Chhotanagpur along with Jashpur and Gangpur was part of the West Bengal Jesuit Mission. In the course of time Fr. Constant Lievens, S.J. ‘the apostle of Chhotanagpur’ founded the Jesuit Mission in Chhotanagpur. Inspired by the zealous fruitful mission of Lievans many Jesuit missionaries spread all over and Jashpur-Surguja Jesuit mission was part of the great Chhotanagpur Tribal Mission.

There is an immense desire in the Jesuits to serve God by serving people especially the poor and the deprived. It was such desire that impelled Fr. De Gryse, S.J. to seek permission from the King of Jashpur to do something for the development of the tribals. He was the first one to enter the Kingdom of Jashpur in the Eastern part of Madhya Pradesh on April 2, 1905. He and his fellow Jesuits initiated the work of development by education, health care and restoring the land property to tribals, which were unduly snatched by non-tribals. The sustained work of Jesuits over hundred years has borne fruits in terms of tribal education, health care, socio-cultural and socio-economic development in the Eastern part of Madhya Pradesh (now Chhattisgarh since 2000). The Jesuits are continuing the work begun by Belgian Jesuit missionaries and venturing into new geographical area with other tribal groups and Dalits to help them to make their life better.

The Madhya Pradesh province was seen as a small mission territory comprising Jashpur district alone of Ranchi Jesuit Province from 1905 till 1979. It was raised to the status of a Region in the Society of Jesus on February 6, 1979 under the Ranchi Province. The first Regional Superior was Fr. William Missiaen, S.J. The Jesuits in the Madhya Pradesh Region initiated more developmental work through primary and secondary education, socio-pastoral care, socio-cultural revival and socio-economic awareness and developmental programmes. Rev. Fr. Peter Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. the Superior General of the Society erected Madhya Pradesh Region as a full-fledged Province on April 27, 1992 and appointed Fr. Patras Minj, S.J. as the first Provincial Superior. The headquarters of the Madhya Pradesh Jesuits was at Pathalgaon till 2000. It was shifted to Bilaspur in 2001 for rendering better service to larger society of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh with many more apostolic ventures.

There are 218 Jesuits in the province, out of whom there are 74 Jesuits in the formation preparing themselves for future. The Jesuits in formation are sent for professional and technical training besides the religious training to prepare them for the work of Province. The others are actively working for people through various centres in the Province.