Demise of Fr Louis Francken, SJ
Posted on: 6 Oct, 2020|Modified on: 6 Oct, 2020
Posted on: 6 Oct, 2020|Modified on: 6 Oct, 2020
RanchiThe Ranchi Jesuit Curia has reported the sad news that Fr. Louis Francken, SJ passed this world to his eternal abode. He breathed his last at 11.00pm on October 5, 2020 in constant Lievens Hospital and Research Center, Mandar.
He was 82-year-old, 63 years a Jesuit and rendered his valuable service as a Jesuit Priest for 50 years.
Father Louis Francken, a Jesuit missionary from Belgium who worked tirelessly to educate poor tribal people in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand. Father Francken taught economics at Ranchi’s St Xavier’s College for several years and served as its principal from 1982 to 1986. He served for a term from 1987-1993 as the Director of the Xavier Institute of Social Service, one of the well-known management institutes in the state of Jharkhand.
A simple and humble but full of knowledge and competence man offered his whole life to bring higher education to the people of the state. Even at the age of 80 plus his commitment and dedication could be seen as he rendered his valuable service in capacity of the Director of Kishor Nagar, Boys town as it is called, a home for the orphan boys to educate them.
Due to his age and ill health he was residing in Sadbhavna, Jesuit Provincialate community for the past few months. When his health started deteriorating further, he was admitted to Constant Lievens Hospital and Research Center, Mandar on September 11, 2020 for better nursing care.
On receiving the demise of this great soul, a silent hard worker, condolence messages are thronging in WhatsApp groups and other social media. This indeed is a great loss – second Ranchi Jesuit to die in a row in less than one month.
Another Jesuit Father Erik Breye, a seminary professor, retreat preacher and a confessor and counselor for seminarians and nuns, died of cardiac arrest on September 18 2020 in St Albert’s College, Ranchi. He was 79.
Till the time of this news report, his body is still in the Mandar hospital and soon will taken to Kishore Nagar, where he posted last. The funeral services will take place there today at 2.30 pm. As reported by the Ranchi Jesuit Curia, due to Covid-19 Protocol, only a few select Jesuits will be invited to attend the Requiem Holy Mass followed by the burial ceremony.
All the acquaintances and well-wishers are kindly requested to pay him the due homage and tribute and pray for his soul from home. May his soul rest in peace!
