Xavier Centre of Historical Research

The Xavier Centre of Historical Research is a Jesuit history research centre located in Alto Porvorim, Goa in India. It was founded in the late 1970s and its first director was John Correia Afonso SJ. After John Correia Afonso, Dr. Teotonio R. de Souza was the next director of the Centre (1979–1994). Charles Borges SJ who had served as Administrator and Associate Director, took over the direction of XCHR until the year 2000, when he left for Maryland College in Baltimore as its faculty staff. He was succeeded by Délio Mendonça, SJ, Savio Abreu, SJ, and Anthony da Silva, SJ. The present director is Rinald D'Souza, SJ, who recently returned after undertaking research in the field of history, in Belgium. It is a prominent institution in Asia for its focus on Indo-Portuguese issues, and besides organising seminars and talks, it also publishes a number of books related to the Portuguese in India and Asia, Goa, the Jesuits and other historical themes. A few years ago, the focus of the institute was expanded to study Jesuit History of the Society of Jesus in South Asia. It has set up an art gallery.