Jamshedpur, Oct. 13: As Fr. Carl Dincher, S.J. the doyen of education in Jamshedpur ascends to the heavenly abode, residents of the Steel City of Jamshedpur bid him a tearful goodbye on Thursday, October 13. His funeral was held at St. Joseph�s Cathedral, Golmuri. He passed away on 10th October, 2016.
Bishop Felix Toppo was the main celebrant of the Funeral Mass of Fr. Carl Dincher, S.J. along with Fr.E. Abraham, XLRI Director and many priests of Jamshedpur Diocese.
�FrDincher was a tireless worker, always generous with his time and talents and a very affectionate person. All those who approached him for help were his �Beta� or �Beti� and this was his Charism.
As we believe that he is already in heaven, let us pray to God to give us the grace to follow in his footsteps of his love and care for the poor and the needy and give us his energy, enthusiasm and commitment for all the works that we are entrusted with�, commented Fr. E. Abraham S.J., Director, XLRI Jamshedpur.
Fr Carl Dincher was born on 22nd September 1927 and just completed 89 years. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1945 and was ordained in 1957 in De Nobili College, Pune. He came to India from Maryland Province in 1952.
While studying in the US he applied to go to the Philippines as a Missionary because his Uncle Fred Dincher was working there. He used to say that my Uncle Fred was my inspiration to become a missionary. However, he was sent to India where the Maryland Province had started a Mission in Jamshedpur in 1948.
Over the years, FrDincher worked as a Pastor in the major Parishes of the Dioceses and still much loved and revered by especially the poor. He worked in all the parishes in Jamshedpur, Chaibasa area, Purulia, and Dhanbad. He was a great builder and wherever he was posted he built a Church, Presbytery, Convent or a School. St Xavier�s Church, Chaibasa is one of the finest Churches of Jharkhand and a visible edifice of his dedicated work.
He worked as Rector of De Nobili School and Director of branch schools for several years. His life can be divided into two halves. First half he worked as a pastor and educationist most of the time and second half he worked as retreat preacher and spiritual counselor.
He also served as socius to the provincial in the mid-seventies for two years and spent a couple of years in Bhubaneswar. He spent a good part of his of life in Jesu Bhavan, Mango as Superior and Director of the retreat house and Spiritual Ministry.
Over the years, Fr. Dincher has become a much sought after retreat preacher for all walks of people, especially Priests, religious and laity all over the country and abroad. He has preached several retreats to Mother Teresa sisters and Mother was present during several retreats.
In 1961, he met Mother Teresa and he was impressed by both her compassion and by her wisdom. He worked as her advisor. He is quoted as saying �for her and for him also I see Jesus in each of my brothers and sisters. There is something tremendously fulfilling of being amongst the poorest of the poor�. He had helped Saint Mother Teresa to revise her constitutions and sat with her for several hours over several days and finalized them before sending them to Rome for final approval.
He was bestowed �The Most Outstanding Catholic Individual Award� by the Cardinal L T Picachy Memorial Committee on 2nd December 2001.
In Fr.Dincher’s own words �I have found my happiest days in India were in the villages. I came to love the people there very much and have found that though they were extremely poor, they would share whatever they have. I love the people in India. I get homesick for them. The mission work hasn�t been easy, but it has been a joy.