Mission Work in Anekal

ANEKAL MISSION (1974)

Anekal, some 24 miles to the south of Bangalore, was the field of labours of the early Jesuit missionaries of the 17th and 18th centuries. Providence has brought their successors back there in this 20th century. Only recently, after nearly a quarter century of experience of scattered activity, it was decided that the Jesuits take up a single region in Karnataka for evangelization and development, instead of spreading their personnel around the State.

Along with pastoral work among Catholics in the region, attempts are made to reach out to those outside the fold. The Loyola Hostel at Anekal, in the midst of a predominantly non-Christian area, is an attempt to move out of the city to extend educational facilities to the village boys: poor boys from village parishes reside here under the guidance of a Jesuit priest- Fr Denis Alvares at present - and attend the nearby Government High School or Junior College,

At Chandapura, which is a totally Hindu locality, there is the Divya Jyothi Ashram. It was opened in response to the desire expressed by some Jesuits at a Province meet to have some typically Indian modes of apostolate. A Jesuit priest (formerly Fr Deepak Nayak, now Fr A. Farias) resides there, always available to the people.

Attempts were made by Fr Deepak Nayak to free bonded labourers from the clutches of the landlords and to provide them with means of occupation in view of their rehabilitation. The drive for literacy prompted the opening of centres with library and reading room facilities at Chandapura, Sarjapur and Attibele.

But the most recent apostolate is even more significant. Fr Victor Mathias with his team of two other Jesuits and the Canossian Sisters to help him, has launched into what is called Adult and non-formal education, which aims at the conscientization of the people about their rights and duties, their problems and the ways to tackle them. In the process they pick up the 3R's too. In this way the elders come to appreciate the benefits of education and may more easily permit the education of their children. It is a big task and the Jesuits have put their hand to it perhaps as the main apostolate of the second century.

In this work of evangelization the missionaries of today have the powerful intercession of Fr Manuel de Cunha. Fr de Cunha was one of the early Jesuit missionaries who laboured in this vineyard. He brought the light of faith to many, and because of it incurred the wrath of some. He was killed for his faith in 1711. Only an upright stone marks the spot where he was laid to rest. People of the place often go to pray at his tomb, asking for his intercession.

- Taken from the Karnataka Jesuit Centenary, Souvenir, 1878-1978