Catholic Ashram, Hario
History of St. Joseph’s Church, Hario
In 1930, a man named Bora Oraon from Kachabari-Lodhma had come to
work in Hazaribag. Those days kurmi-mahto people from Pakrar-Torar
also used to go to work in Hazaribag in the same location where Bora
Oraon used to work. Kurmi-Mahtos were attracted to Bora Oraon so
they invited him to Pakrar (west to Hazaribag) to stay with them.
After staying some days at Pakrar, they brought him to Torar and
showed him the land to own. Those days, the forest was so thick
around and there were many wild animals like tigers, deers and wolfs
etc. People were scared of tigers coming and hunting the domestic
animals. Bora Oraon also was scared of tiger and ran away back to
his village kachabari.
It was landlord governing system. So some men of kurmi-Mahto
community went to king of Ramgarh to pay revenues of the land in
around 1932. As they were in Ramgarh, they remembered Bora Oraon.
They decided to go in search of him as per the address he had told
them about his village when he used to stay with them.They went to
Ranchi and then Lodhma. At Lodhma, it was market day. They asked
about Bora Oraon to people and shopkeepers at Lodhma. After
discovering him, they brought him back to Torar with 9 more persons
from Kachabari-Lodhma. Some of these were Bora Oraon, Narsigh Oraon,
Karma Oraon, Chaita Oraon, Judha Oroan, Harua Oraon etc. They were
never let go back to their ancestral place thereafter. Among 10 of
them Chaita Oraon-Philip Ekka was the SPG Christian. In 1935, when
Fr Benne was the parish priest of Hazaribag, used to frequent the
areas of Torar, Danto, Jori, Jamuary since there were some munda and
oraon people. In 1940 Fr Saubolle , as the parish priest of
Hazaribag also used to visit this place. In 1948, When Fr Saubolle
sj was replaced by Fr Edward De Meulder sj and Fr De Meulder started
his mission work to this area from Hazaribag. Fr De Meulder
contacted munda and oraon people of this area. He went on to visit
this place very often. All those first 10 settlers of Kachabari were
attracted to Fr De Meulder. All these were bapised by Fr De meulder
in around 1949-1950. He used to visit his flocks once in a month and
offer the holy Eucharist with them under a banyan tree where a
government school exists now. After Fr Edward De Meulder, many
priests like Fr Kevin Grogan sj, Fr Mc Inerney, Fr Lou Lachal, Fr
Forster and Hans Hendricks followed the mission of looking after of
the sheep till 1973. In 1973 Fr Pathalandy became the first diocesan
parish priest of Hazaribag. Thenceforth Fr Maurice Sanga, Fr Tony
Homem sj, Fr Gaudentius KOngari sj, Fr Philip Crotty, Fr Fulgence
Kujur took care of the parish unit from Hazaribag till 1995. By now
faithful had grown to a larger number and into many village units.
Fr Gaudentius Kongari SJ was again appointed the parish priest of
Hazaribag in 1995 and during his time he built a priests’ residence
at Hario in 1997 foreseeing a new parish as a little child coming
out of the mother- womb of Hazaribag parish. Then the bell was rang
in the bishop’s House and resounded the message declaring Hario as a
complete parish in December, 2000. Fr George Xalxo was declared as
the first parish priest of Hario. It was joyful news for the
faithful of Hario who used to go far away Hazaribag parish for all
big festivals. Fr George Xalxo was welcomed as the first parish
priest of Hario on 19 December, 2000 in the presence of Bishop
Charles Soreng. The faithful were filled with joy and big
expectation and hope. Fr George started his mission with zeal and
commitment. The Hario parish started growing under the guidance and
care of Fr George Xalxo.
The following priests have been appointed as the parish priests and
Parish In-charges of Hario Parish till the present day:
- Fr George Xalxo ( Dec. 19, 2000 – April 10, 2012)
- Fr Michael Lakra (April 10, 2012 – May 26, 2015)
- Fr Manoj Tirkey ( May 26, 2015 – January 28, 2017)
- Fr Sudhir Toppo (January 28, 2017 – January 31, 2019)
- Fr Nelson Mundu (January 31, 2019 – June 28, 2019)
-
Fr Xavier Jai Prakash Das ( June 28, 2019 – January 18, 2021)
- Fr Ambrose Kisku ( January 18, 2021)
Date of establishment |
1997 |
Patron Saint |
St. Joseph, the worker |
Pioneer Parish Priest |
Fr. Gaudentius Kongari S.J. |
Present Parish Priest |
Fr. Sunil Bara |
Assistant P.P. |
Fr Ireneus Tete |
Address |
Catholic Ashram, Hario P.O. Shila, Dt. Chatra – 825 401,
Jharkhand
|
No. of Catholic families |
250 |
No. of Catholics |
2500 |
Parish Association |
Catholic Sabha President |
Mr Suleman Bilung |
Mahila Sangh President |
Mrs Anima Baxla |
Yuva Sangh President |
Mr Manish Baxla |
Crusveer Animator |
Mr Suleman Ekka |