Formation Houses

Manresa Jesuit Novitiate

The Darjeeling Novitiate Program was started on June 21, 1986 in Kurseong at Mount Carmel to serve the needs of Darjeeling and Nepal. Though part of Patna Province, Nepal Region, because of linguistic and cultural affinity with Darjeeling, preferred to have its novices trained in the Mount Carmel Novitiate, Kurseong.  Fr Gerard Van Walleghem, S.J. was the first Novice Director to be appointed here.

But the harsh climate of Kurseong had an effect on the novices’ health. The temporary residence was very old and quite inadequate for the large number, with no enough space round the house for walks and games. Hence a decision was made in 1987 to relocate the Novitiate in Kalimpong where the altitude is less than 3000 ft and the climate moderate with less rain and mist. The present Manresa Jesuit Novitiate Building in Kalimpong was blessed and inaugurated on the Feast of St Joseph March 19th, 1990 in accordance with the decree of Fr Peter-Hans Kolvenbach dated January 25, 1990. Fr Shaji Joseph is the present Novice.

Premanjali

Before the Pre-Novitiate program was shifted to Matigara in 2003, the Darjeeling Jesuits had their pre-novitiate at Gurung Busty, near Siliguri. Then the pre-novitiate program was shifted to Mount Carmel on the property of the Christian Brothers near the town of Kurseong. The reason for the transfer was the cramped living quarters and inadequate facilities in Gurung Busty.  

However, several disadvantages of Mount Carmel compelled the Darjeeling Jesuits to seek another site at Matigara. The disadvantages were: (i) the Darjeeling Jesuits did not own the building at Mount Carmel but used the building on a rental basis from the Christian Brothers; (ii) the building itself was very old and involved quite an expense to keep it up; (iii) Mount Carmel being in an isolated location, it was not possible to get competent teachers to teach different languages and to get priests for confession and spiritual guidance.

To solve some of these problems, a separate pre-novitiate building called ‘Premanjali’ was put up and the building was blessed and inaugurated on 28 August 2004.  In the meantime, the Pre-Novitiate program had been shifted officially to the Chaprasi Quarters from Mount Carmel; that was in 2003. Fr Susai John Kennedy is the Director of the Pre novitiate program. He is also the Province Vocation Promoter.

Dew Villa

Dew Villa located in Kurseong serves as a house for the aspirants and candidates wanting to join the Jesuits of the Darjeeling Province. The building was initially used as a part of St Alphonsus School under Fr Abe. 
Most of the candidates join Dew Villa at the early stages. Most aspirants join the institute as students. Most of them are high school students studying at St Alphonsus School. At present there are _________ of candidates/aspirants at Dew Villa under the care of Fr ________________ Apart from their studies at school, they are prepared for the pre novitiate training at Premanjali located in Matigara. The candidates after completing their grade XII join the pre novitiate for another ten months.