Fr. Amritlal Thomas Xalxo S.J., son of Tokle Joseph Xalxo and Sunita Xalxo from Shahpur village of Dharamjaigarh parish was born on 16th August, 1959. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1982 at Khrist Milan Ashram, Namna, Ambikapur, and was ordained priest on 29th December, 1995. He served the people of God as Asst. Parish Priest, Parish Priest, Social Worker, Manager, Superior, Treasurer, Minister, Administrator and Director of the Agricultural Centre. He loved the Society of Jesus as mother, and always followed Our Way of Proceeding in life-mission. He was a man of prayer and of deep faith. He would begin the day with prayer and the Eucharist, and close the day with prayer. He would read the Bible and the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus every day, and would contemplate on it. His spirituality was his strength of life-mission. He sustained his faith and spirituality even in the time of leave of absence in 1995. He was simple, honest, hardworking, responsible, and an approachable Jesuit. He was available for people in his pastoral care. He was a man of principle and ideas. He had a response to all questions that would arise either in person, group or community, even in challenging situations. He was very close to nature and loved agricultural activities, gardening and rearing animals. He personally experienced poverty and lived it in letter and spirit. He always emphasized on saving energy, money and living close to the poor. He was ever cheerful and a man of dialogue. He had a dream of promoting skills and livelihood for drop-out youth, through on-farm and off-farm agro-based activities, but the God of Eternal Life had His own dream of keeping him with Him forever which He accomplished on 8th September 2021, at Holy Cross Hospital, Ambikapur. May Fr. Amritlal Thomas Xalxo cherish Eternal Joy forever.
Stanislaus Tirkey, SJ
