ST.  XAVIER’S CHURCH, CHAIBASA * (Kolhan-Porhat )

Chaibasa is the oldest Mission Station of Jamshedpur Diocese.  In fact, it is the oldest mission station in the entire Chotanagpur region and of the North Indian tribal world. The history of the tribal church in this nation began with the arrival of the Belgian Missionaries from Kolkata to Chaibasa. The first Belgian Missionaries from Kolkata started work already in 1868. Fr. Augustine Stockman SJ from Midnapur arrived in Chaibasa on a bullock-cart. The journey had taken him four days at least with endless troubles.  In those days there was not a single Catholic in that area.  Missionary efforts continued. It is nearly after 5 years of efforts that 6 families consisting of 28 members belonging to the Munda Tribe accepted Jesus and they were baptized by the then Archbishop of Kolkata on November 8, 1873 at Khuntpani Village, some 8 miles from Chaibasa , on the road to Chakradharpur.  Fr. Stockman and his team brought Religious Sisters known as the Daughters of the Cross to Chaibasa who started an Orphanage for Children.  The Munda Christian families were working in the coal-mines. Unfortunately, coal mines were shutting down and these families moved to Kochang, Burudih- the Munda region.  Fr. Stockman and his team moved with these Christians to Burudih.  One Fr. Sapart SJ was put in charge of Chaibasa Mission.  The Sisters too closed down their Convent and the Orphanage and moved back to their original Convent.  Almost all mission property, excepting the plot on which Divya Bharati stands today, went into the hands of the Government.