By Purushottam Nayak
Gopalpur-On-Sea, Dec 29, 2025: The torching alive of an Australian missionary and his two minor sons was recalled when the Catholic Church in Odisha closed its Jubilee celebrations by ordaining four Vincentian priests.
Two of the new priests were born in 1999, the year Graham Staines and his sons, Philip and Timothy, were burned alive at a jungle camp in Manoharpur, on the border of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar tribal villages.
“The tragic incident shocked the world and highlighted the risks Christian missionaries faced in India,” said Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur in his homily during the Mass on December 29 at Gopalpur-On-Sea, Ganjam.
More than 2,000 people attended the ceremonies. Around 100 priests assisted Bishop Nayak.
The new priests are Fathers Malaya Ranjan Nayak, Rohan Kumar Nayak, Raju Rimis Lakda and Atul Mallick, members of the Congregation of the Mission.
The first two were born in the year Australian Evangelist missionary was killed by Hindu radicals.
“The same threat is clearly visible even now as anti-Christian elements disrupt Christmas celebrations and prayer services. But we still get priests who brave the challenges to work in the vineyard of Kingdom of God,” Bishop Nayak said.
Bishop Sarat also recalled 1999 brought a super cyclone that killed more than 10,000 people, rendered thousands homeless, destroyed infrastructure and home in Odisha’s coastal districts.
The calamity led to massive economic damage and long-term health issues like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“God still calls young men to priesthood which represents hope, renewal, and rebuilding of lives,” the bishop said.
He pointed out that the Jubilee theme too was “Pilgrims of hope” that invited Christians to move forward despite the challenges in the Indian context.