By Julian Das, Konchowki

Jesuit Father Amulya Kannanaikal lights a candle at the cemetery at Dhyan Ashram

The Jesuits working in West Bengal state have “brought together” the memories of 220 confreres who had worked and died in eastern India in the past 150 years.

“By placing the names of all those who died in the Bengal Mission, we wish to pass on a tradition to the younger members undergoing training to become Jesuits,” said Jesuit Father Jeyaraj Veluswamy, rector and master of novices.

On All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) every year, some 20 people visit the cemetery at Dhyan Ashram (abode of prayer), a Jesuit center near Kolkata, to honor the missioners and Jesuit seminarians by organizing prayer services. The Catholic Church observes All Souls’ Day worldwide as a day to honor the faithful departed.

This year, two stone slabs bearing the names of 220 deceased Jesuits carved have also been erected at the cemetery.

“To celebrate 150 years of our Bengal mission, we wish to honor all who had toiled and died,” Father Veluswamy said.

He said people also visit the cemetery during the missioners’ birth and death anniversaries. These include former staff and students of Jesuit educational institutions, who are mostly Hindus.

Kolkata Jesuits have gathered in the cemetery during the annual meeting to “feel united” with their deceased confreres, the novice master added.

According to Father Albert Huart, Calcutta Jesuit province’s archivist, some 500 Jesuits had worked in the Bengal Mission for the past 150 years.

Most of the 220 who had died and buried within the Calcutta territory are from Belgium, with some Yugoslavians and Maltese, Father Huart added.

Four Belgian and three English Jesuits established the Bengal Mission in 1859, which is now divided into seven Jesuit provinces.