India's Chotanagpur Church mourns veteran Jesuit missionary

November 29, 2013 - The Catholic Church of Chotanagpur region in eastern India is mouring the death of a veteran French-born Jesuit missionary who spent nearly 70 years educating the tribals of the area. Fr. Christian de Brouwer, a former physics professor of St. Xavier’s College in Ranchi, Jharkhand state, died Thursday at the age of 89. Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, Archbishop of Ranchi, on Friday presided over the funeral service of the veteran missionary, now buried in the Jesuit cemetery in Ranchi. “We have lost a pearl of Chhotanagpur,” said Cardinal Toppo, a former student of the late missionary. The cardinal commended the Jesuit saying he was a true son of Jesuit founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola. He said he “touched the students with his knowledge of the subject, and of course, God.” Fr. De Brouwer was born in Amblain Ville near Paris, France, on January 21, 1924. He joined the Jesuit society in 1942 at Drongen, Belgium and went to India in 1946, where he completed his priestly studies. After studying physics at St. Joseph’s College, Trichy, Tamil Nadu he was appointed professor of physics. He was head of the department of physics at St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi, 1968-1984, and director of Computer Education Centre, 1986-2013. He has held other posts and also carried out pastoral duties. He lived in India for almost 67 years, 57 of which in St. Xavier’s, Ranchi alone.