Jesuit Formation entails indentifying the aspirants, recruiting and training them as Jesuits who, through their lifelong commitment, would work as men for others. Formation remains essential for existence, growth and preservation of the Society of Jesus and its works. Down the centuries, the Society has developed solid formation structures and programmes which last for several years. The quality of our apostolic service depends in great measure on a good, lasting and effective formation. General Congregation 35 has aptly underlined the importance of integral and qualitative formation: “It is therefore essential to give young Jesuits a human, spiritual, intellectual, and ecclesial formation as deep, strong, and vibrant as possible to allow each of them to achieve our mission in the world with a proper attitude of service in the Church.” (GC 35, D.1).
Keeping this ideal and the noble task of forming the Jesuits, Ranchi Province also makes efforts to give integral formation in order to prepare men who are spiritually rooted and professionally competent. Ranchi Province desires to prepare men of depth and men of skills who are committed to the ideals of the universal Society of Jesus.
Vocation Promotion
Our Belgian Jesuit missionaries intuitively knew that the task of evangelization, expansion and consolidation of the mission would require a huge ‘labour force’ (personnel). Therefore, the existing parishes with schools proved a boon for them in identifying and recruiting candidates for priesthood and religious life. Indeed, the strength of the local church is the presence of the local clergy and religious men and women. Hence, they innovatively developed structures and methods which are very fruitful in promoting vocations. Jesuits opened an Apostolic School Ranchi in 1903, Apostolic School Gumla in 1955 and Apostolic School Samtoli in 1969 to nurture vocations. Traditionally, Ranchi province has relied on the Apostolic Schools for effective vocation promotion.