The Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus (S.J. from Latin: Societas Iesu) is a scholarly religious congregation of the Catholic Church which originated in sixteenth-century Spain. The members are called Jesuits. The society is engaged in evangelization and apostolic ministry in 112 nations on six continents. Jesuits work in education (founding schools, colleges, universities, and seminaries), intellectual research, and cultural pursuits. Jesuits also give retreats, minister in hospitals and parishes, sponsor direct social ministries, and promote ecumenical dialogue.
Ignatius of Loyola, a Basque nobleman from the Pyrenees area of northern Spain, founded the society after discerning his spiritual vocation while recovering from a wound sustained in the Battle of Pamplona. He composed the Spiritual Exercises to help others follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. In 1534, Ignatius and six other young men, including Francis Xavier and Peter Faber, gathered and professed vows of poverty, chastity, and later obedience, including a special vow of obedience to the Pope in matters of mission direction and assignment.
In the vision of our founder, we seek to “find God in all things.” We dedicate ourselves to the “greater glory of God” and the good of all humanity. And we do so gratefully in collaboration with others who share our values, including laypersons. They have become part of the “we,” the extended Jesuit family. With 16,000-plus priests, brothers, scholastics and novices worldwide, we are the largest male religious order in the Catholic Church. We are pastors, teachers, and chaplains. We are also doctors, lawyers, and astronomers, among many other roles in Church and society. In our varied ministries, we care for the whole person: body, mind, and soul. And especially in our education ministries, we seek to nurture “men and women for others.”
Jesuits draw on the rich tradition of Ignatian spirituality and reflection. In our retreat centers, parishes, campus ministries, and other settings, we offer these resources to all who want to discern God’s presence in their lives. At the same time, we also aim to be “contemplatives in action,” people who bring this spirituality into the wide world. That includes our work on behalf of global justice, peace, and dialogue.
Jesuits of the Goa Province
St Francis Xavier was the first Jesuit to come to Goa; King John III of Portugal, whose naval forces had acquired certain areas of India in particular Goa (1510), was keen on promoting Christianity in them. St. Francis Xavier on a ship Santiago set sails for Goa on 7th April 1541, Xavier’s 35th birthday, but due to bad weather it was marooned in Mozambique. The Governor-Elect Martim Afonso de Sousa, who was travelling in the same ship, was in a hurry to reach Goa, so he proceeded in a smaller ship, taking Xavier along. So it was Xavier alone, the first Jesuit, who landed in Goa on 6th May 1542.
On his arrival in Goa Xavier found a Church well established. He came to know that the Holy Mass had been celebrated for the first time on the Goan soil on 25 November 1510, He also learnt that Goa had been constituted into a Diocese by Pope Clement VII already in 1533 with its jurisdiction extending from the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) to China and Japan.Soon after his arrival in Goa, he was invited to head St Paul's College, a pioneer seminary for the education of diocesan priests, which became the first Jesuit headquarters in Asia. Gradually, more Jesuits arrived from Europe via Portugal so much so that by 1549 St Ignatius found it fitting to constitute the Jesuit Province of GOA (sometimes called Province of India) with Xavier as the first Provincial. It became the first Jesuit Province outside Europe and the third in the Society after Portugal and Spain. Its territory covered the entire area from the Southern tip of Africa until Japan in the East.
The number of Jesuits coming to India increased rather rapidly. In 1561 there were in this Province 148 members, with 79 at St Paul’s College (22 priests, 29 Scholastics and 28 Brothers) and the rest dispersed in 12 missions including Goa. Most of the Jesuit missionaries ran schools, as means of evangelization, both in Goa itself and in other stations of the Province. In Goa, they had St Paul’s College where in 1556 the first printing press with movable types of Roman script was set up, and a school in Margao (1574) which was later shifted to Rachol (present Seminary). It was only on 5th January 1560 that Fr Pero Mascarenhas and Bro Manuel Gomes crossed the Zuari River and celebrated the first Mass in Cortalim. In 1585 the Jesuits built a residence, unique in the Society and the only one outside Europe, where Professed Fathers lived under strict rules of poverty. It was called the Casa Professa. The building that we see today is but a part of that edifice which was partly destroyed by fire in 1663. In 1594 foundation was laid of the adjoining church of Bom Jesus (Good Jesus), which was completed and consecrated on 15 May 1605. This magnificent church, bearing many architectural similarities to the Church of Gesù in Rome, which is sometimes referred to as the ‘Mother Church’ of the Jesuits, was raised to the rank of Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1948.
