Posted on 08/06/2017 3:09:47 AM PDT by OrthodoxIndianCatholic
Catholicism was introduced in Eastern India in the late 19th Century in the State of Jharkhand as it is called now by Pioneer Belgian and Dutch Jesuit Missionaries.
The most prominent of them was Father Constant Lievens S.J. -- The Apostle of Chotanagpur.
He arrived in Ranchi -- The Headquarters of the Chotanagpur Plateau in 1885. He did not know at that time what the future held for him in terms of evangelization and as a Missionary Pastor too.
With strong faith in God, he started educating and evangelizing Animist Oraon Tribals in Ranchi and in the surrounding areas too.
From 1885-1892, He Evangelized more than 7,000 Tribals to Catholicism. To be one with them, He mastered a number of local languages like Sadri and Khadri.
They are dialects of "Tribal Hindi" spoken by the Aboriginals of the Chotanagpur Plateau.
Today, in 2017 Ranchi is an Archdiocese with many independent Dioceses under it like Gumla, Simdega, Khunti, and Daltonganj to name a few.
The Oraon Tribals from Ranchi to Daltonganj seem very receptive to the Gospel Message. They see Jesus Christ as their Liberator and Saviour from Physical and Spiritual Bondage.
In a number of districts in West Bengal like Burdwan, Bankura, and Purulia to mention a few-- Santal Aboriginals seem very receptive to the liberating message of Jesus Christ.
There have been many conversions to Catholicism among Santal Tribals for the past 50 years or more.
This is mostly due to Pioneering Missionary Work by Salesian Fathers and Brothers specially from Spain.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicclassics88.blogspot.in ...
Greetings again.
Animist Aboriginal Tribals in Eastern India seem to be quite positive to the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ.
Jesuit Missionaries have been educating and evangelizing them for the past 100 years.
Today, There are Catholic Schools, Colleges, and Hospitals all over the Tribal Belt.
Catholic Caucus Ping
Thank you, I had heard great things about the Catholics in Goa (one well-traveled priest friend of mine thought it was the greatest place in the world), but was not familiar with the Dutch missionaries. Historically, the Dutch as a whole were mostly spreading misery, compared to other colonizing powers. (Full disclosure: My Canadian wife is half-Dutch by ancestry, but I do not presently regard her as a colonizing power, and ashe is more Catholic than a typical Jesuit.)
Well, if you believe the traditions, St. Thomas got there first.
There are a LOT of Catholics in the South India, My wife, St Thomas is also buried there... in Madras/Chennai
Thank you for these posts. Christ Jesus, Victor.
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