By Matters India Reporter

Imphal, March 27, 2024: The Catholic Church is observing the Holy Week with churches packed with refugees in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur where ethnic violence has raged for 11 months.

Father Varghese Velickakam, vicar-general of Imphal archdiocese that covers the entire state, said they had Palm Sunday services on March 24 “ practically in every parish center.”

“Even in parishes with a large number of refugees the churches were packed for Psalm Sunday liturgical services,” the priest told Matters India March 26, when the Church conducted Chrism Mass, another ritual in the week commemorating Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.

The violence between Manipur’s largely Hindu Meitei majority and the predominantly Christian Kuki-Zo minority communities began on May 3, 2024. It has so far claimed nearly 200 lives and rendered thousands homeless. Hundreds have taken refuge in Don Bosco Parish in Churachandpur town and in St. Mary’s Parish at Tuibong in Churachandpur district.

“The situation is slowly settling down. The refugees are already in the separated area. We are trying to rehabilitate them. Construction is going on. Support is coming from different parts of the country and from their own community,” explained Father Velikakkam, the convener of the relief and rehabilitation committee.

In the packed Imphal Cathedral, new Archbishop Linus Neli was the main celebrant.

St. John Bosco Parish in Senapati, Holy Rosary parish in Purul, Senapati and in Tulgong had similar observation of the week commemorating Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.

During the Chrism Mass, Archbishop Neli stressed the need for personal holiness, priestly commitment, concern, bonding, fellowship and respect for religious coworkers and mutual support.

During that priesthood day celebration, more than 130 priests present renewed their vows and blessed the holy oils.

The Manipur Catholic Youth Organization congratulated and thanked the archbishops and the priests on behalf of the laity.

A report from Archbishop Neli’s predecessor Archbishop Dominic Lumon on June 15, 2023, said the violence claimed 150 people until then.

More than 200 Kuki villages with one or more churches were attacked. “About 249 churches belonging to the Meitei Christians have been destroyed. All these destructions took place with precision within 36 hours of the start of violence,” Archbishop Lumon’s report said.