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FORMER PRELATES
Rt. Rev. Louis Van Hoeck, s.j. was born at Antwerp in Belgium on April
17, 1870. He was the third of seven children. As he grew up,
he decided to become a missionary. With this in mind he joined the
Jesuit Novitiate in Drongen on September 23, 1889. Three years
later, on November 9, 1892, he arrived at Calcutta from where Fr. C.
Lievens, broken in health, had left only some two months earlier.
Van Hoeck spent the next fifteen years in teaching and studying. He
was ordained at Kurseong on October 4, 1903. On completing his
tertianship at Ranchi in November 1907, he was assigned to Kurdeg, first
as Assistant, then as Parish Priest. From 1909 to 1919 he was
diocesan inspector of schools and did much for the development of St.
John's Ranchi at the center of the entire educational network of the
mission. After a year and a half at Tongo he was appointed the first
Bishop of Patna on July 20, 1920. He was consecrated at Ranchi on
March 6, 1921. When Bishop of Patna, he founded the Congregation of
the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. On May 25, 1927 Ranchi Diocese was
created and Mgr. L. Van Hoeck was made its first Bishop. He was
installed on June 30, 1928. He did much for the new diocese.
He launched the Catholic Press. He founded the 'Catholic Sabha' in
1931. He promoted general education and vocational training.
He planned the new seminary buildings. He created new
parishes. By May 1932 he was suffering from cancer. He died on
April 30, 1933, aged 63.
Rt. Rev. Oscar Sevrin, s.j. was born at La Neuville near Stavelot in
Belgium on November 22, 1884. During his secondary studies at St.
Roch's school he became acquainted with the "Lievens Mission" in
Ranchi and wanted to join it. With that intention he joined the
Jesuit Novitiate at Arlon on September 23, 1903. After further
studies at Dongen, Louvain, and Kandy he entered the mission field on
October 31, 1908. He worked as a teacher, first for two years at
Rengarih, then for five years at St. John's Ranchi. During his
theology course at Kurseong he was ordained priest on July 1, 1919.
Two years later he was again assigned to St. John's (till 1932).
From 1924 till 1934 he was also inspector of schools. For some years
he edited the 'Nishkalanka' monthly. On July 25, 1934 he was
consecrated Bishop of Ranchi. On December 13, 1951, he became the
first Bishop of the new Diocese of the Raigarh-Ambikapur, leaving Ranchi
to its first indigenous Bishop Mgr. Nicholas Kujur, s.j. in 1957 he did a
repeat performance and Mgr. Stanislaus Tigga became his successor when he
retired at age 73. He continued to assist the Diocese from nearby
Loyola High School in a subordinate capacity for another 18 years.
He died on April 30, 1975, age 91, and was buried in the Kunkuri
Cathedral.
Most Rev. Nicholas Kujur, s.j. was born at Bandipahar in Rengarih on
September 7, 1898. He was the eldest of three children and the only
son. After completing his primary education at Rengarih he was
enrolled at St. John's Ranchi in 1912 and joined the apostolic school in
1915 with the idea of becoming a priest. In 1919 he passed his
matric and entered the Jesuit Novitiate at Shembaganur. There he
also completed his classical and philosophical studies. In 1924 he
returned to St. John's Ranchi for a two years' period of regency.
After that he was sent to Louvain for his Theology Course, towards the end
of which he was ordained a priest there by Ranchi Bishop Mgr. L.Van Hoeck
on August 24, 1930. On his return to Ranchi he did his tertianship
at Manresa House and then was appointed lecturer in Theology and Canon Law
at St. Albert's Major Seminary Ranchi. Years later he was made
Rector of Manresa House and Headmaster of St. John's, where under his
protection the newborn St. Xavier's College was given shelter in
1944. In 1948 he became Vicar General of Bishop Oscar Sevrin whose
successor he became when on March 9, 1952 he was consecrated Bishop of
Ranchi, which on September 19, 1953 was raised to the status of an
Archdiocese with Sambalpur and Cuttack as Suffragans. He was the
first Tribal Bishop/Archbishop in India. He did much for the
development of the Church in these parts. He died in Brussels on
July 24, 1960. He lies buried in the Ranchi Cathedral.
Most Rev. Pius Kerketta, s.j.
was born at Pithra in Biru on March 3,
1910. He did his secondary studies at St. John's Ranchi. When
he applied for admission to the Society of Jesus, he was sent to
Shembaganur in the Palni Hills, where he joined the Novitiate on June 2,
1930, and took his vows on June 3, 1932. He completed his classical
and philosophical studies at Shembaganur's Sacred Heart College by the end
of 1937. After three years of regency, first at Ranchi, then at
Gumla, he was sent to Kurseong for the four years Course in
Theology. He was ordained priest on November 21, 1943. After
his tertianship he was appointed lecturer in philosophy at St. Albert's
Major Seminary, Ranchi. But from 1947 to 1954 he was Headmaster,
first of St. John's Ranchi, then of St. Ignatius Gumla. In January
1955, he was made Vicar General of Archbishop Nicholas Kujur. After
the latter's death, Pius Kerketta was elected Vicar Capitular on July 28,
1960. He was appointed Archbishop of Ranchi on March 8, 1961.
He was consecrated in Rome by Pope John XXIII on May 21, 1961 and
installed in Ranchi on June 27, 1961. He participated in all the
four sessions of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). He guided
the Archdiocese for nearly a quarter century till his retirement on August
25, 1985, to the Hulhundu Clergy House, from where he continued to render
service whenever called upon. He died at Mandar on May 21, 1993, the
32nd anniversary of his Episcopal consecration.
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