Salesian Province of Mumbai

☼ MOUNT DON BOSCO - JAITALA

THE CHANGING OF JAITALA MISSION

The History of the Mission

The Jaitala mission is situated 12 km. from Nagpur city. On the north side we have the Ambazeri Lake, on the south side C.R.P.F. Camp. On the east side Dr. Babasaheb International Airport and on the west side M.I.D.C. This place experiences extreme climate. The main crops of the place are cotton and wheat. This place is famous for oranges and therefore it is called “The Orange City”. Jaitala is surrounded by more than 600 families living in basties. Earlier these people lived as Hindus, but now most of them have embraced Buddhism, in the footsteps of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar when he converted thousands to Buddhism. In fact some of the Christians also embraced Buddhism, so that they too become eligible to receive Government benefits.

The beginning of Jaitala mission dates to 1936. At that time there was no priest available with the knowledge of Marathi to begin the mission. However, in 1936 Bishop Louis Gayet began this mission. Initially, has began tailoring and embroidery classes for women. With the help of Sr. Odette a Mary Immaculate nun. Along with the social work, they also began religious instruction. Slowly the numbers began to grow. The first baptism dates back to 15 August 1937, received by one Somaji sambhaji Nitnaware. Gradually the number of those receiving baptism kept increasing. In fact, on one occasion 30 people have received baptism on a single day. Bishop Louis Gayet showed personal interest in this mission. In 1947 Fr. Francis Mojet a Fransalian Priest was appointed to look after the mission. Being a missionary Fr. Mojet studied the local habits and soon won confidence of the people. In 1948 with the help of Dasrath Meshram and Somaji Nitnaware, they managed to purchase a plot of land on top the hill. He put up a small house. In the year 1947 India received its Independence.

Earlier the mission was managed by the foreign missionaries, who did not know Marathi. In 1949 the first Indian P\priest Fr. Bansode was appointed to this mission. At this time the Fatima church was ready. And since the priest was Marathi speaking. The local people had a greater sense of belonging to the Church. The number of people receiving baptism increased. In 1952 Fr. F.X. Gaikwad was appointed at Jaitala. At this time the Primary school was running in the church building. He extended the school to secondary (Std VIII) and got necessary permissions from the Government. In 1960 Fr. Paul Gaigole was appointed at Jaitala. During his time this mission was raised to the status of a Parish. Around this time many Christians converted themselves to Buddhism to receive jobs and education benefits from the government. Now only those who had migrated from elsewhere (Amravati) for work purpose formed part of the Christian community. From 1964 to 1972 Fr. Jimmy D`mello, Fr. Lourd Raj, Fr. Matthew Fernandes, Fr. Edwin Alvares and Fr. Noronha continued the work of evangelization.

In 1972 Fr. Patrick Lemos, a diocesan priest was appointed at jaitala. During his reign of 14 years, he changed the face of Jaitala. He extended the school to Std X. He managed to have a decent building for the school. In 1977 the Fatima Sisters were invited to work in Jaitala parish. In 1985 Fr. Pascal was appointed in Jaitala. In his simple and loving manner he managed to bring the faithful together.

In 1989 the Salesians of Don Bosco were entrusted the mission of Jaitala. Fr. Francis Kharjia sdb was appointed as first Parish Priest. The Salesians, with the charism of Don Bosco captured the hearts of the people. Through family visits and personal contact the families were united. Fr. Francis was instrumental in putting up a new school building and a residence for the confreres. Later on Salesians like Fr. Bonnie, Solomon, Ivan, Diego, Thomas and Fr. Lawrence have also worked in this mission. And now we have Fr. Dominic Lisboa sdb continuing the mission of Don Bosco.

THE PRESENT SITUATION & CHALLENGES

With the Parish team in 2010 comprising of Fr. James Nigrel as assistant in Church – work, Fr. Dominic Lisboa as the Parish Priest, the Our Lady of Fatima Sister as collaborators, teaching in the St. Joseph Vidyalaya Primary Section, helping in visiting the families of the Parish, as it is their apostolate.

