People in Odisha in India, irrespective of religion, caste, creed, and color are mourning the death of their honest, simple, and popular catechist.
Jajati Nayak was born July 1, 1950, in Kerubadi, a Catholic village that has celebrated 100 years of that Christian faith in 2015. He died on December 17.
“Late Sir Jajati Nayak will be remembered as the longest-serving Upadesta Mastro (catechist) in the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar,” said Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhmapur in a message.
Nayak was just a teenager in the 1960s when the late Father Alexander Chandi, parish priest of Godapur, took him and made him a village catechist. In the 1970s, Father Augustine Karinkuttiyil, parish priest of Daringbadi, appointed Nayak as village catechist of Kerubadi. Since then he was faithfully carrying out his duty until his death.
He lived as a catechist and died as an efficient and faithful catechist. He was the referral point for all matters related to the ecclesial life of the village. Under his leadership, the faith life of the Christians of Kerubadi was strengthened and produced nine religious sisters and six priests.
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