Mangaluru Origin Fr Jerome Cutinha Sj of Kushekar, Mangaluru is New Provincial of Jamshedpur Jesuit Province
Jamshedpur: Fr Dr Jerome Cutinha SJ was read in as the new provincial of the Jamshedpur Jesuit province in a short installation ceremony at Loyola School, Jamshedpur. On June 16, 2020, he was appointed as the provincial of Jamshedpur Jesuit province by the superior general of the Society of Jesus, Fr Arturo Sosa SJ.
He succeeded Fr George Fernandes who held the office for the last six years. The entire province looks up to Fr George, the outgoing provincial with a sense of gratitude and admiration for the way he has guided and led the province. He has been a gift to the Society, and in the last six years, he has been a special gift to the province in bringing light to the rural mission. The province expresses its gratefulness for his special effort in streamlining the governance of the province mission.
Fr Jerry as he is popularly known, born in 1964, hails from Holy Cross Parish, Cordel, Kulshekar in Mangaluru diocese. He is the third child to the late Joseph Cutinha and late Alice Cutinha. His eldest sister Janet is a religious as well in the congregation of Carmelite Missionaries. He is the elder brother of Vincent Cutinha, proprietor of Ideal Chicken, Anupama Feeds & Farms with a sister concern – Ideal hatchery in Mangaluru.
After his initial schooling in St John’s School, Allipade, Milagres High School, Mangaluru, and PUC, St Philomena College, Puttur, Fr Jerome Cutinha entered the Society of Jesus in 1983. After his theology in Bachelor of Divinity (Theology), Heythrop College, University of London, UK, he was ordained a priest in 1999. He did his pastoral ministry in Chaibasa for four years and pronounced his Final Vows in 2006. He holds a Doctorate in Economics from the University of Madras, Chennai. He has served the Jamshedpur Jesuit Province in different capacities – as the director of Candidates, as the province co-coordinator of Formation, as the superior, financial controller, dean of administration and professor of XLRI, Jamshedpur. He has been the province consulter in two terms. He was the province delegate in General Congregation 35 and 36 and REGAE coordinator for the central zone.
Fr Jerome Cutinha, the new provincial, is walking into the legacy of 12 stalwarts of Jamshedpur mission, beginning from Fr Carol Fasy. The mission was started by a small band of missionaries from the USA, beginning with one small school in a school bus, the Jamshedpur mission has now 31 schools, 16 hostels, 4 institutions of higher education, 3 social centers, 13 parishes run and 214 Jesuits. This shows that the Jesuits go beyond set boundaries, while they try to consolidate their mission, they also seek for God destined opportunities, and reach where others cannot reach.
Fr Jerry has been an able administrator. He is experienced with great organizational and leadership qualities. The Jamshedpur Jesuit province is looking forward to making the best use of his experience of such great administrative skills for effective ministries in and around the province.
