Tag Archives: Fr. Xavier Manjooran

Tribute to late Fr. John Khanna S.J. by Fr. Xavier Manjooran S.J. & Fr. Freddy D’Souza.

1-12

Please click here to read the tribute to Late Fr. John Khanna by Fr. Xavier Manjooran.

 

Fr Freddy

Dear Friends & Relatives,

 

Peace of Christ!

 

For the past 15 days I was in the tribal areas far away from Georgetown. We have Jesuit Missions there, something like the South Gujarat and North Gujarat Adivasi Jesuit Missions in India. I conducted sessions for more than 50 young boys and girls who will be Confirmed later this year, and, four days of Marriage Seminar for those going to marry in the Church. Very fruitful ministry indeed. The people there are simple, sincere and spontaneous, like the Adivasi Catholics in Gujarat. In one Jesuit Mission there was no electricity for four days at a stretch! So, no TV, no internet, couldn’t charge my cell phone, no fan to avoid hot and humid tropical weather. Except for this negative, there were many positives. Praise the Lord!

 

In John Khanna’s death I have lost a very intimate friend, my brother, my mentor and guide, for the past 32 years. I have thousands of memories, happy, sad, humourous, spiritual, wisdom and enlightenment ….. Because I had no access to internet and phone, I came to know about John’s death two days ago! I wish I were there with him, for the past couple of months at least, by his side when he was suffering a lot in different hospitals. My presence would have soothed him, comforted him, because there was deep love, regard and understanding for each other. I am about twenty thousand Kms away from Baroda! May the Lord grant him eternal peace and bliss in His Kingdom; comfort and peace to the bereaved family-folks, friends and fans.

 

Love and best wishes to you.

 

Fr Freddy

 

Fr Freddy D’souza, S.J.
Arrupe House
293 Oronoque Street
Georgetown
Guyana. South America.
Mobile: 00 592 654 7540

Fr. Xavier Manjooran – A Dynamic Youth Leader by Fr. Varghese Paul S.J.

Fr. Xavier -A Dynamic Youth Leader

Fr. Varghese Paul, SJ

 
Xavier Manjooran joined the Society of Jesus in 1962 and did his novitiate at Vinayalaya, Andheri Bombay(ist yr) and Mt Abu, Rajasthan(2nd yr). After his juniorate studies at Mumbai when he came back to Mt. Abu to study Gujarati in 1965 I was there as a second year novice. From then on I have known Xavier as we are both Jesuit missionaries in Gujarat hailing from Kerala.
 
As a Jesuit seminarian Xavier showed his dynamic leadership qualities and tenacious love for the down trodden people, called Dalits in India. While studying in the college and later as a boarding prefect for hostel boys he organized leadership and motivational study camps for high school and college going boys and girls. Thus from the seminary days Xavier established himself as a born youth leader.
 
Xavier conducted his first leadership camp for youth in 1969. It was followed by many more. Many of the youth who participated in his camps and formed Tarunoday Mandal (Youth Association) have done extremely well in life to become advocates, judges, teachers, professors and officers in government private establishments. They in turn contributed to the upliftment of their Dalit communities.
 
Recognizing his talents and abilities as a youth leader the Provincial of Gujarat Jesuits appointed Fr. Xavier to full time Youth ministry – a first the Province after his ordination as a Jesuit Priest in 1975. As time passed the Tarunoday Mandal camps led to the establishment an institution for youth ministry named Asha Deep, a Centre for Human Development.
 
With leadership and study camps, combined with job orientated courses through Asha Deep, Fr. Xavier helped good many young boys and girls from Dalit communities to qualify themselves and compete with the so called upper class youth both in the job markets and leadership. During these years Xavier stated another youth organization called All Gujarat Student Developmet Movement (AGSDM) for the students of marginalized coomunites, irrespective of any religion of other consideration. This movement  was later affiliated to a national student movement called  “All India Catholic University Federation” (AICUF) which is also associated with the international “Pax Romana”. A few of the youth have done exceptionally well through Asha Deep services that they have attained national and international name and fame. Some young men and women trained by Asha Deep have become office bearers of national students’ organizations and of international youth movements.
 
As part of Asha Deep initiatives Fr. Xavier started ‘Ankur’ a movement for school-going boys and girls mainly of Dalits and marginalized communites. Promising boys and girls are selected and special coachings are given to them during vacations and holidays and are accompanied during the academic year through guidance and counseling. These boys and girls under ‘Ankur’ have done exceptionally well not only in their academic studies but also in other areas of extra curricular activities.
 
With his initiatives and dynamism Fr. Xavier expanded his youth ministry, first starting in Kheda District, to cover the entire Gujarat state and also whole of  India and later the entire South Asia. Thanks to his initiatives Xavier became the first Secretary of Jesuit Youth Ministry in South Asia. As Secretary he persuaded all Jesuit Provincial Superiors in South Asia to appoint coordinators of youth ministries in their respective provinces and promote the youth, especially work among the unorganized and unreached youth of South Asia.
 
Presently Fr. Xavier is the Director of Rajpipla Social Service Society (RSSS) from 2000. RSSS was started by a Jesuit visionary and pioneer Fr. Joseph Idiakunnel in 1975-75 to train tribal people and to fight against their exploitation. The Free Legal Aid programme was started by Joseph in Gujarat as an activity of RSSS. Impressed by it the then Chief Justice of India, Justice Bhagavati studied RSSS Free Legal Aid programme and then promoted such programmes for the whole of India.
 
While continuing all the activities of RSSS to empower the tribal people, the ever dynamic Fr. Xavier has launched a post graduate diploma programme for tribal youth in Integrated Community Rural Development (ICRD) in collaboration with the National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) in Hyderabad, under the ministry of rural Development of the government of India. A number of tribal youth have already secured post graduate diplomas in Rural Management and are working for the liberation and development of their tribal communities.
 
While working for youth or in empowering the tribals, Xavier as a dynamic leader gives himself totally to the cause. Xavier’s life and works show his love for the poor and the tribals. He is committed to the Ignatian ideal of the ‘magis’, the more or the greater glory of God and of his people.

Congratulations to Fr. Xavier Manjooran S.J. on completing 50 golden years in Society of Jesus

RSSS family has planned to celebrate the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Rev. Fr. Xavier Manjooran S.J. on the occasion of his completing 50 golden years in the Society of Jesus. The celebrations will be on 12th May 2012, Saturday at Rajpipla Social Service Society premises, Rajpipla. This is to cordially invite you and your beloved family members for this auspicious day. Please grace the occasion. The celebrations will begin at 11.00 am sharp. Please let us know how many of you will attend to enable us to make the arrangements for lunch etc.

Thanks to Mr. Gilbert Nazareth & Mr. Kanubhai Parmar.