The Company of Jesus celebrates 60 years of mission in Nepal
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - The Jesuit community of Nepal marks its 60 years of service in the country. The anniversary was celebrated on Sunday at St Xavier High School, Nepal's first Catholic school established in 1951 by Fr Marshall D. Moran.
Centred on how to 'show justice and reap peace,' the event involved all the students of the school who put on a play and performed religious songs and dances in front of President Ram Baran Yadav and top state officials.
In his address, President Yadav stressed the institute's importance. Over the years, the school has become one of the top educational facilities in the country. "The type of education offered at St Xavier is what the nation will practice tomorrow," he said.
Nepal's Catholic community is the child of the Jesuits' educational work. Until 1992, schools were the only the place where the country's Hindu government would allow mission to occur. Although it guaranteed freedom of worship, the latter also sent people to prison for trying to convert others.
Improvements in terms of religious freedom followed the fall of the Hindu monarchy in 2006 and the establishment of a secular republic. Still obstacles to converting do persist. Last year in fact, conservative parties presented a number of bills that would impose prison terms on people engaged in proselytising and converting Hindus to other religions.
Known across the country for educating the sons of then King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Devel in their schools in Darjeeling and Kurseong (India), the Jesuits were invited to come to Nepal in 1951 to train the future elite of the country.
At the time, Education Minister Mrigendra Shamsher Rana tasked Fr Marshall D Moran and three other missionaries from the St Xavier School in Patna (India) to open a school in Godivari, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of the Nepali capital.
In 1952, the first class in Kathmandu's St Xavier School had 65 students. At present, more than 6,000 students attend the schools run by the Company of Jesus in the capital alone.
The Jesuits also run three higher institutions and a college. Altogether, they are in charge of 33 elementary and high schools together with local Catholic communities.
In addition to schools, the missionaries set up hospitals and clinics. The most important are the Child Care Centres in Pokhara and Jawalakhel, the Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Freedom Centre in Nakkhipot (Lalitpur, central Nepal) and the Human Development Research Centre in Sanepa (Lalitpur).
Despite the country's economic and political instability, the Jesuits continue their mission among the people of Nepal, said Fr Amrot Rai, St Xavier High School principal.
In the next few months, the priest added, two new schools will open in Sadakbari, Terai (southern Nepal) and Ahemja, Kaski District (western Nepal).
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