar general of the archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar in his introduction.

“Jajati witnessed to the faith by sharing his faith commitment through word, experience, prayer, and liturgy, He had the authenticity of life, has missionary zeal and devotion to Mary,” affirmed Nayak.
“He was light not only to the family but also to society. He is not with us physically but his selfless service, to the church and the society will certainly make him immortal,” said Anjelo Ranasingh, Gopalpur, in his homily.

He completed standard 8 in 1965 and worked as a catechist in 1967 at the age of 17. He served for the last 55 years as a catechist at 72 years of age.

He was rewarded as the best catechist among 414 total catechists of the archdiocese, in Khristo Jayanti Jubilee 2000 by Emeritus Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, SVD of the archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar.

“My father was a simple, honest, genuine catechist who had special love and concern towards priests and nuns. He prepared food for the priests and nuns who came to my village for the retreat, Eucharistic celebration, or other spiritual activities. He was a loving father to the children and a spiritual leader to the faithful,” states Anjali Nayak eldest daughter of Nayak.

“He was in the service of the Almighty God with sincerity till his last breath. He left behind the imprints of his footsteps for posterity. He is surely in heaven. May God give him eternal rest,” wishes Pradeep Kumar Nayak, a socialist from Bhubaneswar.

“Besides leading prayer every Sunday and every feast day, he was teaching catechism to the children and the youth with dedication and commitment every day. He took care of the spiritual need of the people and led Mariaan Youth promoting Rosary and family prayer. He was an inspiration for hundreds of the faithful to honor and to respect Mother Mary, and build up faith in Christ till his last breath,”. said Libero Nayak, a retired teacher from the village.

“He was concerned to conduct prayer on the fourth Advent Sunday since he was in the hospital. He had a telephone conversation with one of the faithful from the village and was entrusted to conduct Sunday prayer before his last breath which reveals his total commitment and dedication in his responsibility as a catechist in his 55 years of service,” asserted Nayak.

“He was a loving, genuine and caring person for everyone in the region. He is one of the catechists who helped the missionaries spread the Word of God in his life actively,” says Abani Sahu, Daringbadi, a Hindu man.

“He also gave service to the people as Post-master in his life with great sacrifice,” affirms Sahu.