Curia Blog: Province Day 2005

From Ranchi Mission to Fifty Years of Ranchi Province

Posted on: May 25, 2005.

Modified on:

By Ranjit P. Toppo, S.J.

At the turn of 50 years of Ranchi Province, Father Provincial -- Ranjit P. Toppo -- takes stock of the available human and material resources in view of the task ahead. His first key note address to the Province on May 25, 2005 at the Province Day, shortly after assuming office.

Dear Fathers and Brothers,

1. Welcome

Welcome to the Province Day 2005. I am aware of the fact that you have left some of the very important and urgent work at your disposal, only to be here today. Good many of you have traveled from far so that at this annual event of the Ranchi Jesuits, we may share some close moments together, cherishing our companionship. By coming together, we share our companionship, support one another, listen to one another and meet with each other in more relaxed manner.

1.1 This is also an occasion, when we intend to learn form one another as to what we are doing in our own respective fields, how we are performing, what are the difficulties and challenges and so on.

1.2 You will recall, last year we met in zonal groups on an experimental basis and had the opportunity of sharing our lives and work in our own specific contexts. The experiment has been reviewed by the local superiors in their meetings, where it was reported that there were some good aspects in terms of closer feeling and more opportunities for sharing etc.. But in some places people felt that the zonal people would have profited more, if there were some resource persons from outside.

1.3 When the Local Superiors met this year to plan for the Province Day celebration, it was decided that only one day would be kept, and this is how we have only one day set aside for the Province Day 2005. The same team also decided that one committee would look after the arrangement of the celebration.

1.4 Once the committee was formed, it got into action by having several rounds of meetings, searching for adequate theme for the celebration and identifying resource persons. The committee also contacted the Coordinators of different Commissions to send their reports so that they may be included in the dossier in advance. That is how we all have in our files the reports of the commissions. Short presentations will be made here, while for the rest, each one is expected to go through the reports.

2. Back to the theme

From Ranchi Mission to Ranchi Province, a journey of fifty years, is basically an attempt to look back in retrospection as to how we have traveled together, the difficulties and challenges we have faced on the way, gains that we have made and losses we have suffered, and the lessons learnt. It is said, wise and well motivated people are guided by the course of history. In today’s sessions we shall be doing exactly that; going back in the corridors of the past, to our roots to draw inspiration for our work today. For convenience, our journey of the last fifty years or so has been divided into three sections, each attempting to capture the spirit of the decades. We are the proud co-owners of the legacy called Ranchi Mission. Several towering personalities have won many a battle and captured uncounted fortresses of different kinds and nature, decades after decades. On an occasion like this, it is good to recall and recapitulate the spirit. Times may have changed, the context may have altered, challenges may have become a little more complicated, yet, the spirit of Ours is the same and needs to remain the same.

2.1 St. Ignatius asks the excercitant to repeat the exercises in which one has drawn more consolation and spiritual fruits so as to deepen the grace received. It is in the same spirit, we recall our past and get the same spirit of Ours, who have gone ahead of us, so that in our own times we can achieve similar and greater success.

May the Lord bless this endeavour of ours, and show us His ways.

3. Status 2005

3.1 As I am going to present the status of the Province this evening, I am aware of the limitation I have, namely, I will not be able to present the status of the province in the usual manner. Not even two months have passed, since I have taken over from my predecessor. Therefore, one may not expect a very in-depth report from me. All the same, from the given facts, which are out there, I would attempt to locate as to where we stand today and where we need to move.

3.2 Let us first get our statistics right: On this count, I would like to begin first with the position of the Society of Jesus as a whole and then subsequently see as to where we, as Province, stand.

At the world level, our numerical strength is the following: As on January 1, 2005, there was a total of 19850 Jesuits -–13966 priests (-182 from 2004), 3054 Scholastics (+2), 1921 brothers (-62) and 909 novices (-78) -– a number representing a net loss of 320 members from January 1, 2004. During this past year 512 entered, 414 died, and 418 left the Society. These figures follow closely the pattern of the last fifteen years. As of January 1, 2005, the average age of all Jesuits was 53.18 years –- of the priests, 59.83 years; of scholastics 24.84 years; and of brothers, 62.57 years.

Last updated: May 19, 2008.

Quote for the day

"There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread."

-- Mahatma Gandhi

Indigenous Peoples Creed

"We, the indigenous peoples, walk to the future in the footprints of our ancestors. From the smallest to the largest living being, from the four directions, from the air, the land and the mountains, the Creator has placed us, the indigenous peoples, upon our mother, the earth."

From: Indigenous Peoples Earth Charter (1992)

Who are the indigenous peoples?

UNO defines:

" …those which having a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, consider themselves distinct from other sectors of societies now prevailing in those territories, or parts of them. They form at present non-dominant sectors of society and are determined to preserve, develop, and transmit to future generations their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal systems."

-- Martinez-Cobo, 1984.

Handiya Making

Handiya: Rice beer "Handiya" or rice beer in earthen pot is a popular local brew in Chotanagpur. Indeed, hardly any celebration would be complete without it. Excessive consumption of it is also a regrettably common sight.

School Dropouts

boy and girl "In addition to perpetuating the ills of Bihar, no suitable education policy to emancipate the tribals and backward classes has been worked out, despite several years of autonomy."

-- Fr. James Toppo, S.J. :2005. (See: resources)

Let them play

May 7, 2008: To an euphoric Jharkhand Government, unprecedented 184 child labourers were rescued from various restaurants, eateries and garages in the suburbs of Ranchi alone. The bigger question is how to dissuade the kids in the prevailing socio-economic condition.