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Obituaries
G.V. Doorssealaer, SJ (MAP) 1910 - 2012
Ghisleen Van Doorsselaer was born
at St Pauwels in the diocese of Gent, East
Flanders, Belgium, on 4 May 1910. He joined
the Society of Jesus on 23 Sept 1930 at
Drongen. After his first vows he opted to be a
missionary in Ranchi Jesuit Province. Later
he opted for Madhya Pradesh Province, which
became his home for the rest of his life. His
Jesuit formation continued in India and he was
ordained at Kurseong on 21 Nov 1943. He was teacher and
headmaster at St Mary’s High School, Samtoli, Simdega, in
Jharkhand for several years. Then moving to Madhya Pradesh,
he was a teacher at St Xavier’s School, Ambikapur in 70s. He
taught students with intelligence, wit and more with smiles. He
also was the warden of Loyola College hostel there and later at
Sneh Sadan Hostel, Jabalpur. His direct pastoral ministry was
just for 4 years, but his spiritual ministry continued. He loved
to preach retreats to school children. Later he served as the
spiritual father of the Daughters of Saint Anne (DSA). He lived
his last 7 years at Khrist Milan Ashram (KMA), Ambikapur, a
Jesuit house for the aged, comforting everyone through his
cheerfulness and smile. After he crossed a century, he spent
most of his time resting. He slept in the Lord in the early hours
on 8 July 2012. His life, 102 years long, can be summed up
as a model of goodness, simplicity, and kindness and simple
faith in a loving God.
- Alphonse Tirkey, SJ
J. Murray Abraham, SJ (DAR) 1925 - 2012
Fr “Abe”, as he was familiarly known, died
at Flame of Hope residence, Matigara on 27
Aug ‘12, just one month shy of his 87th birthday.
Abe joined the Society on 14 Aug 1941 when
he was still 15 years old. He came to India in
1948 and after a year of Nepali study and one
year regency at St Joseph’s College, four years
of theology at St Mary’ College, Kurseong, and
was ordained on 21 Nov 1954. He too his final
vows in the Society on 15 Aug 1959. He spent several years at
St Alphonsus High School, Kurseong, before going to Canada
for his M. Ed. During his years in Canada he set up a network
of supporters for the work that would be the centre of of his life,
education at St Alphonsus High School, Kurseong. His was
a pen of very persuasive power, and through it he connected
with his numerous benefactors in Canada. He write equally well
on spirituality. His educational ministry was outstanding for the
innovative projects and techniques he perfected over the years,
mainly in the teaching of English as a spoken language and in the
linking of education to work programs especially with chickens! In
the mid-1970’s he moved out of St Alphonsus and set up SASAC
(St Alphonsus Agricultural and Social Centre) at Woodcot, the
old villa of generations of Jesuits.That work is now carried on by
others who were inspired by his concern for good education for
the poor. The media declared him the Father of the Gorkhas, and
thousands attended his funeral. It was the largest funeral this town
had ever seen.
- Gabriel Tirkey, SJ
James Tirkey, SJ (MAP) 1934 - 2012
“The sign of a happy heart is a cheerful
face” (Sir 13, 26). Fr James, always cheerful
and jovial, was born on 7 Dec 1934 in Silphari
village of Chainpur parish of Gumla diocese
in Jharkhand. He entered the Society on 30
July 1957 at St Stanislaus College, Sitagarha
and after his formation at Sitagarha, Mount St
Joseph, Bangalore, JDV, Pune, was ordained
a priest on 24 March 1968 by Archbishop Pius
Kerketta, SJ at the Cathedral in Ranchi. That James had a
special call to be a pastor can be seen in his 30 years of parish
ministry. He visited the villages to reach out to the people, even
non-Christians, who were deeply touched by his generous love
and service.
His way of the cross began from 1997 when his diabetes
led to a heart attack. He underwent angioplasty at Apollo
Hospital, Delhi. But he was ready to serve as minister in Loyola
House, Kunkuri and 7 years as co-pastor in Jahpurnagar. His
cross became heavier in May 2009 when he was admitted to Holy
Cross Hospital, Ambikapur. He developed gangrene in one foot
and was rushed to Bhopal where the doctors had to amputate
his leg. But he retained his humour and smile. He was shifted to
Loyola Niketan, Bilaspur in 2010. On 24 June 2012 he invited his
family and relatives to come and see him. When they arrived on
the following day, 25 June, Fr James had already gone to meet
His Lord.
- Alphonse Tirkey, SJ
Pascal Kujur, SJ (MAP) 1930 - 2012
Brother Pascal Kujur was born on 18 March
1930 at the village Karidhar of Tumdegi parish in
Simdega, Jharkhand. At school he met Jesuits
who attracted him to their way of life. He joined
the Jesuits on 13 Sept 1952. In 1956 he was
sent to Sacred Heart College, Shembaganur,
Tamilnadu, for his Tertianship after completing
which he returned to Sitagarha. During his long
stay at Sitagarha from 1952 to 1977 he worked
in the large farm to provide food for a big community of about
hundred Jesuits. He pronounced his final vows on 2 Feb 1963.
His was a hidden life of prayer and commitment, dedicated to the
humble service of the Lord in providing for the material needs of
the community, wherever he was sent - Bishop’s House, Kunkuri
1977 to 1982, to Bishop’s House, Ambikapur from 1985 to 1988,
to Loyola House, Kunkuri from 1988 to 90 and from 1990 to 95, to
Prakash School, Pathalgaon from 1995 to 2003. For a few years he
worked at Catholic Ashram, Pathrai. A stroke he suffered slowed
his movements and work, but that did not stop him from his desire
to work. He remained active, walking around a kilometre every
day with a walking stick in one hand and a rosary in the other.
When every Jesuit was eagerly waiting to celebrate the feast of
St Ignatius, which actually is the saint’s death anniversary, Brother
Pascal received the final call from God to celebrate it with St
Ignatius himself in heaven. He passed away at 7 A.M. on 31 July
2012. - Alphonse Tirkey, SJ
JIVAN: News and Views of Jesuits in India OCTOBER 2012 28