My exposure to Odisha’s martyr priest

By Sujata Jena

Bhubaneswar: It was around 2 am on September 2 when I reached Christ the King Cathedral in Odisha’s Balasore town. Father Jadu Marandi, the cathedral parish priest, informed me about a memorial Mass for Father Arul Doss at 6:30 am.

That was one of the exciting events of my visit. Although tired after a long unexpected delayed train ride, I made sure not to oversleep and miss the Mass.

As many as 25 priests, religious and a couple of laypersons attended the Mass officiated by Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar.

“On behalf of the Catholic Church in Odisha, Father Arul gave his life just as the 105 Christians in Kandhamal martyrs during the 2008 communal violence. We need to pray unceasingly and keep our faith alive to respond to the call of God at any time,” the archbishop said..

On my way to Hatigarh parish, Father Marandi explained that the Father Doss was the priest of the Sarat Catholic church in Mayurbhanj district.

The 35-year-old native of Tamil Nadu arrived at Jamabanarii, about 130 km from Balasore on September 1, 1999, for Mass followed by celebrations of Ho tribes’ festival.

They were attacked by a group of some 16 people, armed with latis, bows, and arrows them, as the Catholics were finishing a prayer meeting. As the Catholics, including Father Doss, tried to escape, the attackers reportedly pierced his body with arrows. They set fire to the local church before leaving.

Father Doss had led a simple life. He used to be with the poor all time, educating them about their rights so that they could lead better lives. As a young seminarian, I was inspired by his living witness to Christ, Father Marandi said.

St Anne’s Sister Prema Thomas, one of the participants of the memorial Mass, said Father Doss is a saint for her. “He was ready to witness his faith radically. His simplicity has inspired me.”

Father Isaac Puthenangady, the administrator of Balasore diocese, said Father Doss :is still alive for the Christians of the 21st century. Every year more and more devotees gather to pay homage to him.”

For many devotees, Father Puthenangady added, Father Doss reminded Jesus Christ who was pierced by the soldiers. Father Doss’s “horrible death urges us on to the renewed mission. We are waiting for a bishop to be installed in our diocese so the preliminary process for his martyrdom can be started; he added.

The hate campaign against Christians in Odisha continues outrightly. The attack on Christians in Kandhamal in 2007-2008 was the largest communal massacre in the history of modern India.

According to Shibu Thomas, the founder of the Persecution Relief organization, over 32 serious cases of persecution were reported from Odisha in 2020.

I undertook my visit to Balasore as part of a campaign of the Excellent IAS Academy, an initiative of Odisha Catholic Bishops’ Council to prepare Dalit and Tribal students to crack the Civil Service Examination.

The visit also gave me a depth of knowledge and appreciation of the priest and religious of Odisha and their wonderful ministry among the many less fortunate people.