Fr John Felix Raj, SJ, Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) was honoured with the JHEASA Magis 2024 award on 27 January 2024 at St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata at the National Jesuit Higher Education conference.

Fr. Raj received this award for his remarkable contributions to higher education and development of society in West Bengal. Fr. Stanislaus D’Souza, President of the Jesuit Conference of South Asia, presented the Magis medal to Fr. Felix Raj while Fr. Joseph Christie, Secretary, Jesuit Higher Education from the Jesuit Curia,   Rome handed over the plaque. Fr. Joe Arun, Secretary, JHEASA, presented the citation and Fr. Dominic Savio honoured him with a special shawl.

While receiving the award, Fr. Raj said, “An award is the reflection of people’s appreciation and recognition of what one has achieved in the past, and an invitation to continue the work further for growth in future. And I still have miles to go.”

The award was established this year and Fr. Felix Raj is the first recipient. The award coincides with his completion of 50 years as a Jesuit.

– Dr. Somak Sen