St. Xavier's School is named after St. Francis Xavier, a Jesuit saint of the 16th Century, who traveled to India. The school was established by the Society of Jesus, a Christian religious group founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola in 1540. Since its inception, the members of the Society of Jesus, popularly known as 'Jesuits', have toiled in the field of education, among other things, and were originally called 'the Schoolmasters of Europe'. They manage educational and other service institutions throughout India and the rest of the world. They are inspired by a vision of humanity drawn from the life, teachings and personality of Jesus Christ.

St. Xavier's School is a Christian Minority School, established in 1966 at the invitation of Bokaro Steel Plant. They felt the necessity of a school in Bokaro Steel City, where the children of their employees could be taught up to the Higher Secondary or its equivalent stage through the medium of English. They invited Xaviers Hazaribagh Association to undertake the opening and running of such a school. The school opened on 18th July 1966.

In 1996 the ownership and management of the school was transferred to Hazaribag Jesuit Education Society, a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act 1886 XXI-192 of 2005-2006 and a Charitable Trust registered under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act 1961, Reg. No. VIII-39/1996-97. HJES is the legal title of that section of the Society of Jesus working in education, mainly in the districts of Hazaribag, Bokaro, Koderma, Chatra, Latehar, Palamau, and Garhwa in the state of Jharkhand.

The Jesuits continue to manage St. Xavier's, Bokaro Steel City, though they now enjoy the collaboration of the Sisters of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation.

Aim and Policy

The school is under Christian management and its goals include the development of the spiritual potential in each individual. This imposes an obligation first on the staff to provide an educational service that depends as much on the quality of their dedication as on their academic competence and qualifications. It is assumed that this can be achieved only through belief in and reliance on divine help.

It further imposes on parents and students, who desire this type of education, an obligation to develop a social conscience. Whatever their caste, creed, or financial situation, they too should be ready to share the school's commitment to the whole community irrespective of caste, creed and social status, and the school's belief that this is linked to genuine spiritual growth, however interior it may be.

In particular, the school as a whole is committed to providing education for children, who come from a less privileged background. The school does this through its governing body, which runs schools primarily for the benefit of such deprived children. Our Hindi Medium Section is a concrete example of this commitment. Besides this, our students and staff, through the Social Service League and other activities, voluntarily work to help such children.

St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552)

Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552 was born near Pamplona, Spain on April 7, 1506. Xavier was educated at the University of Paris. In 1529, while in Paris, he met the Spanish ascetic, Ignatius of Loyola. Xavier was one of the group that joined Ignatius to found the Society of Jesus. He arrived at Goa in India on 6th May, 1542. He taught children, visited prisoners, and comforted the sick in hospitals. He shared with people the teachings of Jesus and instructed them to love and to hope. He inspired them to be kind and compassionate towards one another and to become agents of peace, prosperity and justice. From Goa he traveled to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Malacca, Amboina, Morotai, Japan, Sancian Island and Singapore, and continued to serve and inspire people by his exemplary lifestyle. On 21st November, 1552 he fell ill on Sancian Island and died on 3rd December and was buried there. In 1553 his incorrupt body was exhumed and buried in Malacca. On 15th August his body was again exhumed and taken to Goa. It has been kept there in the Basilica of Bom Jesus ever since. People from all over the world, irrespective of their religious affiliation and social status, visit the Basilica everyday and draw inspiration and enlightenment from the saint.

St. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA

(Founder of the Society of Jesus)

Ignatius was born in 1491 at Loyola in Spain. After serving some time in the royal court, he turned to a military career. In 1521 he was wounded at the siege of Pamplona and, while convalescing, he conceived a burning desire to become a follower of Jesus. His experiences during this time at Manresa were to provide the core of his spiritual classic `The Spiritual Exercises'. In 1537 he was ordained a priest in Venice, and in the same year moved to Rome. There in 1540, along with his nine companions, he founded the Society of Jesus. Francis Xavier was one of them. In the following year Ignatius was elected the Society’s first General Superior. In every kind of way he and his companions contributed greatly to the renewal of the Catholic Church and Christian life in the sixteenth century. They were also chiefly instrumental in the spread of education in Europe. Ignatius died in Rome in 1556, and was declared a saint by Pope Gregory XV in 1622.

The Jesuits at St. Xavier’s School , ( Bokaro Steel City)

Bro, Rajendra Tete SJ	Fr. Pradeep Shail, SJ	Fr. George Thomas, SJ	Fr. Rosner Xalxo SJ

PRINCIPALS

Fr. John Moore, SJFounder Principal (1966-1980)	Fr. Ken McNamara, SJ Principal (1980-1990)
Fr. P.O.Chacko, SJ Principal (1990-1997)	Fr. Geoff Meagher, SJ Principal (1997-2005)
Fr. Francis Kurien, SJ Principal (2005-2010 )

Fr. Pradeep Shail SJ, Principal (2010 - )