Antonio Maria Platey SJ / Poojya Rajendraswami (1672-1719)

Antonio Maria Platey SJ / Poojya Rajendraswami (1672-1719)

Life in History

The Karnataka Jesuit Province, originally the "The Mangalore Mission" today comprises the whole of the territory of Karnataka State. Started in 1878 with an international group of Jesuits from Italy and Germany, in a small town of Mangalore, the Jesuits continue to follow in the footsteps of the early Fathers and Brothers who gave themselves to the service of faith, education, health, language and happiness. They made our land richer by establishing educational institutions, hospitals, parishes, retreat houses, etc. The Jesuits in Karnataka continue to strive and to live the spirituality in word and action taught by the founder St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) which inspired the first Fathers and Brothers who set their foot on our soil. The founding Fathers and Brothers even though being foreigners not only learnt our mother tongues Konkani, Tulu, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, etc., but also ate our food and integrated themselves in our society as any one of us. 

"The mission territory inherited by the Jesuits from the Carmelites and called Mangalore Mission comprised then what would later constitute the dioceses of Mangalore and Calicut and later still Kannur too. Having laboured in this territory for nearly three-quarters of a century they would disengage themselves from a part of it called Malabar and move over to the rest of Karnataka and even to North East." Fr Devadatta Kamath, SJ The author of "The Burning Bush: The History of the Karnataka Province."

 Their labours, both in their successes and failures, spread through 146 years are what this web blog contains.

Map of Karnataka, where Jesuits are working

The depository of Karnataka Jesuit archives continues to gather material from Jesuits and their institutions as a way to keep the memory of our predecessors and institutions alive. With its thorough record maintenance and systematic organization, the experience of the past continues to inspire the present and future generation of Jesuits and their collaborators in striving to bring Glory to God in all things. You are always welcome to contact us if you would like to get the history of our Fathers and Brothers better known to others.

Karnataka Jesuit Province archives contain a very interesting and resourceful depository of handwritten manuscripts of Jesuits like Fr Angelo Maffei (1844-1899), Fr Augustus Diamanti (1848-1919), the handwritten consult meetings from 1880, the novitiate diaries, letters to Rome and Jesuit Superior General's letters to the Mission Superior of Mangalore since 1879, contracts with various institutions and persons, photographs like the visit of the Diwans of Mysore Kingdom to the St Aloysius College, Mangalore, edifying letters and memoirs written by the early Jesuits of Mangalore Mission to the Venice-Milan province Jesuits, the books written by the Jesuits of the Karnataka Province, Historia Domus of all the Jesuit communities, publications of various institutions and apostolates, correspondence with various dioceses and provinces of the Society, philately and so on. 

The archives also contain unpublished works of many Jesuits like Fr Devadatta Kamath's II part of Burning Bush with four volumes, Fr Francis Rebello's theatrical drama, etc. Karnataka Jesuit Province which is 144 years old, preserves in its archives all material and matters connected with its works, members and communities. Hence, every individual Jesuit, community, apostolate and its ventures are recorded and preserved in the archives. It is hoped that such a collection of material will help in preserving the memory of the past, assist in writing the history of the province and communities and enable the researchers to carry out their academic works. 

Until recently, Karnataka Jesuit Province treasured artifacts collected by many Jesuits including Fr Lawrence D’Souza (1932-2009) and postal stamps and coins by Brother Gabriel Ferruccio, SJ (1939-2013) and Fr Alexis P. Menezes (1922-2002). Now, most of it has been donated to the upcoming Museum of St Joseph's College, Bangalore and St Joseph's School CBSE, Bangalore and St Aloysius College Museum, Mangalore. 

A short video introduction to the  Karnataka Jesuit Archives and to its artifacts. 

For Any Queries Contact Details: 

- Fr Royston Pinto SJ, LCL

  In Charge of the Archives/ Publications of Karnataka Jesuit Province. 

Provincialate of the Jesuits in Karnataka

Loyola Mandir, 

96 Lavelle Road, 3rd Cross, 

Bengaluru - 560001.

