London, June 30, 2022: A special Mass and Vigil will take place in London on July 5 to mark the first death anniversary of Jesuit Father Stan Swamy.
Mass will be celebrated at 1:05 pm in Farm Street Church, Mayfair, by Jesuit Father Dominic Robinson. It will be followed by a Solidarity Walk at 1:35 pm from Farm Street to the Indian High Commission.
Those taking part are invited to bring banners, posters, or any symbol of solidarity with the causes championed by Father Swamy. At 2.15 pm a Prayer Vigil outside the Indian High Commission will be led by Jesuit Father Jovito D’Souza.
Father Stan, as he was popularly called, dedicated his life to marginalized people in India, especially tribal people in eastern India. He fought hard for the land rights of Adivasi and Dalit communities against multinational companies and mining businesses.
He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency of India on unproved charges about his advocacy work being linked to Maoist terrorism.
Following his arrest, a worldwide campaign was launched appealing for his release.
A long-term sufferer of Parkinson’s disease, his incarceration in a crowded prison since October 9, 2020, wrosened his condition. After seven months, the health of the 84 year-old priest had deteriorated and he was admitted to Holy Family Hospital in Mumbai in late May by the Bombay High Court.
His condition became critical after he tested positive for Covid-19. Father Stan died on July 5, 2021.
Source: https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45003