Ambrose D'Mello
Encyclopedia
Ambrose D'Mello was an India
n Jesuit priest, who served as the first Jesuit Provincial
of India
.
D'Mello was born in Puthur, Mangalore
, British India in 1922. He entered the noviciate of the Society of Jesus
the 18 November 1943 and was ordained priest
on the 21 November 1954.
When the office of Provincial of India was established by the Jesuit Superior General in view of better coordinating the multifarious activities of the Society of Jesus
in South-Asia, Ambrose D'Mello served as its first incumbent. The Jesuit Provincial of India has since been renamed the Jesuit Provincial of South Asia
.
Earlier, while provincial of the Jesuits of Karnataka he had inaugurated Jesuit missionary work in Nagaland
, a North-Eastern state of India. Much appreciated for his leadership skills, he has been also for some time the superior of the Jesuits working in the Darjeeling region.
He also founded the Jesuit's Anekal mission in Karnataka
state, which supports literacy
programs, development work, and housing programs for the region's tribal and dalit
people.
Ambrsoe D'Mello died of cancer on April 18, 2010, in Guwahati
, Assam
, at the age of 87.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Jesuit priest, who served as the first Jesuit Provincial
Provincial superior
A Provincial Superior is a major superior of a religious order acting under the order's Superior General and exercising a general supervision over all the members of that order in a territorial division of the order called a province--similar to but not to be confused with an ecclesiastical...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
D'Mello was born in Puthur, Mangalore
Mangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
, British India in 1922. He entered the noviciate of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
the 18 November 1943 and was ordained priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
on the 21 November 1954.
When the office of Provincial of India was established by the Jesuit Superior General in view of better coordinating the multifarious activities of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
in South-Asia, Ambrose D'Mello served as its first incumbent. The Jesuit Provincial of India has since been renamed the Jesuit Provincial of South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
.
Earlier, while provincial of the Jesuits of Karnataka he had inaugurated Jesuit missionary work in Nagaland
Nagaland
Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...
, a North-Eastern state of India. Much appreciated for his leadership skills, he has been also for some time the superior of the Jesuits working in the Darjeeling region.
He also founded the Jesuit's Anekal mission in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
state, which supports literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
programs, development work, and housing programs for the region's tribal and dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
people.
Ambrsoe D'Mello died of cancer on April 18, 2010, in Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
, Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, at the age of 87.