Carmelite of Mary Immaculate Father Mathew Chandrankunnel heads Ecumenical Christian Centre (ECC), a Protestant-initiated institute in Bengaluru, capital of Karnataka State.

The centre was set up in 1963 by the late Reverend M. A. Thomas of the Mar Thoma Church to promote “unity among all humankind and creation.” ECC’s key focus is to empower people of various faith communities to lead a harmonious life with dignity.

Matters India Special Correspondent in Manila, Santosh Digal, conducted an email interview with Father Chandrankunnel about ECC programs and his experiences of interdenominational and interreligious work.

“In the monastery, I saw a painting of Jesus praying in the Gethsemane placed at a prominent place in their temple. Interacting with the Swamis enlightened me to look for the Divine beyond all religious traditions. I became a professor at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram after my studies abroad. I was asked to be in charge of the Centre for the Study of World religions, a post that helped me associate closely with the Indian religious traditions. It has pebbles collected from Haridwar, Himalayas, with Buddhist mandala, the five kosha’s of Indian philosophy, and three ponds with a broad fountain represents body, mind and soul as a continuum as well as Living Water’s Fountain.

Assurance from their bishop on November 2 prompted some Catholics to call of their protest demanding a probe into the alleged suicide of a priest.

Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo of Udupi has promised to meet the protesters at 10 am on November 3 in their Our Lady of Health Church in Shirva, some 20 km south of the diocesan headquarters.

The parishioners launched the protests suspecting foul play in Father Mahesh D’Souza’s death.

The 36-year-old was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his room in Shirva on October 12.

Sunil Kabral, a leader of the protesters, said local parish priest Father Dennis D’Souza and police officers have requested them to meet the bishop in the parish on November 3. “So, we have dispersed from the church premises,” he told reporters.

Hasina Kharbhih, founder of a global program that tries to check human trafficking and exploitation worldwide, has received this years Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice.
Meghalaya – born Kharbhih received the award on November 3 at the Harmony International Conference in Mumbai.

The award given by the Harmony Foundation recognizes selfless and intrepid individuals and organizations who have channelized their energies and creativities towards social justice, peace and harmony.

Kharbhih has been working to provide sustainable livelihood in a safe environment for women and children for more than 30 year. She is the founder and managing director of Impulse Social Enterprises and founder chair of Board of Impulse NGO network.

In a letter to Kharbhih, the foundation said it acknowledged her relentless and passion-ate work and ongoing efforts to free the world from modern day slavery practices.

It saluted her for partnering with government and civil society groups to rehabilitate 72,442 survivors of human trafficking in northeastern India, Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Her success has earned her worldwide recognition reminiscent of the Emancipation Proclamation and 40 acres and a mule issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 and 1865, the foundations letter noted.

The reintegration program of the survivors into mainstream society by empowering them to live with dignity and equipping them with traditional skills for sustainable livelihood is highly commendable, the foundation stated.