The Parish comprises of 70 families, spread out in a big area. Folks from the place, those come in and settled from (at one time) Amravati, later from the created states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and the neighboring state of M.P. The language of the Parish as handed down by years gone is Marathi. (In fact Our Lady of Fatima church-Jaitala run by the Salesians is the only Marathi speaking, in the whole Nagpur Archdiocese). For easy facilitation of the people, the last Sundays of every month has seen the Holy Eucharist being celebrated in Hindi.

Jaitala Parish is a bed of folks with various languages, viz: Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Marathi and a speaking (which indeed is on the increase) of English too. The folks of the Parish, to earn their living could be enterprising, with just a counted few having their own workshops, offices or expertise by which they earn their livelihood. By far most of them are daily laborers, or factory workers, mostly on temporary basis; a few are office- goers and limited few could be educators, teaching as a livelihood.

In recent times, education could be taking importance in the lives of the people around. We have a Marathi medium, govt. – aided school from the K.G. class, right unto Class X helping all the children of the locality to be educated. The strength of the school is 670 boys and girls. The SSC result of 2009-10 were 100%. The craze is for English education and rightly so, as every job available in Nagpur city goes to those speaking English to learn English is desired by all, even the parents look forward to have their children go in for English education. In fact we in the Parish are asked to have an English medium section too in our St. Joseph Vidyalaya. Can we? For the govt. provides no grant for English school and the below the poverty line folks be the solution? Will a Don Bosco city institution come forward and sponsor St. Joseph Vidyalaya to impact English education to these Jaitala children?

They are in need of English too, in order to come up in life, and will do proud to those who will sponsor them. This year we have began in St. Joseph Vidyalaya lower English medium for Std. VIII, IX and X.

In the premises of the Parish, we offer our class rooms for the facility of the evening study classes, assisted by a Salesian. Many youth make good use of this facility and around the times of their exams, a turn out of a number of boys and girls makes us realize the need of such a facility.

In the Parish, the animation and facilitation is done by the Parish Pastoral council members, who are SSC leaders elected for a term of 3 years from among the people. The Parish has five zones and every week the zones are animated with the help of the SSC leaders by the weekly zone prayer meting held from Monday to Friday evenings in every zone in the week. Folks are encouraged to make time and participate in the prayer meetings held in families, where mostly only women participate. The men do absent themselves because they have shift-system of work. The children, especially the youth are unable to participate as they have to go for their tuitions. So the SSC meetings in the zones are a sparsely attended maneuver that the Church exhorts us to have in order to enliven participation. But with the hassles and orientations for academic success, will the SSC`s in this Parish achieve its purpose?

Tardiness and irregularity in participation at the Holy Eucharist, in the Church even on Sunday is a fact for most of the working and labour class folks of the parish. A day without going to work means no earnings for the day to buy food to feed their families. A stark reality no doubt but then with a weak foundation in religion and weak faith formation, it will take at least two more generations for belief in God to have a priority.

Sacramental life is not very much on the rise as many could have not had proper and right religious education in their early years. The challenge the salesians face is just this: faith formation of the people of Jaitala. Awaken your missionary zeal oh you readers and ignite your commitment to bring many more to know Christ better. Come offer your priestly ministry in this parched land of “Jesus love” yet to be known and experienced. Jaitala needs men of God, filled with the Spirit, filled with enduring patience, to help them build their faith. Will you be a volunteer? Will you support if you cannot volunteer? At least by prayers!

VOCATIONS

Many are called but the Lord chooses just a few. So thus it has so far been with youth of Jaitala. A few (four to be precise) did choose to follow Christ`s call in the footsteps of Don Bosco but finding themselves not being strong in his Mission, those few have turned back and returned away from the vineyard of the Lord. Maybe the challenge is thrown to the Salesian. “Feed my people”. “Build them up”. “Give them the faith formation they require”. will the zealous salesians from among the readers opt to come to fulfill this mission? Yes basic Christian formation is to be imparted, along with academics, value-education and all round formation. Will you opt for this Mission and accept this challenge? Please do be generous: pray that the salesians presently in the mission field of Jaitala save their souls by working for Christ and making him known. Help the people to save themselves and know Jesus the Lord and his Love for mankind so that all mankind will love and accept Christ in Jaitala.