Announcements
Updates
News: Goa
| A Christmas Program for Seniors that radiates warmth, love, and the joy Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2023 - ⛪On December 12th, a delightful Christmas program unfolded for the senior... Read More |
| Subroto cup U-14 State Champions - Loyola High School Margao Posted on Monday, August 28, 2023 - The sensational match between the two Jesuit Institutions, St. Britto's High... Read More |
| St. Britto Eco Club Workshop on #Maka Naka Plastic Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2023 - The St. Britto Eco Club, in collaboration with the Department of Science and... Read More |
| Intra-School Konkani and Marathi Singing Competition at St. BRITTO HIGH SCHOOL Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2023 - The Intra-School Singing Competition held at St. BRITTO HIGH SCHOOL was a... Read More |
| In tune with the nature. Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2023 - The Scouts of Loyola High School, Margao, caring for the common home, the... Read More |
| Independence Day celebrations at St Brittos School, Mapusa Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 - The Independence Day celebrations were organised at our school. The event was a... Read More |
| Loyola High School, Margao - Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola Posted on Friday, July 28, 2023 - The fervour of the feast day has already set at Loyola High School, Margao.... Read More |
| St. Britto High School, Mapusa - Goa celebrates Van Mahotsav Posted on Friday, July 14, 2023 - Bharat Scouts of St. Britto High School, Mapusa - Goa celebrated Van Mahotsav... Read More |
| The PTA of St. Britto High School, Mapusa Posted on Monday, July 10, 2023 - The PTA of St. Britto High School, Mapusa, organized a talk cum awareness... Read More |
| Workshop held for the teaching and non-teaching staff of Loyola High School, Margao. Posted on Monday, July 10, 2023 - A workshop held for the teaching and non-teaching staff of Loyola High School,... Read More |
| Green Ray Foundation planted 10 saplings at Xavier Center of Historical Research Porvorim Posted on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 - Green Ray Foundation planted 10 saplings at XCHR, to spread awareness of... Read More |
News: Belgaum
| Discover was the theme of Vocation Camp Held at Belgavi Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 - From 18-20 there was a Vocation Camp organized at Xavier Training Center, Desur... Read More |
| Eco Friendly Rakshabandhan Celebrated at St Pauls Belgavi Posted on Thursday, August 31, 2023 - The students and staff of the St. Paul's Institutions and other schools began... Read More |
| Exploring Our Community : A Fun Learning Journey! St. Paul's High School - Belgaum Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2023 - The Upper Kindergarten students went on a cool field trip to learn about our... Read More |
| Creativity, Unity, and Gratitude: The Resounding Success of the Ignatius Feast Celebration Posted on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 - On July 29th, 2022, our institution joyously celebrated the Ignatius Feast, a... Read More |
| BE AN ECO WARRIOR Posted on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 - A JHEASA West Zone Initiative Held at Xavier Training College,... Read More |
| Freshers' Day at St. Paul's P.U. College Belgavi Posted on Sunday, July 9, 2023 - St. Paul's PU College organized an exciting Freshers' Day program on 6th July... Read More |
| Joyous Celebration of St. Paul's Feast Day 2023 Posted on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 - The celebrations of our patron saint – St. Paul, commenced on 28th June ... Read More |
| An Orientation Programme at St Paul's High School, Khanapur, Karnataka. Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 - A half day orientation programme was held for the staff of 4 of our Jesuit... Read More |
| Inauguration of new Computer lab & house on the occasion of 'Ignatian Year'. Posted on Monday, June 26, 2023 - Inauguration of a newly built house on the occasion of 'Ignatian Year' and a... Read More |
| Shramik Abhivrudhi Sangh /Jana Jagaran (SAS/JJ) and Xavier Farm Posted on Monday, September 12, 2022 - Shramik Abhivrudhi Sangh /Jana Jagaran (SAS/JJ) continues its toil among the... Read More |
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| Help to Covid Patients through Covid Care Unit Posted on Monday, August 2, 2021 - Shramik Abhivrudhi Sangh (SAS), commonly known as Jana Jagaran, is a social... Read More |
News: Maharashtra
| News from Ratnagiri - Our Lady of Miracles Church Posted on Friday, August 25, 2023 - Every year the youth of the parish are taken for a monsoon pleasure trip. This... Read More |
| Happenings at Our Lady of Miracles Church, Ratnagiri. Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2023 - As a fallout of the previous meetings of the pastors in Ratnagiri a Legal... Read More |
| House was blessed in the Ratnagiri Mission, Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2023 - On the 12th July 2023, a house was blessed and handed over to Mr. Cyril... Read More |
| Throwing Life Out of Gear: COVID 19 and Floods Updated on Friday, August 6, 2021 - The Ratnagiri Mission covers the areas of Chiplun, Harnai, Khed and Ratnagiri,... Read More |
