The statues of two of the most celebrated Jesuit missionaries who came to the Tamil country in the 17th and 18th centuries, Robert de Nobili and Constantine Joseph Beschi were unveiled at Dhyana Ashram on Mada Church Road, R. A. Puram on November 8.
Fr. Jebamalai Irudhayaraj, provincial of the Jesuit Chennai Province formally unveiled the two statues that were installed with the support of Xavier Britto, a businessman and well-wisher.
The two statues flank a vintage granite image of Mother Mary, which is believed to have been unearthed in this campus which was, for a few centuries, the hub of the Jesuits in the San Thome area.
After the formal function, there were presentations made on de Nobili and Beschi by scholar Fr. Anand Amaldass who is based at the Ashram, Prof. S. Amalraj, Loyola College and Fr. Maria Arul Raja.
Fr Darwin S. Michael, superior of the community at Dhyana Ashram and his team here hosted the event and arranged the hospitality.
Members of the local parishes, nuns and priests participated.
The Ashram hosts workshops, seminars, talks and training for the Jesuits as well as for others here. The Mother of God church ( Madre de Deus) is located here – its roots go back to the late 16th century when the Portuguese first built this church which was demolished some decades ago.
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