Francis was called a missionary. He spoke of Jesus to those who were interested. No such thing as forced conversions and accusation of that in those days. He was too busy. Doing what?

Francis was opening the first Jesuit high school in India, in the world. It was called a college; but it was what we call a high school.  Jesuit histories recount a school at Messina in Sicily as the first.

Depends on how you describe things. St. Paul's in Goa was definitely the first. It was a school. It was founded by Francis Xavier, a Jesuit, and it taught students the basic high school subjects. It was not in the business of conversions. Jesuits are known worldside for schools and colleges. Francis Xavier started the process.

I took a photo of the entrance arch. It still exists.

And that is how Jesuits got into education. Not only into education but into education first in foreign lands and then elsewhere.

Once you get into education you give it your heart and soul. In return you receive the hearts and souls of your students. Not necessarily their pocket books, or those of parents. Why not their pocket books? Because it is a noble profession, not to be demeaned by sordid monetary concerns. Put that motto on your wall and reverence it. It will not help at Reliance or at Big Bazar.

How did American Jesuits from the Maryland Jesuit Province of the East coast get into India., and into Jamshedpur. Briefly, and without explaining anything, I quote Topol, TRADITION.

Jesuits are not men who are running away from anything, not God's great creative gift of sexuality and family responsibility, not having to search out and live up to a job, but to make of themselves the greatest gift that can be imagined: themselves, their work assignments at the pleasure of God expressed in a religious family such as the Jesuits.

As an international family, with members in every country, Jesuits move about to where they are needed and also to keep in touch with globalization of work for all peoples.

The first American Jesuits coming to the Jamshedpur area spent 6 weeks aboard ship. In about 1954 that changed to 24 hours by plane, and at less cost. Healthy Jesuits consumed a lot of food, three meals per day for 42 days.
That lead to thinking that the international priority which was set aside by time length of travel be reinstated. One American brought this up at a general meeting in Jamshedpur. He was the only one to vote in favour. A report went to Rome headquarters and within three years instructions were changed. From then on foreign Jesuits received permanent assignments and also ‘home leave' every five years or so. There was a change for Indian Jesuits who previously did not revisit their home areas after joining the family. Every three years became the norm for their visits.
New ideas on technology, recorders, projectors came to India. Closer involvement with the social area went abroad. membership of associations: social and educational, new leadership as of Jesuit MBAs and high schools being at the top of the spectrum, Opening up new schools and new types of schools. Increased financial aid for projects has flourished. Many American Jesuits have brought back foundation money for social centres, hospitals , schools. Costs of travel have been recovered many times over.

And, the main benefit is that those who travel live longer, retain their creativity and enjoyment of life as well as project the basic professionalism of their vocation that of service of God through service of others

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Fr George A Hess SJ is visting the United States at the moment. In a mail to the Editor, he said, "Lehman Brothers crashed, also others. They lost their credit ratiings. Who is in charge of that? Deven Sharma, President of Standard and Poors, one of the two sons of 'R.N. Sharma, former Chairman of Coal India. Deven and Ravi were both students of DNS. I visited Deven in the States a few years ago." To write to him, click here.