The history of the Karnataka Jesuit Province began on 31 December 1878, when nine Jesuit missionaries from Europe landed in Mangalore. They were Frs. Nicholas Pagani, Angelo Mutti, Augustus Muller, Angelo Maffei, Otto Erle, Quintinus Sani, Urban Stein, and Brothers Francis Zamboni and Matthew Maneghetti. The Catholics of Mangalore had repeatedly appealed to Pope Leo XIII to send Jesuits mainly for the education of their children. Responding to this request, Pope Leo XIII separated Mangalore and Calicut from the jurisdiction of Verapoly and Padroado in 1878 and entrusted the mission territory to the Society of Jesus. The mission was placed under the care of the Jesuits of the Venetian Province, while the Carmelites who had earlier served the region handed over the responsibility.

Inspired by the spirit of the first Jesuit companions, the pioneering Jesuits built their mission on the foundations of deep faith and service inherited from the Carmelites. In 1879, they established St. Joseph’s Seminary, Jeppu, for the formation of diocesan clergy with Fr. Angelo Maffei as its first superior. In 1880, St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru was opened in a rented house under Fr. Angelo Mutti, and later developed into one of the premier Jesuit educational institutions in South India. The foundation stone for the permanent college building was laid on 21 June 1880, and by 1887, St. Aloysius College had become a First Grade College.

The Jesuits also made remarkable contributions in healthcare and social service. In 1880, Fr. Augustus Muller started a small Homeopathic Dispensary at St. Aloysius College, which later developed into the renowned Fr. Muller Medical Institutions at Kankanady, Mangaluru.

In 1882, a Jesuit Novitiate was opened at Jeppu, Mangalore, with Fr. Zanetti as the Novice Master. The Jesuits further strengthened their mission by establishing a workshop-cum-orphanage for poor children in 1884 and St. Joseph’s Church, Jeppu in 1890.

The leadership of the Mangalore Church was also entrusted to Jesuits. In 1885, Msgr. Nicholas Pagani became the first Jesuit Vicar Apostolic of Mangalore and was consecrated Bishop in 1886. He was succeeded by Msgr. Abundius Cavadini and later by Msgr. Paul Perini. In 1923, the Diocese of Calicut was carved out with Msgr. Perini as its first Bishop, while the Mangalore Diocese was entrusted to the diocesan clergy.

A major milestone in Jesuit history came in 1937, when the Jesuits took over the administration of the historic St. Joseph’s Institutions, Bengaluru, from the Paris Foreign Mission Fathers. This marked the expansion of Jesuit educational apostolate into Bengaluru.

In 1948, Fr. A. Le Tellier established the Fatima Retreat House in Mangaluru, strengthening the Jesuit ministry of spirituality and retreats. In 1955, the Calicut Mission became the Mangalore Vice Province under Fr. Boniface D’Souza as its first Vice Provincial, and a year later it was officially renamed the Karnataka Jesuit Province.

The Karnataka Jesuits continued to expand their educational and missionary outreach. In 1959, the Novitiate and Juniorate were shifted from Calicut to Mount St. Joseph, Bengaluru. The same year, St. Joseph’s High School and Industrial School in Ooty were entrusted to the Jesuits of Karnataka.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the Province expanded into several dioceses and mission territories. In 1960, the Jesuits established St. Joseph’s School in Hassan, midway between Mangaluru and Bengaluru, under the pioneering efforts of Fr. John Aranha and later Fr. Sunith Prabhu. In 1962, St. Joseph’s Indian High School and Loyola Mandir (Provincialate) were established in Bengaluru.

The African Mission

In 1960, Karnataka Jesuits responded to a request from the Bishop of Mwanza, Tanzania, to serve among the Asian Catholic population. Fr. William Picardo and Fr. Mathew Lewis became the first missionaries from Karnataka to serve in Africa. Later, due to the growing responsibility of the Nagaland Mission, the Karnataka Jesuits handed over the African Mission to the Goa Province.

Nagaland Mission

The Karnataka Jesuits began the Nagaland Mission following a request from Bishop Hubert Rosario SDB of Dibrugarh for educational institutions in Nagaland. Frs. Stany Coelho, Ligoury Castelino, Br. Raymond D’Souza, and Fr. Edwin Goveas formed the pioneering team. On 31 July 1970, the foundation stone of Loyola School, Jakhama was laid by the Chief Minister of Nagaland. From this humble beginning, the Jesuit mission expanded across the North-Eastern states, popularly known as the “Seven Sisters.”

Anekal Mission

At the first Province Sammelan in 1973, the Jesuits sought a mission territory closer to Bengaluru for rural development and evangelization. The Archbishop entrusted the entire Anekal Taluk to the Jesuits under a fifteen-year agreement. Fr. Mathew Lewis became the first Mission Coordinator. The mission gradually expanded into educational, pastoral, and social development initiatives across Anekal and surrounding villages.

Mundgod Mission

In 1980, at the invitation of Bishop William D’Mello of Karwar, Fr. Mathew Lewis began the Jesuit mission in Mundgod. In 1991, Loyola School was started for the education of tribal and Dalit children. Under Fr. Lawrence Pinto, the school shifted to Karaginakoppa in 1993, became a High School in 1994, and later a Composite PU College in 2003. The Jesuits also started a D.Ed. College in 2004 to train teachers for rural education.

Bijapur Mission

The Karnataka Jesuits began their mission in Bijapur (Vijayapura) in 1991 at the request of the Diocese of Belgaum. Fr. Ambrose D’Mello and Fr. Denis Alvares were among the pioneers. Over time, the mission expanded into education, social work, technical training, rehabilitation of Devadasis, HIV/AIDS awareness, and empowerment of slum dwellers and marginalized communities.

Pannur-Manvi Mission

The Pannur-Manvi Mission officially began in 2002 with Frs. Eric Mathias, Joseph Monteiro, and Maxim Rasquinha as pioneers. Loyola School was established in 2004 for poor and Dalit children, followed by Xavier School (CBSE) in 2007, Loyola PU College in 2010, and Loyola Degree College in 2012. Today, the mission has grown into a flourishing educational and social development centre in North Karnataka.

Gulbarga Mission

Following the creation of the Diocese of Gulbarga in 2005, the Bishop invited the Karnataka Jesuits to begin educational institutions in the region. Responding positively, the Jesuits established St. Francis Xavier PU College in 2007 under Fr. Vincent Pinto as the first Principal.

Re-entry into the Mysore Diocese

The Karnataka Jesuits also renewed their historic connection with the Mysore region, once a flourishing Jesuit mission during the 17th and 18th centuries. Inspired by the legacy of Servant of God Fr. Antonio Platei SJ (Pujya Rajendra Swamy), the Jesuits re-entered the Mysore Diocese through educational and pastoral ministries at Panditahalli and Naguvanahalli, continuing their mission of faith, education, and social transformation.

Over nearly 150 years, the Karnataka Jesuits have established schools, colleges, universities, social action centres, youth ministries, retreat houses, media initiatives, and rural development programmes across Karnataka and beyond. Guided by the Jesuit ideals of faith, justice, excellence, and service, the Karnataka Jesuit Province continues to form “men and women for and with others” committed to building a more just, humane, and compassionate society.