Fr Agapit Tirkey lived for 81 years and 4 months: 60 years in the Society of Jesus (21 June 2025), of which 48 years as a priest (30 April 2025), and 41 years as a professed in the Society of Jesus (8 July 2025). He died almost with his boots on as he was in his teaching and spiritual ministry till before the supper in the evening previous to his death. He complained of breathlessness at 6.10 in the following morning and breathed his last in the hospital after three hours.

Fr Agapit Tirkey, at his death, was a mature Jesuit. He grew to be fully integrated into the Society of Jesus in letter and spirit from novitiate onwards throughout the Jesuit formation and thereafter. This Jesuit maturation could be seen consistently in his daily celebration of Eucharist, regularity in prayer and work, fidelity to his commitments, availability for ministries, and pleasant  social and community life. His life was marked with simplicity and Jesuit
poverty.

He had already acquired the sense of vocation to the priesthood while pursuing studies in middle school in Tapkara. He was deeply impressed by the exemplary work of Fr James Nagant SJ and Frs Pascal Ekka and Cyril Ekka.
The seed of vocation and his personality grew stronger in the apostolic school in Kunkuri, once again inspired by caring and firm Director Fr Paul Terrence SJ. These experiences were the stepping stones to advance to college studies in the Science stream at St Xavier’s College, Ranchi, while staying in apostolic school there, and after a year to enter the Society of Jesus at Sitagarh, Hazaribag, on 21 June 1965.

From thereon, he underwent the normal common Jesuit formation. He applied himself seriously in learning and experiencing life at every stage: Juniorate at Mount St Joseph in Bengaluru, B. Sc graduation studies at Manresa house in Ranchi, the study of philosophy at Shembagnur and theology at JDV, Pune.

Then came the great day of his ordination to the priesthood on 30 April 1977, for which he had been preparing himself all along. Soon after it, he was given the experience of pastoral ministry for a year in Ginabahar in Jashpur diocese, where the missionaries pitched their first tent in 1912 – this developed in him a keen interest in the history and legacy of Belgian missionaries. For the next three years, he was the dean of college-going Jesuit scholastics at Manresa  House in Ranchi.

During this time, he completed his Master’s degree (M Sc) in Anthropology  from Ranchi University in 1980. This change of the stream of further studies came about because in novitiate he was greatly inspired by a talk by late Philip Ekka SJ, who had then completed PhD studies from Fordham University in New York City on Tribal Movement in Jharkhand, and who later became the Provincial of the Ranchi Province and thereafter Bishop of Ambikapur and Raipur dioceses. Fr Agapit went on to do M Phil in Sociology from Delhi University in 1986, and completed the doctoral studies (PhD) in “Social Identity and Jharkhand Movement” from Delhi University in 1997. This instilled in him a passion for tribal identity, culture, and spirituality, which he taught as a twocredit course for several years at JDV Pune, the Regional Theologate in Ranchi, SVD Juniorate, and the Tertianship programme for the sisters in Bhopal. The rest of the time, he spent as Director of Tribal Research and Documentation Centre in Asha Deep Pathalgaon, furthering tribal culture and traditions, and also worked on the contribution of Belgian missionaries in the Chhotanagpur area. Because of this, he was sought after and invited as a resource person in such programmes. He participated in seminars and workshops in India and abroad.

He played an important role in the Society of Jesus as the superior and rector of communities in Asha Deep Pathalgaon and Loyola House Kunkuri, consultor  in the Provincial team, and represented the Province as delegate in important conventions of the Society of Jesus, like the General Congregation in Rome from January 5 to March 22, 1995 or in any other fora. Looking at his life, what strikes is his keen sense of observation and  internalising experiences of significant persons, situations and events which were deeply embedded in his memory, and he could recall and express them vividly.

Fr Agapit was a man for all seasons. He was the Parish Priest in Shanti Bhawan, Jashpur Nagar, from June 1987 to December 1989. He was also available for spiritual ministry of giving retreats and recollection whenever required or  called for. Late Fr Agapit had certain passions of life which lasted to the end of his life, such as, presiding over eucharistic liturgy in Oraon language specially in the parish and village mass centres; composing heart-touching liturgical and Marian devotional hymns in Oraon language, and there are many of them; publication of several books and booklets in collaboration with others;  publication of Naam Kurukhat (We Oraons), a magazine to promote Oraon language especially among the generation of people who were losing touch with it. He leaves behind a rich legacy of being a versatile and fruitful Jesuit in personal life, life in the community and the Society of Jesus in the Province and the universal Society. May he be an inspiring light for all of us Jesuits who are living and working for the glory of God. May God keep him in His Eternal Light.

Fr. Alphonse Tirkey SJ