Ranchi, India. Sunday, 29 May 2016 marked the start of the 25th anniversary of the Father Constant Lievens region with a celebration at Saint Peter’s School in Similia.
A large crowd attended the ceremony. Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, archbishop of Ranchi, presided over the Eucharist, during which Bro. Anil Kisku made his perpetual profession in the hands of Superior General Bro. René Stockman. For the occasion, a commemorative booklet detailing the history of the region had been published. It is in fact a triple anniversary: ?? 80 years ago, in 1936, the first brothers came to Kottar where they stayed for 10 years, after which the mission was closed down; 25 years ago it was decided to start again, in Ranchi this time, and it has been 20 years since the first Indian brothers made their first profession.
Today, the Indian region has 30 brothers spread across five communities. They look after chronic psychiatric patients in three centres and they teach poor children at Saint Peter’s in Simalia. This year, we said goodbye to two brothers: Bro. Joachim, who died in the Netherlands in March after a long illness, and Bro. Paul, who passed away during the jubilee week from severe cancer.