Anthony Sharma, SJ – A Man of Nepal

In the winter of 1983-84 I enjoyed a  chance to visit my favorite Jesuit community in India, St. Joseph’s, Darjeeling.  I had enjoyed vacations there when taking breaks from work in Bhutan.  This time, however, my mission was more challenging.  The king of Nepal had established diplomatic relations with the Vatican, and it was time for the Church to become autonomous.

The Jesuits were looking for a man to be the first superior of the Missio Sui Iuris of Nepal.  Darjeeling’s Fr. Anthony Sharma was our first choice.  He was a man of Nepal, where his parents were born.  I was looking forward to meeting Antu, but I did not expect a joyous response to my request!   Anthony Sharma, SJ in Kathmandu, 2015

I reported the Darjeeling Jesuits’ response, while wondering who would rise to the challenge of building up Nepal’s Catholic Church.  I was thrilled when Antu was appointed to the post.  On 8 December 1984, Bishop Benedict Osta, with help from Bishop J.B. Thakur and Bishop Joseph Rodricks, installed Antu as Nepal’s first Ecclesiastical Superior. 

Anthony was born 12 December 1937 into a poor family in Darjeeling District, and grew up in Kurseong.  Fr. Wery helped to support Anthony, his older sister and mother.  His father passed away shortly after Anthony’s birth.  Anthony studied at Kurseong under the Jesuits.  Math was a challenge, but Fr. Bill Mackey made sure Antu passed the final exams.  These Jesuits left their mark on Antu.  Despite family opposition, he joined the Bombay novitiate in 1956.  He got back home to study theology.  Bishop Eric Benjamin Mukhia ordained him in 1968.  Fr. Maurice Dullard was his tertianship instructor in 1976 at Sitagarha. 

After ordination, Fr. Sharma, SJ in Kurseong Darjeeling District, 1980.Antu studied pastoral work in the Philippines and then started his education ministry.  He was the Rector at St. Joseph’s before moving to Nepal.  He first lived in our Jawalakhel community but soon moved to his own quarters where he supported several people and welcomed visitors.  He saw Nepal’s need for good school teachers and administrators, so contacted religious across South Asia. 

Religious and priests now serve in over thirty schools across the country.  Catholic communities are growing around these centers.  Now there are parishes across Nepal.  He also worked to recruit young men to become priests in Nepal.  There is now a strong group of priests, from both India and Nepal.  Our Kathmandu church in front of St. Xavier’s was soon too small for our growing Catholic community.  Antu was able to buy land and build a cathedral.  Cardinal Tomko dedicated the cathedral in 1995.  In 2007 Antu was ordained bishop as Nepal’s first Apostolic Vicar.      At Assumption Cathedral, Kathmandu, 2015.

Nepal is not an easy place to build Christian communities.  As early as the mid-1950’s various missionary groups came to make the Nepalese aware of Jesus’ message of love.  Some paid for this through deportation.  Others served jail sentences.  Yet the Christian Church grew.  It is difficult for local people to understand how a Nepali Brahmin can be a Christian leader.  Antu suffered rejection, sometimes rudeness, and once arrest, but did not back down.  He had many chances to “turn the other cheek,” and did so humbly and gracefully. 

Antu was a quiet person who liked to be alone, but he never ran from challenges which he met with determination and always with a smile.  He never let others’ anger lead him to a harsh response.  He would always patiently wait for the other to accept God’s offer of merciful forgiveness.  He was a catalyst for many Nepali people to accept Jesus. 

On his retirement at the end of June 2014, when Bishop Paul Simick from Darjeeling became Nepal’s second bishop, Anthony moved back into Jesuit community life, devoting his time to translating texts and prayers into Nepali, to giving retreats and spiritual direction, and to keeping our community life happy.Anthony Sharma, SJ with Bill Bourke, SJ at Matigara, the Darjeeling Provincial residence

In early November 2015,  he complained of reading problems.  He finally received help from his own neurosurgeon cousin, Dr. Upendra Devkota.  Upendra found an inoperable brain tumor and sent Antu back to the community to await the end.  That could have taken months, but Antu was not one to cause trouble.  After two days busy happily receiving visitors, he quietly went off to heaven. 

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All photos courtesy of Bill Robins, SJ

Bill Robins, SJ, is a Canadian Jesuit who lived at Godavari, our original school at the south-east edge of the Kathmandu Valley. He lived in a community of six Jesuits and taught 11 and 12 English until his return to Canada in 2021.

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