The “Faces in Our Midst” – Fr. Dr. Gerard Van Walleghem SJ
A young man who was only 24 when he first came to India, has now spent 63 years in India, most of it in Darjeeling. He left a luxurious life in Canada behind, and choose to come and serve people in India, his fate and our good fortune crossed path, rest as they say is history. This is a simple story of an extraordinary individual – our beloved Fr. Van whose love for Darjeeling and its people is unmatched.
EARLY CALLING
Almost everyone who lives in Darjeeling knows about or has heard of or seen Fr. Van. Not many know that he has lived in India for the past 63 years, almost all of which – other than a few years of training for his priesthood and early postings – he has spent in Darjeeling.