History of CJs in Nepal

Nestled amidst the towering peaks of the Himalayas, Nepal is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and diverse cultural heritage. Yet, amidst this rich traditions, lies a lesser-known chapter – the history of the Catholic Church in Nepal. Until the early 1950's Nepal was an unknown and forbidden land. Two hundred years ago the Capuchins began evangelizing in Nepal, but were soon stopped and the Christians were exiled to Bettiah- in North India, and ordered not to return under pain of death.

In the fall of 1949 father Marshall Moran, S.J., then principal of St. Xavier’s school in Patna and a member of the Senate of Patna University, was asked by the Univarsity to go to Nepal to supervise the annual examinations at the Trichandra College, then affiliated to Patna University. On 1st October he crossed the border into Nepal from Raxaul. While in Nepal he was taken to meet the Prime Minister, Mohan S.J.B. Rana, who raised the question of the possibility of the opening of a school in Nepal similar to St. Xavier’s in Patna.Mrigendra S.S. Rana, the director of public education, arrived in Patna to inform father Moran that the government of Nepal was inviting him to open a school at Godavari. Within a few days, however, the Rana government was overthrown through the initiative of King Tribhuvan; further planning had to await confirmation by the new government. In March of 1951 formal approval came from the new government through the minister of education, Mr. Nrip JungRana.

Father Moran returned to Kathmandu in May to prepare for the opening of Godavari School, which opened on 1st July 1950 with three Jesuits, fathers Moran, Francis Murphy and Edwin Saxton, two Nepali teachers and sixty five students, classes one through six. Facilities at Godavari soon proved inadequate for the growing number of students and in September of 1954 father Moran acquired a piece of property in Jawalakhel for the primary section of the school. St. Xavier’s Jawalakhel opened officially on 8thSeptember 1954.

Work in Nepal began with the Jesuits from Patna diocese and their work was thus a part of the diocese of Patna. On this first pastoral visit toNepal in November of 1954 Bishop Wildermoth of Patna brought with him two Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Patna (sistersBenigna and Rita) to explore the possibility of the sisters offering education to the girls of Nepal. The proposal met with approval and three sisters arrived on 27th January 1955 to open St. Mary’s school at Jawalakhel.

From these humble beginnings the work of the Church in Nepal has spread to other areas and includes social service, research, health, education for the poor and disadvantaged, pastoral and retreat work.

The Congregation of Jesus in Nepal – 1955

“Be all things to all men ,that thou may win all to God, and be careful as much as you can to satisfy all.” Mary Ward.

ducation in Nepal, was responded readily by Sr. Benigna Binder who sent Sisters Winfred Worle, Frances Pastorfer and Marie Therese, to Kathmandu on 26th January, 1955 to begin their work on the soil of Nepal. They established a school for girls moved by their conviction, “IT IS AN HONOUR TO WORK FOR GOD”. The Jesuit fathers played an important role in the growth of the Congregation in Nepal. CJ sisters are the first women congregation to venture into Nepal.

The independent Nepal Region of the Congregation of Jesus was erected in 2006. Until then the schools and the communities were part of Patna Province. Sr. Margaret Mary Vettickappillil, the first Regional Superior was installed on 26th February 2006. After this Srs. Marilyn Murickal took over the responsibility of the Region 2014 and Sr. Jessy Puliyanthuruthel in 2018. Presently Sr. Vinita Mazhuvancherry is the Regional Superior and she took up this responsibility in 2023.