Bhubaneswar—Three dioceses in Kerala, belonging to three different Catholic rites, are all set to observe the “Kandhamal Martyrs’ Day” on August 25.
The program on August 25 at Kozhikode (formerly Calicut) is organized by Calicut Cultural Forum (CCF), a laity organization.
“In one of our recent meetings, it was decided that this year CCF highlight the Kandhamal martyrs,” Shaji Thaddeus, a zonal leader of CCF based in Calicut, told Matters India.
According to him, Latin rite diocese of Calicut will observe the Kandhamal day along with Marthandom, a Syro-Malankara eparchy and Mananthavady of the Syro-Malabar rite.
For last five years, CCF has been organizing Indian Christian Martyrs’ Day. CCF also focused on “Christian Martyrs” around the globe.
More than 2,000 Catholics, including bishops, church leaders, from the three dioceses, are likely to attend the program. “We have distributed leaflets about the event in every parish and institution of those three dioceses in Kerala,” said Thaddeus.
In this connection, CCF has invited Father Probodh Kumar Pradhan and Kartik Nayak, a layman, from Kandhamal district of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar archdiocese, Odisha, eastern India, to share their life experiences of Kandhamal violence of 2007 and 2008 and how they have witnessed and journeyed so far along with others with greater optimism.
Kandhamal, which is central part of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, was the epicenter of 2007 and 2008 anti-Christian violence that forced about 60,000 to flee to the forests after more than 6,000 houses were destroyed by the attackers. More than 100 men and women were killed, and many women, including Catholic nuns, were gang raped,
Before leaving for Kerala, Father Pradhan, told Matters India: “We are going to share our experiences of 2007 and 2008 violence in Kandhamal. I have seen those people affected by the violence were helpless in more than one ways, yet they were people of faith and hope in trying times and amidst bitter experiences that they faced.”
Father Pradhan, parish priest of Mary Mother of God parish at Sukananda in Kandhamal and diocesan director of Pontifical Mission Organization further said he would share with the CCF participants what it means to stand for faith at the time of suffering and impending death.
In the aftermath of Kandhamal violence, the Christian faith of the Kandhamal people has become stronger and they continue to witness their faith in a powerful way, he added.
“I have realized that faith is stronger than even blood relationship. I have experienced how lay people love priests even in adverse situations. Those Kandhamal victims who were in jungles in 2008 violence were ready to provide food for priests, although they did not have it for themselves. We were strangers yet many good Samaritans showed us a way to escape violence and supported us in manifold ways,” Fr Pradhan added.
Nayak, physical education teacher at a church-run Vijaya High School, Raikia, Kandhamal and youth leader, said, “I will share about the suffering of people who bore everything in the light of faith and love for Christ. I can share that our sharing about Kandhamal violence and life after would inspire or touch in some way. We will also request all to pray for Kandhamal.”