Fr. Donatus Soreng, TOR was born on 7 August 1950 at village called Banai Bartoli, inhabited by Kharia Tribes, 10 km from the public thoroughfare leading from Basia P. S. to Sisai, Bharno P.S. in Gumla District. This village has been surrounded with hillocks and forests since time immemorial.  The Tribals settled there before the independence of the country. Formerly Banai Bartoli was a part of Mamarla parish under the jurisdiction of Ranchi-Arch Diocese, but when a missionary, the late Fr. Emil Kerketta, SJ, the parish priest of Mamarla, founded a new mission substation, at village unit Keondtarh in the1980s, the Jesuits of Ranchi Province took it over, with the support of the Diocese of Gumla.

Fr. Donatus Soreng, TOR came from a large family. His beloved parents, his father, the late Junas Soreng, and his mother, the late Balamdina Tete, raised five sons and four daughters, including Fr. Donatus Soreng.  With his death, Fr. Soreng joins three of his brothers and one sister that have gone to their eternal abode and leaves his youngest brother and two eldest sisters – one of whom is sister with the Missionaries of Charity.

Fr.Donatus Soreng, TOR completed his early schooling in his own village lower primary school, Bartoli. He then completed his middle school at St. Michael Middle School Mamarla, covering a distance of more than 35 km on foot everyday in all seasons. In rainy season, he had to cross a flooded river close by his village. After graduating from St. Michael Middle School, Mamarla, he chose to become an apostolic boy at St. Ignatius High School, Gumla, run by the Jesuits.

After graduating, Fr. Soreng joined the TORs at the Franciscan Training Institute, Ranchi in 1971.  He did his language studies at St. John’s Seminary administered by the diocese, Bhagalpur.  He then went to Sacred Heart Novitiate Babmahal, Bhagalpur. (1973-74) He completed his novitiate under the able guidance of Fr. Michael Edamanapadavil, TOR.

He made his temporary profession on 31 May 1974 together with his friends at Franciscan Ashram, Bhagalpur into the hands of the late Rev.Fr. Anthony Ramanattu, TOR, the then Minister Provincial. Then, he obtained his BPH. Bed. Degree from St. Albert’s College and completed secular studies from St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi as an external student along with fellow friars.  He spent six months at Gokhla parish, half of it at Kathibari parish as a Regent. He made his final profession on 31 May 1978 at Franciscan Ashram, Bhagalpur into the hands of the late Fr. Conrad Kunnappally, TOR, Minister Provincial. He made his priestly studies at St. Albert’s College, Ranchi (1977-1980) and was ordained a deacon at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ranchi by the late Archbishop Pius Kerketta, SJ of Ranchi Archdiocese. His priestly ordination took place on 29 December 1981 at Immaculate Conception Church, Mamarla, his home parish by the same prelate.

The missionary journey of Fr. Donatus Soreng, TOR began immediately after his priestly ordination. He was assigned to St. Francis High School, Poreyahat as the Assistant Headmaster in 1982. He was placed in charge of the middle school, a feeder school of the higher section. He continued his service until 1986 and then was transferred to Kathibari parish with increased responsibilities, in-charge of the middle school as well as serving as the parish priest. He gave his capable service there until 1997.  In the following year, 1999, he looked after St. Stanislaus High School, Gokhla.  After the high school was closed due to various factors, Fr. Donatus Soreng, TOR assisted at St. Francis School, Bhukumunda in 2000. He returned to Kathibari Middle School in 2001 and remained as a salaried teacher until 2010. After his retirement from the school, he served the faithful of Kanjuwae parish as the parish priest for two consecutive years. Thus, most of his ministerial life was in the service of the Tribal Santals in the underdeveloped district of Godda, in Jharkhand State.

In 2014, the Holy Spirit inspired Fr. Donatus to transfer to the province of St. Francis in Ranchi, Jharkhand, so that he could remain closer to his native land.  The transfer was approved by the Most Rev. Fr. Nicholas Polichnowski, TOR, Minister General, the Very Rev. Fr. John Kochuchira, TOR, Minister Provincial of St. Thomas Province, and Very Rev. Fr. Hilarius Barla, TOR, Minister Provincial of St. Francis Province, Ranchi.

In 2014, when Behrinbasa Sub-Station was handed over to the TORs by His Excellency Vincent Barwa, Bishop of Simdega Diocese and was declared a full-fledged parish, Fr. Donatus Soreng, TOR was installed as the parish priest to take care of the faithful there. He faithfully carried out his mission among the Tribal Catholics until 2018 and simultaneously taught in the school.  Later, he was transferred to Gaurbera parish to work among the Mundas in Khunti Diocese. He found himself accepted by all because of his creative outreach programs and familiarity with the parishioners. He never neglected his priestly ministries.

Fr. Donatus Soreng, TOR, was very well known for his simplicity and alertness in his mission works. He was a man of prayer and open to all the friars. He loved the poor children and educated them in little ways. He was a man of action and left no occasion or opportunity unanswered by offering himself for whichever noble cause and religious function was available. He promoted holy vocations among boys and girls equally for religious life and priesthood. He served the fraternities in different capacities, as the Local Minister, parish priest and School Headmaster until the end of his life.

Towards his final days, in the morning hours, he was busy offering Holy Mass to the parishioners in different villages. He got mild sunstroke and remained a few days in the fraternity. When he needed some medical care, he was taken to St. Anne’s Raja Ulhatu Hospital. Within a couple of days, he was diagnosed with the coronavirus. Contracting a lung infection, he struggled to breath.  When his condition became critical, he was transferred to Samford Hospital, in Ranch, for better care.  Unfortunately, Sister Death awaited him and he breathed his last on 11 May 2021 at 11:50 am, leaving the Friars and his family members.  His body was brought to Bichna Novitiate and buried there by the Friars and a few family members.  We, the Friars, thank the Lord for the gift of Fr. Donatus Soreng, TOR and all his good deeds accomplished for the benefit of the people and for the glory of God. May the Good Lord give him eternal rest and peace in His heavenly abode.