Four survivors of the worst anti-Christian violence in modern India were ordained as Capuchin priests on Dec.27.

“God chose you like Moses to be faithful, responsible to lead the people,” Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur, who led the ordination ceremony, told the newly ordained during his homily.

Around 1,500 people, including 47 priests and 20 nuns, attended the ceremony at Mary Matha Parish, Simonbadi, Kandhamal district under Cuttack-Bhubaneswar archdiocese of Odisha State.

The venue of the ordination ceremony was 12 km from Arundaya Capuchin Ashram Minor Seminary at Barokhoma that was attacked twice during the 2007-2008 anti-Christian violence that engulfed the Kandhamal district of Odisha State in eastern India.

“Over a thousand years after Abraham, the Jews were living as slaves in Egypt. Moses led the Jews out of slavery in Egypt and led them to the Holy Land that God had promised them. It was a challenging call for Moses from God,” the prelate reminded Fathers Rahul Bastaray, George Patmajhi, Anand Pradhan and Amar Kumar Singh.

He said the communal violence took away everything from the Christians of Kandhamal except their faith in Jesus Christ “because God preferred to live in us.”

Rhythmic cheering echoed around the streets of Chechema village as hundreds of Naga people, most of them Christians, began pulling a huge rectangular stone.

The traditional stone-pulling ceremony performed by the Angami Naga tribal people in Nagaland in northeast India was the highlight of the Dec. 1-10. Hornbill Festival sponsored by the Christian-majority state.

The function was graced by state Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, a practicing Christian, and federal Tourism Minister K.J. Alphons, a Catholic projected as the Christian face of the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Despite Christians forming 90% of Nagaland’s 2 million people, the BJP gained political prominence and became part of the state government following an election in February, which many say was the result of alarming levels of corruption among the political leadership.

“Nagas were animists worshipping every bit of nature” before Christianity arrived in 1871, said Father John Kavas of Kohima Diocese as the men in their traditional costumes pulled the stone 3.5 kilometres to Chipobozou village in the northern Angami Hills in Kohima district.

“Stones were revered and at times pulled from one corner to the other in the spirit of merrymaking, teamwork and a display of valour.”

Nagas change their political affiliation with as much ease and fun as they pull the stone because “they care not much about political parties. Elections are won or lost by candidates,” said Kouley Angami of Chechema village.

“Apparently many Nagas voted for the BJP [because of money]. We are not taking up political matters, but people do raise these questions,” the priest said.

More than 4,800 Salesian scouts and guides from around the country are scheduled to congregate at Nashik, a holy city in Maharashtra State, for their annual national gathering titled, Boscoree.

Organized by the Mumbai Province of the Salesians of Don Bosco, the 13th Boscoree has chosen the theme, ‘Health, Harmony and Holiness.’

As many as 4,815 people have registered for the five-day mega extravaganza that opens on December 30.

Bishop Lourdes Daniel of Nashik will open the meet in the presence of Shri Ravindra Kumar Singhal, Police Commissioner of Nashik. A total of 141 units from 22 states and two Union territories from the Salesian and FMA institutions belonging to the 12 provinces of India will live in 200 tents spread over 16 sub-camps.

Don Bosco and Kilbil schools along with Divyadaan Salesian College of Philosophy, Salesian Training Institute, Sacred Heart Training Centre and Maria Vihar will host the event.

He further says, “The purpose of scouting is to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.”

Unidentified miscreants have vandalized St Thomas Catholic Church and its grotto in Chapatoli village near Duliajan in Assam.

The incident came to light on the morning of December 15 when villagers were going for their works through the church area. They noticed the church door opened and spotted the statue of Mother Mary dislodged from the grotto.

The miscreants also damaged a crucifix after resorting to vandalism inside the church, Johan Lugun, a local resident said.

As the news spread, thousands of people flocked to the village from nearby areas. Police immediately picked up two suspects from the area for questioning.

Pope Francis has erected a new Syro-Malabar diocese in Canada – Mississauga – and appointed Monsignor Jose Kalluvelil as its first bishop. The inauguration of the diocese and installation of the bishop will be decided later, says a press release from the Syro-Malabar Church headquarters in Kochi, Kerala.