Fr. Ante Gabric, S.J. – An Apostle of the Sundarbans, Croatian missionary in Bengal, India

• AcEUR~Never candy… or puddingAcEUR(TM) (1943)
• AcEUR~Patience to the utmost limits!AcEUR(TM)
• AcEUR~Gentleness and kindness in small things. Whenever you can, cheer up others.AcEUR(TM) (1951, 1971)
• AcEUR~Sleeping on hard surfaceAcEUR(TM) (1954)
• AcEUR~Fasting two times a week: on Tuesdays and FridaysAcEUR(TM) (1954)
• AcEUR~Wake up and stand up like a hero and without hesitation AcEUR” at 3.30 in the morningAcEUR(TM) (1954); AcEUR~at 4.00 oAcEUR(TM)clock in the morningAcEUR(TM) (1971)
• AcEUR~Love the poor and the sick, the poorest, the rejected. Have a special love for them!AcEUR(TM) (1963)

The Missionary to India
On 20th October 1938, after obtaining special permission from Fr. General, Ante left for India, his AcEUR~promised landAcEUR(TM), by Steamship AcEUR~VictoriaAcEUR(TM). Exactly fifty years later, on the same date, 20th October 1988, he left for his Eternal Home. Was it just coincidence or GodAcEUR(TM)s special design?
Fr. Ante was ordained on 21st November 1943 at St. Mary’s, Kurseong and was sent for pastoral work in South 24 Parganas. From then on Fr. Ante was a man on fire and man for the frontiers even before these terms were used in the documents of the Society, finding new avenues and opportunities to reach out to the unreached and unreachable in the dacoits-infested and Communist-ruled islands of the Sundarbans.
On difficult terrains such as the Sundarbans, he was always on the move walking and cycling and using whatever available mode of communication was available, ever willing to reach out and touch as many lives as possible. His apparent ill health and fragile look did not deter him on his way to ‘Magis’- a true son of St. Ignatius of Loyola. He was a prolific letter writer, just like Ignatius, to his family members, friends, acquaintances and most importantly, benefactors. This helped him greatly in getting the needed help in feeding the starving, clothing the naked and saving lives. both at the time of natural disasters, which was an annual phenomenon, and at other times.
The Economic and Social Empowerment of People
Fr. Ante was not just giving food and money to the needy. He introduced some viable income generating activities, like carpentry, stitching and tailoring and embroidery. Today we speak of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Fr. Ante engaged the BATA Company already some 40 years ago and sustained many families with the income leading towards economic empowerment and upward mobility.
Most of the tailors today in many of the Islands were trained by Fr. Ante’s AcEUR~Tailoring schoolAcEUR(TM) and they are ever thankful to this Croatian missionary.
He had a close relationship with Mother Theresa of Kolkata and their mutual respect and admiration intensified in their love for Christ, trying to excel the other in following Christ daily. There are very many stories going around in the Islands of their mutual support and vision for the people in Bengal, especially the poor.
Fr. Ante Gabric cultivated a special relationship with people in the Government, who made decision and this helped in many ways in reaching out to the needy at the time of floods, cyclones and other natural calamities.
Ante had his adversaries and critics as well. Some criticised him for his way of approach while others for his unquenchable thirst for souls.
Towards the Altar of the Lord
Twenty five years after his physical death people still consider him AcEUR~God sentAcEUR(TM) and pray to him at the time of difficulties and sickness. Most of the Catholic houses in the Sunderbans have picture of Fr. Ante at the altar.
People in Croatia and the Official Church is working towards the AcEUR~cause for canonizationAcEUR(TM). The Postulator of the Society, Fr. Antoni Witwer SJ in Rome, has commissioned Fr. Zdravko knezevic, S.J. as vice-postulator to help him in this process.
Five books as well as many articles have already been published on Fr. Ante Gabric, both in Croation and English.
Many Jesuits, other Religious women and men, Priests, and laity who worked and lived with Fr. Ante continue to give witness to the holiness of this great missionary they knew. While some are convinced like the Catechist, AcEUR~God visited us in the form of Fr. Ante GabricAcEUR(TM).
The work started by Fr. Ante and other missionaries is being continued today among the Santals, who are much more deserving and are still in the periphery, but witnessing to the faith by their lives.
The Calcutta Jesuit province while thanking the Lord for giving a worthy and zealous missionary to Bengal thank also the Croatian Province and the people Croatia for their continued prayerful support for the ever growing mission today.
Fr. Irudaya Jothi SJ
Calcutta Jesuit Province

Irudhaya Jothi SJ: The Apostle of the Sundarbans / The Life and Mission of of the Servant of God Fr. Ante Gabric SJ, Kolkata (India), 2025

I am Fr. Irudaya Jothi SJ, A Jesuit Priest of Calcutta Province. I joined as a Jesuit candidate for Calcutta Province after finishing schooling in 1986 and joined the Society of Jesus in 1987.
I had an opportunity to be in AcEUR~Maria PollyAcEUR(TM) in the year 1987 for the Holy Week and came to know Fr. Ante Gabric SJ very closely in his mission.
I was ordained a Priest in 2002 since then I am engaged in the AcEUR~Social Action MinistryAcEUR(TM) of the Province as its coordinator and Director of the Social Wing, AcEURoeUdayani Social Action ForumAcEUR demanding the Government with the people for their AcEUR~RightsAcEUR(TM) and training people on AcEUR~Rights Based ApproachAcEUR(TM) for Empowerment.
Last Two years I have given an additional responsibility of AcEURoeProvince Development DirectorAcEUR.
My deep interest in the AcEUR~life and works of Fr. GabricAcEUR(TM) rejuvenated with the 150 years celebration of Calcutta Province in 2009. I did some research from the Jesuit Archives in the Province Curia and went around the villages and islands where Fr. Ante Gabric worked to learn about peopleAcEUR(TM)s life long experience of this AcEUR~God manAcEUR(TM). I was extremely happy to learn that great steps were taken by the Croatian Jesuits and People in Croatia and all over to elevate Fr. Ante to AcEUR~the Alter of the LordAcEUR(TM) and started do my bit of helping my companion Jesuits when they visit India. I also met the Postulator of the Society who is working on the Causus in Rome Fr. Antony Witwer SJ and discussed about this Issue.
I have very many plans to make this Saintly man known to the people of Calcutta city and West Bengal by Organising Symposiums, Seminars and Exhibitions.
I would welcome any one to join me in Calcutta on this AcEUR~missionAcEUR(TM). In the 25th year of Fr. Ante Gabric’s Death anniversary and the coming year of the AcEUR~Centenary of his BirthAcEUR(TM).
Fr. Irudaya Jothi SJ
Calcutta Jesuit Province