About Father Kongari and his Work

Father Walter A. Kongari, S.J., is an Indian native, born in Khunti in the Ranchi District of India on April 7, 1937. After receiving a B.A. in Hindi from Ranchi University, he went on to serve as the Regency at Loyola School in Jamshedpur, India.

Father Kongari went on to act as the Superior and Headmaster at St. Xavier’s High School in Lupungutu and as Pastor and Headmaster at St. Anthony’s High School in Dhanbad. After serving in these schools, Father Kongari, S.J. began pioneering missions among Tribals in the 1980s. Rerua is his seventh school for tribal boys and girls and the others are self sustaining.
  • Jesu Jaher, Tundi (Santhals) 1981-1986
  • Jesu Jaher, Chandil (Santhals) 1987-1988
  • Jesu Jaher, Jajpur, Orissa (Santhals) 1988-1989
  • St. Ignatius Parish, Rengra (Hos) 1993-1994
  • St. John de Britto, Tepasai (Hos) 1994-2000
  • Jesu Jaher Garh, Chaira (Santhals) 2000-2004
  • Since 2004 he has been working on this mission and school in Jesu Jaher, Rerua.
Each mission that Father Kongari, S.J. has begun is now a parish with a high school and a dispensary. Father’s last mission in Chaira, began with 43 commuter students, 13 of whom were girls. Now there are 800 students, 20 teachers, a school building, 2 hostels, and a dispensary staffed with sisters.