The Jesuits

Dear Companions,

The celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Calcutta becoming an Independent Province, a milestone that honours decades of faithful accompaniment of the people of God, began with the blessings of Fr. General on 25th February, 2026.On July 31, 1976, Calcutta Vice-Province became Province with Fr. Noel D’Souza as its first Provincial. But we may recall that the Mission in Bengal began in a very humble way with the advent of first, the British Jesuits and, then, the Belgians. With the steady arrival of new recruits from Belgium, the Mission developed and expanded geographically and numerically that we could count 7 Jesuit Provinces and 21 dioceses emerging out of it when we celebrated 150 years (1859-2009) of Bengal Mission.
The “jubilee” recalls an ancient Jewish practice, when, every forty-ninth year, the sound of a ram’s horn (in Hebrew, jobel) would proclaim a year of forgiveness and freedom for the entire people (cf. Lev 25:10). This solemn proclamation was meant to echo throughout the land (cf. Lev 25:9) and to restore God’s justice in every aspect of life: in the use of land, in the possession of goods and in relationship with others, above all the poor and the dispossessed. The blowing of horn reminded the entire people, rich and poor alike, that no one comes into the world doomed to oppression: all of us are brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of the same Father, born to live in freedom, in accordance with the Lord’s will.
We will blow horns and trumpets honouring our heroes and saints of the province. We will bask in the great traditions and legacies of the province. We will look at the past with gratitude. But more importantly, we will embrace the future with hope and live our present passionately engaging in God’s Mission. What leads us into our future is our courage, creativity and tenacity to give life to our deepest dreams and desires for God and God’s people.

“Just desire nothing happens. Take decisions something happens. Show determination many things happen.”

God travels the paths of our history and shares in our life. Rekindling the fire of our first love, let us resolve to collaborate in Christ mission of reconciliation and justice!
The Golden Jubilee Year is a period of an encounter, a call for openness, a courage to let ourselves be challenged by the presence and the stories of others. Let us join one another in praying, listening, discerning, examining ourselves personally and communally, to see if we are truly on the path of God, treaded courageously by our forefathers in the Calcutta Province.