India - St. Xavier’s Boarding Alumni gathering on April 5th 2017 in the year of Golden Jubilee (1967-2017)

St.Xavier’s Orphanage & boarding home which is located close to New Bus stand in Eluru town of West Godavari District is famously know as boy’s convent by many people. It stands as house for the education of the poor children, house of formation and house of disciple. Bishop Ambrose De Battista, PIME, and then Bishop of Vijayawada had great missionary vision that one day Eluru would be erected one of the Roman Catholic dioceses. In 1964 he made proposal to number of people and especially to Fr.Mathew Kalpakacherry, priest of the diocese of Vijayawada to think about starting education institutions in Eluru town. While St.Xavier’s school came into picture in the 1964 -65 in a rented house at St.Michael’s parish, Pension line, Eluru and at the same time thoughts went out to start also a boarding home. Informally, about 6 children started to reside in the premises of the school since they could not commute every day to the school.  Slowly, things were taking shape and big plans for the St .Xavier’s institutions were getting actualized by acquiring some acres of land near Phirangula dibba. Structures started to come up for St.Xavier’s school in 1965, St. Xavier’s ITI in 1966 and St.Xavier’s boarding in 1967. Fr. Mathew Kalapakacherry was taking care of St.Xavier’s School as Correspondent and Mr. I Showry Head Master and there were 30 pupil in the VI class and 26 in IX class.

At same time Bro. Gianni David, PIME Bro. Sartori, PIME & Bro. Cripa, PIME started to work in ITI. Bro. Gianni David, PIME was great architect gave plans for the building structures and took care of the construction work. Bro. James, Brother of St. Joseph congregation started to work at St. Xavier’s Boarding.

St. Xavier’s Boarding had taken its formal shape in 1967 and Bro. James was kept as in charge of it. There were limited sources of structures, water supply, food supplies and yet many children wanted to join the boarding in order to have better education in St. Xaiver’s school. The pioneering batches went through many huddles of daily life but their confidence made them strong to have better future through education.

In 50 years of its existence number of batches had complete faith, educational formation and disciple. Number of PIME missionaries, diocesan priests and brothers served the Lord through this wonderful St.Xavier’s boarding. Around 80 children who studied in this boarding are chosen to the Ministry of Priesthood and religious life to serve the Lord throughout the world.

We thank the Lord for his numerous blessings during these 50 years of existence of St.Xavier’s boarding. We thank PIME fathers and brothers who through committed missionary work reached many poor children for their education. St.Xavier’s boarding and those who studied in it are greatly in debt to all the benefactors who have been supporting us with their generous help for many years. In a special way we thank PIME Mission center in Milan for their tireless work in supporting the adoption of the children. May the Lord bless their generosity.

We are going to have St.Xavier’s Boarding Alumni gathering on April 5^th 2017 from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm in the year of Golden Jubilee. We wish to invite you all and all the alumni students to join the celebration to thank the Lord for His numerous blessings for the growth of St.Xavier’s boarding home.

Fr. Ravi Thanaiah Marneni, PIME