Pengaree Jesuits Celebrate Feast of St. Ignatius with Gratitude and Reflection in North East

Pengaree, Dibrugarh, August 1, 2025: The Jesuit community at Pengaree Tea Estate marked the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola with a solemn Eucharistic celebration on 31 July, drawing together a small yet devout gathering of faithful.

Fr. Alois Beck SJ, superior of the Jesuit community and parish priest, presided over the Mass, joined at the altar by six concelebrating priests. Despite being a weekday, around 50 attendees — including children, teachers, students, retired persons, and four religious sisters — participated prayerfully in the liturgy. To begin the celebration, Fr. Celestine Minj SJ delivered a brief life-sketch of the saint.

In his homily, Fr. Beck described the feast as “a day of transformation,” reflecting on St. Ignatius’ journey from a worldly soldier to a spiritual giant. He highlighted the saint’s deep conversion and the profound influence he had on others, particularly St. Francis Xavier, whose ambitions for worldly glory were redirected towards a missionary life in India.

Fr. Beck underlined the enduring spiritual legacy of St. Ignatius, particularly his authorship of the Spiritual Exercises, which have inspired countless individuals across centuries. “Through his vision, thousands have found their calling in the Jesuit way of life,” he said, noting the Society of Jesus’ widespread impact through its global network of educational institutions.

He further illustrated the idea that “miracles don’t just happen but they are worked upon,” citing examples of Jesuits who lived and died in service of the marginalised. He recalled Fr. K.T. Thomas SJ, martyred in 1997 by zamindars in Hazaribagh for educating Dalits; Fr. Albert Haisayab SJ, an Irish missionary who in the 1970s transported a deceased person’s body home by motorcycle; and Fr. Herman Rascheir SJ, who lost his life in the 1967 communal riots in Kutungia village, Ranchi, while protecting Muslim villagers.

Jesuit presence at Pengaree began in 2002 under the Ranchi Province, tasked with pastoral care in the Diocese of Dibrugarh. The mission today includes a parish church, presbytery, school, three feeder schools, and outreach to sixteen villages — serving nearly 4,250 Catholics from 800 families. Five priests and one regent brother minister to the area, supported by Daughters of St Anna (DSA) Sisters from Jalpaiguri Province, West Bengal.

After Mass, a short felicitation honoured the Jesuits’ work. Fr. Telesphore Lakra SJ, mission pioneer, spoke of the transformation of Pengaree. “Twenty-three years ago, this was a haunted place,” he said. “With God’s blessings and your cooperation, it now shines.”

The day concluded with a festive meal, leaving the community spiritually renewed.

By Fr. William Horo

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