By Sujata Jena

Bhubaneswar, Jan 9, 2023: The president of Hockey India Padma Shri Dilip Tirkey has applauded the Jesuits of Jamshedpur province for reaching out to places where no one dared to go.

“The Jesuits dared forests and mountains and faced all odds in doing God’s mission and shaping the bright future of thousands of children,” Tirkey told a function to mark the platinum jubilee of the Jamshedpur Jesuit Society.

The young hockey icon from Odisha was the chief guest at the January 8 program at Loyola School in Bhubaneswar, the capital of the eastern Indian state.

“I am at the helm of affairs at this time as the hockey world cup starts from January 13-29 in Odisha. However, I could not refrain from coming over here and expressing my gratitude to the Jesuits who deserved the most for their total dedication. Hundred years back the Kolkata Jesuits’ mission reached Rourkela. We are the fruit of their mission,” said Tirkey, a former member of the Rajya Sabha.

As many as 1,500 people, including bishops, priests, religious, and laity, participated in the event.

The celebration was kicked off with a solemn Mass presided over by Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar. Jamshedpur Jesuit provincial, Odisha Jesuits, and priests in and around Bhubaneswar concelebrated.

Jesuit Father Augustine Ezhakunnel, the superior of the Loyola School Community, welcomed the gathering before the Mass and declared the opening of the platinum jubilee celebration of the Odisha region.

He said the Jesuits from the America’s Maryland province carved the new Jamshedpur Mission out of the Calcutta Mission in 1948. “We are deeply grateful to the Maryland Jesuits and to the Belgium missionaries who started the Kolkata mission.”

The last Maryland Jesuit was Father Edward Hugh McGrath, one of the founders of XLRI (Xavier Labor Relations Institute), who died on August 4, 2017.

In his opening remark Archbishop Barwa thanked and congratulated the Jesuits on behalf of the Church in Odisha “for their impactful contribution” to the lives of both Christians and people of other religions in the eastern Indian state.

“Today, we are the second largest religious group in Odisha, numbering a little more than one million people according to the census 2011. I believe it is because of the Jesuits’ vibrant mission in the remote corners, towns, and cities of Odisha. The number is not big but not too small either,” the Divine Word prelate added.

Father Jerome Cutinha, the Jamshedpur Jesuit provincial, recalled the first missionaries gratefully. “A tiny plant sown some 75 years back, now has become a mighty tree. We are inspired to spread the light of the first missionaries,” he said.

The provincial explained that the platinum jubilee is celebrated in three regions: Odisha, Chaibasa, and Dhanbad. The celebration will culminate in the grand closing ceremony, which is scheduled to be held in March in Jamshedpur.

The Bhubaneswar event included a cultural program followed by lunch.

The Jesuits also honored late Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, who was supportive of their work during his tenure. The memento was received by his successor Archbishop Barwa.

Jesuit father George Anthony, the superior of the Odisha Mission, briefed about the history of the Jesuits’ mission in Odisha. He said the Jamshedpur Jesuits came to Odisha at the request of Janaki Ballabh Patnaik, former Chief Minister of Odisha. Patnaik wanted to have business school like the XLRI of Jamshedpur in Odisha. “He provided land for us.”

The Xavier Institute of Management (XIM) University formerly known as Xavier Institute of Management and Business (XIMB) was established in 1987. The university is ranked 9th in India by the Outlook ICARE University Ranking 2021.

Today, 54 Jesuits are working in five dioceses of Odisha having universities, colleges, schools, parishes, and mission centers. “Although few in number we are passionate and zealous about extending our mission to the unreached diocese of Odisha,” the mission superior said.

During the platinum jubilee celebration, the Odisha Jesuits honored posthumously catechist Philip Baliarsingh for his faithfulness in collaborating Jesuits’ mission since its beginning in Pagigiri village of Kandhamal district.

Maria Pankojini Ranasingh, the first teacher of Jesuits school in Tumudibandha of Kandhamal district,was also honored for her best service.