Hans is apostle to the Santhals, the biggest tribe in India. He has developed the Church in that part of India, beginning from Maheshmunda in 1965 and gradually moving to Kuju, Charhi, Kajarkilo and Patki. Where in 1965 there was practically nothing in the way of schools, dispensaries, parishes, where the Santals were largely illiterate and much exploited by outsiders, in 2010 there are 10 parishes, a large hospital, a number of dispensaries and schools, including several high schools. Hans’ genius has been his command of the Santhal language and his understanding of Santhal culture into which he has seamlessly blended the liturgy of the Church. A number of young Santals have become Jesuits and joined Hans in his work.

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Embraced by the inner circle

Few men get to live out their boyhood dreams, but Fr Hans Hendriks SJ, who 'wanted to be a Jesuit from the word go', has turned his childhood ambition into a remarkable 54-year-long ministry of love, undertaken almost entirely at the side of the Santal people of north-eastern India. Read more...