Social Centres

Loyola Pastoral Centre

The Loyola Pastoral Center (LPC) at Matigara is an initiative of the Society of Jesus. It was established in 1985 by the then Jesuit Regional Superior, Father Joseph Pappadil, S.J. The construction work was looked after by Fr Joseph Paikeday.  Its initial purpose was to train the laity so that they will be able to take up leadership roles in the local church. The first Director of the Centre was Fr Robert Kindo of the Ranchi Province. In the last 29 years it has formed catechists, student leaders, women, teachers, etc., to become effective instruments of evangelization. It caters primarily to the needs of the Dioceses of Darjeeling, Bagdogra and Jalpaiguri. Fr John Tigga S.J is the present Director of LPC.

Hayden Hall Institute

Hayden Hall was the concrete realization of Fr Burns’ dreams in 1969 to have a centre in town where students and alumni of St Joseph’s College, Darjeeling, could have hands-on experience of working with and for their poorer brothers and sisters, for their development and for the development of the Hills.  In providing an opportunity for educated local lay people to become agents of change and men and women for others, it helped them to express their concern, through loving service and skill, for those less fortunate than themselves.

Since Fr Burns believed that the poor should only get the best, in terms of education, medical care, skills training and income generating opportunities, a new Hayden Hall was built in 1972, where the old Albert Lodge used to be.  It was opened by Fr Hayden, a veteran Jesuit professor  at St. Joseph’s College (whose legendary discipline, sense of fair play, love of the poor, and support of our work in Hayden Hall, inspired us to name this institute for the poor after him).

Hayden Hall II was in built in 1976, and opened by Cardinal Picachy, a Darjeeling born Jesuit and an ex-North Pointer. Hayden Hall III was built in 1994. In the same year, on February 13 the Institute was registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961.

At these buildings, a wide variety of programs are carried on:   extension work in the Villages of Darjeeling, programmes of Adult Education, Pre-School Education, Primary Education, Supervised after-school tuitions for poor children from the poorer neighbourhood schools, Mother and Child Care, Community Health, prevention and cure of Tuberculosis, Paramedic Training, Housing, Income Generation, Feeding and Nutrition Rehabilitation, Help to the Old.

Jesu Ashram

A hospice for the destitute sick in Matigara, Jesu Ashram was set up in 1971 by Robert Mittelholtz, a Canadian Jesuit Brother. Sr Evana F.C. was another person who gave her life in the service of the sick and destitute at Jesu Ashram. 

The only criterion for beneficiaries is that they are very poor and need help. The Institute runs purely with donations from within and outside India.

The hospice has a 360-bed capacity in four wards – Leprosy, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and General. In March 2010, a separate ward was built with the support of SOS India, Italy, for HIV/AIDS patients.

Jesu Ashram also offers a three-year Course on Nursing for class ten graduated girls from economically poor families. 

Woodcot