Email: karjesuitarchives@gmail.com

Landline Phone Number: 08022293066

Mobile Number: +917899244060 

Website: http://www.karnatakajesuits.org/

Renovated Jesuit archives inaugurated at Loyola Mandir - A photo report can be found here   

 
                                          

                                                             Rest in Peace Fr. Swebert Sylvan D'Silva SJ

Rest in Peace Fr Richard Sequeira SJ

 

Fr Richard Sequeira SJ

Born: 12.05.1934

Joined SJ: 01.07.1954

Ordained: 29.03.1967

Final Vows: 15.08.1973

Died: 10.01.2025

 

Type of work	Place	Years
Loyola Nivas	Mangaluru	1970-1971
Socius to Provincial	Loyola Mandir, Bengaluru	1972-1975
Professor of Philosophy & Spiritual Father	St Joseph’s seminary, Mangaluru	1975-1977
Socius to Provincial	Loyola Mandir, Bengaluru	1977-1978
Minister of Philosophy, Professor of Anthropology & cosmology	St Joseph’s seminary, Mangaluru	1978-1983
Rector	St Joseph’s seminary, Mangaluru	1983-1988
Sabbatical		1988-1989
Professor of Philosophy	St Joseph’s seminary, Mangaluru	1989-1992
Socius to Provincial	Loyola Mandir, Bengaluru	1992-2001
Novice Master	Mt St Joseph, Bengaluru	2001-2004
Staff, Juniorate	VN, Trivandrum	2004-2006
Acting Superior	Pratiksha, Bengaluru	2006-2007
Superior	Pratiksha, Bengaluru	2007-2013
Province Archivist	Loyola Mandir, Bengaluru	2006-2013
Superior	Loyola Mandir, Bengaluru	2009-2013
Staff	VN, Trivandrum	2013-2016
Asst. to Province Archivist	Loyola Mandir, Bengaluru	2016-2020
House Treasurer	Loyola Mandir, Bengaluru	2017-2020
Staff of Novices	Mt St Joseph, Bengaluru	2020-2025

Fr Richard Sequeira SJ (90), son of the late Albert Sequeira & Pauline Pinto (Makale, St Agnes ward), brother of the late Norbert Sequeira, the late Gilbert Sequeira, the late Lizzy Sequeira, Rosie M V Fernandes, the late Sr Carmelita TARBES, the late Sr Linus A.C., the late Patrick Sequeira, Sr Carissima AC (Mount Carmel Central School, Maryhill, Mangalore), the late George Sequeira, and Carmelita Dias, passed away on Friday 10, 2025. 

Rest in Peace Fr Scotus Fernandez SJ

 

Fr Scotus Fernandez SJ aged 77 with 57 fruitful years in the Society of Jesus went to his eternal abode today at 7.12pm (10 December 2024) in Satribari Christian Hospital, Guwahati. 

Rest in Peace Fr Devadatta Kamath SJ

 Rest in Peace 

Fr Devadatta Kamath SJ

Born: 8.11.1934

Joined SJ: 08.06.1955

Ordained: 24.03.1966

Final Vows: 02.02.1974

Died: 16.11.2024

Type of work	Place	Years
Warden	SAC, Mangalore	1969-71
Chaplain	Bhadravati	1971-72
Professor	St Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore	1973-94
Teaching	Trivandrum common Juniorate	1994-95
Dean of Juniorate studies	Mundgod	1995-96
Retreat Ministry	MSJ, Bangalore	1996-97
Minister	SJC, Bangalore	1997-99
Teacher of Juniors	Trivandrum common Juniorate	June-Dec 99
Asst Warden	SAC Hostel, Mangalore	Jan-May 2000
Retreat Apostolate, Province Historian	DA, Bangalore	May 2000-02
Sub-min, Province archivist	Arrupe Nivas, Bangalore	2002-03
Writing History of the Province	IHS	2003-04
Chaplain	St Philomena’s	2004-11
Asst Min, Treasurer	AIMIT	2011-12
Writing Hist of Mangalore diocese	Seminary	2012-13
Chaplain	Lourdes Convent, Dharwad	2013-15
Convalesce	FRH, Mangalore	2015-2024

Departed Jesuits of Karnataka Province Since 1881