By Anto Akkara Kandhamal, an obscure jungle district in Odisha –one of the least developed among 766 districts in India– is now known all over the world. The credit goes to the poor but valiant Christians who embraced martyrdom like the ‘Early Christians’ when they were threatened with death toContinue Reading
By Matters India Reporter New Delhi, Nov 3, 2023: Friends and associates of Sister Seli Thomas have congratulated her for winning the inaugural Sisters Anti-Trafficking Awards (SATA). “On behalf of the national Conference of Religious India we congratulate Sister Seli Thomas,” says Apostolic Carmel Sister M Nirmalini, head of India’sContinue Reading
By Astrid Lobo Gajiwala Mumbai, Nov 2, 2023: A sign of hope for women is that for the first time in the “his-story” of the Catholic Church all the 54 women present at the synod were permitted to vote on the final document. Another is the separate section devoted toContinue Reading
By Matters India Reporter Kochi, Oct 29, 2023: The Syro-Malabar Church has expressed shock and pain at a series of explosions during a prayer meeting of Jehovah’s meeting that on October 29 killed two and wounded more than 50 people in the southern Indian state of Kerala. This incident “isContinue Reading
By Purushottam Nayak and Dibakar Paricha Sankarakhole, Oct 28, 2028: Kantheswar Digal, who tops the list of the 35 Kandhamal martyrs on the road to beatification, fearlessly witnessed his Catholic faith in the face of anti-Christian violence, brutal persecution and death in Kandhamal. His life serves as a beacon ofContinue Reading
By Matters India Reporter Gumla, Oct 28, 2023: The diocese of Gumla in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand is grieving the mysterious death of one of its priests. The body of Father Rajat Ekka, parish priest of Chainpur, was found October 27 morning in a well inside the parishContinue Reading
By Jose Kavi New Delhi, Oct 25, 2023: The Vatican approval to the beatification process for the Kandhamal martyrs has brought great joy to Christians across India. “Feeling gratitude to Living God, the God of the suffering. Tears roll down,” Sister Meena Barwa, a survivor of the 2008 anti-Christian violenceContinue Reading
By Purushottam Nayak Bhubaneswar, Oct 25, 2023: The Vatican has given a go-ahead to start the beatification process for 35 people who were martyred for their faith during the 2008 anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal in eastern India. A message from Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli to Archbishop John Barwa ofContinue Reading
By Matters India Reporter Kochi, Oct 25, 2023: The Vatican Dicastery for Church Unity has appointed Jesuit Father Jijimon Puthuveettilkalam as a member of the International Theological Commission for Church Unity Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Church. The appointment of the member of the Kerala JesuitContinue Reading
By Matters India Reporter Panaji, Oct 24, 2023: Taking a cue from Pope Francis, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, archbishop of Goa and Daman, has invited the priests, Religious and lay people in the western Indian archdiocese to observe October 27 as a day of prayer, penance and fasting for peace.Continue Reading
