By Santosh Digal
Raikia: The Church in Odisha state in eastern India rejoiced after it ordained two priests from its troubled Kandhamal region on December 12.
Vincentian Bishop Aplinar Senapati of Rayagada ordained Fathers Balabanth Ranasingh and Munib Pradhan, both hailing from Kandhamal, the epicenter of 2008 anti-Christian persecution.
More than 3,000 people attended the ordination ceremonies at Our Lady of Charity Parish, Raikia, about 250 km west of Bhubaneswar, the state capital. The newly ordained are members of the North Indian Province of the Congregation of the Mission, also known as Vincentians.
“Kandhamal has been blessed by the Lord. Although a backward district it relies on God and the results are the rich religious and priestly vocations from there,” says Father Augustine Singh, psychologist and counselor of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar.
The elderly priest, who also hails from Kandhamal, told the gathering to pray for the new priests because saying “yes” to priestly life is a challenge in modern world.
Fr Singh also said the priests draw strength from people who love and trust in them.
He also noted willingness among Catholic parents of Kandhamal to contribute to the growth of the Church by offering their children for God’s works.
In his homily, Bishop Senapati said priesthood is not a job, but a vocation to serve people for God’s greater glory. It entails service. All the more for a Vincentian priest, it means nothing else but love and service, the prelate added.
Fr Pradhan hails from Raika town, which was one the most affected areas of 2008, and Ranasingh comes from Sacred Heart Parish, Kattingia.