Odisha Priests, Religious And Formees in JNANADEEPA, Pune Gather to Celebrate Fraternity

Pune, October 28, 2025 — Over 50 priests, religious, seminarians and nuns from Odisha currently studying and serving in Pune gathered at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth (JDV) — the Pontifical Athenaeum founded by the Jesuits — for a thanksgiving Mass and spiritual assembly fostering unity, fraternity and pastoral collaboration.

Fr. R. Anthony Raj, SJ, a silver jubilarian, presided over the Eucharistic celebration. In the homily, Bishop Aplinar, CM, of the Diocese of Rayagada, reflected on the pastoral needs of the faithful, calling for closeness to God and people, reliance on divine grace, pastoral care and healing service.

Addressing the gathering, Fr. Michael Behera, an alumnus of Jnana Deepa, said the annual October 27 conference aims to nurture spiritual, human, intellectual and pastoral growth through shared experiences and mutual support. He described it as “a space for deepening faith, enhancing skills and strengthening commitment to Gospel witness.”

Sumit Nayak, a third-year theology student and secretary of the Odisha group in Pune, stated that the gathering fosters opportunities “to rebuild unity and fraternity” among those in formation and ministry. Fr. Augustine Singh, convenor of the Odisha unit in Pune, affirmed that such coming together “boosts the spirit of future ministers and those already professed or ordained.”

Formed in 2023 as ‘Odisha in Pune’, the association continues to provide a platform of hope, collaboration and cultural-spiritual identity for Odia clergy and religious in Pune.

Jnana Deepa traces its origins to the Papal Seminary founded in 1893 in Kandy, Sri Lanka, later transferred to Pune in 1955. Today, JDV remains a prominent Jesuit-run centre of philosophical and theological formation in the Indian Church.

By Fr.Purushottam Nayak

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