Fr. Vijay k. Kachhap was born at Sindri in Dhanbad District, Jharkhand on 4 September 1956. He joined the Jamshedpur Province and went for his Novitiate to Newman Hall, Ahmedabad in 1976. He did his philosophy at Satya Nilayam, Chennai and his theology at Tarundoay, Ranchi and Vidya Jyoti, Delhi. Fr. Vijay was ordained as a priest at St. Xavier’s School, Lupungutu, Chaibasa on 29 April 1989.

Fr. Vijay K. Kachhap was a simple, calm, disciplined, and responsible person. He was a man of few words and needs with no complaints whatsoever, always open, available, and approachable. He was a musician and singer who never showed off his talents. He was a faithful and committed religious.

He served as the Hostel Prefect, Asst. Coordinator Total Literacy, Asst. Director, Vivek Sadan Daltonganj, Rector of St. Paul’s Minor Seminary, Jatni, Odisha. Headmaster, De Nobili Hindi School, Digwadih , Chancellor and Coordinator of Youth for Jamshedpur Diocese, Deputy Director, CSWC, Amda, Vice-Principal, De Nobili School, Chandrapura and a teacher and Asst. PP at St. Xavier’s School, Tangrain, Odisha.

On 18 August ’23 Fr. Vijay had a fall while coming back to the Jesuit community after minding the studies of the hostel children. Since then, he was in and out of hospital. Fr. Vijay breathed his last on 13 October 2023 due to cardiac arrest. He was 67 years old, having spent 47 years in the Society and 34 years as a priest. May his soul rest in peace!

– Augustine Surin, SJ