By Julian S Das

The Jesuits of Calcutta Province celebrated the Jubilee of eight Jesuits, Nov. 16 at St Xavier’s College.

Bishop Linus Nirmal Gomes, Fr Christian Mignon and Fr Raymond Pilette celebrated seventy years of Religious Life in the Society of Jesus, while Fr Aloysius Carvalho and Fr Jean Englebert celebrated fifty years of Priesthood.

Fr Cyril Desbruslais, Fr Aelred Gomes and Fr Joseph Kallarangatt celebrated fifty years of Religious life in the Society of Jesus.

Except Fr Raymond Pilette, who is now back in Belgium, all the other Jubilarians were present for a concelebrated Thanksgiving Eucharist on the theme ‘You have done great things through me’, and a felicitation program.

Bishop Linus, the first bishop of Baruipur diocese, now engaged in active pastoral ministry in Dhaka, Bangladesh, shared with his Jesuit companions during the felicitation program, his vocation story. He narrated how good Fr Paul Turmes was instrumental in identifying God’s call in him and inviting him to join the Jesuits.

Translator of the Bible into modern Bengali and writer, Fr Christian Mignon too shared his vocation story, how he was almost sure he did not have the least inclination to become a priest, and how his life took a different turn when he said yes to join the Jesuits.

He said that he was almost sure that God wanted him to come to India, though he had known nothing about India, its rich culture or heritage.

Fr Jean Englebert recalled the several graces he had received from God, during the fifty years of his priesthood.

Fr Jean had been involved with translation of liturgical texts, assisting Fr Mignon in the translation of the Bible and proofreading it, Christian Life Community (CLC) promotion, compilation of Christian  hymns and expanding the existing hymnal (Geetsanchoy).

Fr Aloysius Carvalho had been involved different kinds of ministries, and had been termed as a man available for any kind of ministry, either in rural or in urban setup.

Born in Kolkata, Fr Carvalho too had the Belgian Jesuits to inspire him during his school days, and after his ordination was ready to take up any ministry which he was asked of.

Calcutta Jesuit Provincial, Fr Jeyaraj Veluswamy, while thanking God for the gift of the Jubilarians, said he felt humbled before these stalwarts, and yet proud of what they were able to achieve for the Lord and his mission.

In tribute to the great Jesuit Jubilarians, Jesuit Dancer, Fr Saju George presented a dance for the Rabindra Sangeet, ‘Pada prante rakho seboke’, sung by Jesuit singer, Fr Shyamal Makhal.

Professor of Biblical theology Fr Joseph Kallarangatt recalled the special grace he received in the Society of Jesus, which sent him for Biblical studies at Biblicum, and the opportunity to serve the Regional Seminary at Morning Star College, and his transfer to join the Jesuit Regional Theology Center in Patna.