Pope Leo XIV on November 26 appointed Carmelite Father Joshy Potteckal as the auxiliary bishop of Mainz, Germany. The announcement was made simultaneously in the Vatican and in Mainz. The 48-year-old bishop-elect is a member of the Order of Carmelites, a mendicant order. He is currently the regional superior of the Carmelites and representative for the clergy of the diocese of Mainz. He was introduced by Bishop Peter Kohlgraf at a press conference at the Mainz bishop’s residence.

The episcopal consecration is scheduled for March 15, 2026 in Mainz Cathedral. As auxiliary bishop, Father Joshy will serve as episcopal vicar for religious orders and continue his work in the personnel department until a successor is appointed.

He was born on April 30, 1977, at Meenkunnam, a village in Kerala’s Ernakulam district. He was ordained a Carmelite priest on December 28, 2003, in Thrissur. He served as a chaplain in 2005 and teacher of religion at the Martinus-Schule in Mainz. He was the head of youth pastoral care for the deanery of Mainz for three years until 2008.

During 2006-2008, he also served as the parish vicar of St. Alban, St. Jakobus and Hl. Kreuz in Mainz-Hechtsheim. He was parish priest of Hirschhorn and Neckarsteinach in 2009. He served as the vice dean of Bergstrasse-Ost in 2021. The following year, he was the staff representative at the Episcopal Curia. Within the Carmelite Order, he has served as regional superior for members of the Province of Saint Thomas resident in Germany (since 2016) and prefect for formation in the Episcopal Seminary since 2024, according to Vatican News.

A new multi-lingual animation film titled MOM – Manna of the Manger will be released this Christmas in Hindi, English, and Malayalam, offering audiences a fresh and imaginative reflection on who Jesus is, what he represents as the “Bread of Life”, when and where the story unfolds, why Bethlehem is significant, and how the narrative invites viewers to contemplate divine purpose. The film explores the profound symbolism behind the name Bethlehem, meaning “House of Bread”. Jesus multiplied bread for the crowds, proclaimed himself the Bread of Life at the Last Supper, and — in what the creators suggest may be a moment of divine intent — was born in the House of Bread.

This stable becomes a sacred setting where children shape clay suns, moons, stars, and bread. Jesus joins in their play, delighting in creation. When the children ask him, “Can you turn our clay manna into real bread?”, the moment echoes the temptation in the desert: “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” The narrative invites viewers to ponder the choice before him — will the Bread of Life perform such a miracle in the House of Bread? With a concept that creatively bridges scripture and imagination, the film seeks to engage viewers of all ages through the expressive medium of animation.

MOM – Manna of the Manger is an initiative of Father Anand of Atmadarshan, Indore, and is produced by the St Peter Claver Sisters. The film is written and directed by Rajesh K Abraham, a filmmaker from Kerala, who spent months studying theology and scripture to craft this unique storyline. The release is expected to add a meaningful cinematic experience to the festive season, inviting families to encounter the Christmas story through a new lens.

On a tense May morning, villagers in Samba — a small hamlet along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan — woke up to the sound of fighter jets, mortar fire and heavy shelling. As thousands fled to safer areas, three Catholic nuns at St. Joseph Community Hospital made a brave decision: they stayed back to care for the sick and injured. St. Joseph Community Hospital, run by the Jammu-Srinagar Diocese, is the only charitable hospital for the poor in the region. The building is old and resources are limited, but for local villagers it is a lifeline. Sr. Annie Manickathan, the senior nun, said, “If we leave, who will be with them? God sent us here.” She has served in different mission areas for decades and believes this work is her calling.

The hospital has six departments and survives through “simple living and strong faith.” Many patients are migrants, widows and daily-wage workers. “Some don’t even have five rupees,” Sr. Annie said. “For them we give medicines free.” Sr. Lilly Thomas, who joined soon after the war, came from New Delhi’s Holy Family Hospital. Though her family feared for her safety, she said she felt called to serve in this border district. Sr. Anita Minj has been in Samba for eight years and earlier worked with local youth through skill development programs. During the four-day conflict in May, the nuns treated people injured in shelling, cared for mothers and children, and kept the hospital open even when power lines were damaged and bombs fell nearby. Many nights they stayed awake praying for safety.

In mostly-Hindu Samba, the sisters say they share God’s love not through words but through service. Villagers — Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs — come to them simply as “sisters.” For the people of this border village, their courage and compassion have become a sign of hope.

India’s Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of a Christian army officer who was dismissed for refusing to take part in a regimental religious ceremony at a Sikh temple. The court called his behaviour “gross indiscipline.” On Nov. 25, the top court upheld a Delhi High Court ruling that confirmed the dismissal of Samuel Kamalesan, a Protestant officer who declined to enter the inner prayer area of a gurdwara during a weekly parade. The High Court had said he placed his religious beliefs above a lawful military order. Chief Justice Surya Kant questioned the officer’s conduct, saying such behaviour was unacceptable in the armed forces. The bench, also including Justice Joymalya Bagchi, refused to overturn the earlier judgment.

Kamalesan had joined the army as a lieutenant and served as a troop leader in a Sikh-majority squadron. In March 2021, four years after joining, he was dismissed without pension or service benefits. As a troop leader, he was expected to lead his unit into the gurdwara’s sanctum sanctorum during weekly prayers. He refused, saying his Christian faith did not permit him to take part in rituals of another religion. His lawyer argued that it was only a single incident and requested his reinstatement. He also said the officer regularly attended multi-faith prayer spaces common in army stations. However, this regiment had only a gurdwara and a Hindu temple. A Catholic lawyer commented that faith and military discipline are separate issues, and no one should be forced to take part in a religious ritual they do not believe in. He also questioned why a secular army requires participation in religious ceremonies. Regimental religious parades have been part of army tradition for many years.

Extending its greetings to all citizens on the occasion of Constitution Day, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) encouraged every section of the population to uphold the foundational principles of Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. These values are essential for the well-being of the democratic Republic and call for renewed commitment and careful preservation, the statement said. The CBCI stated that the Indian Constitution, as envisioned by its framers, stands as a beacon of justice, equality, and fraternity. It noted that the Constitution reflects the shared aspirations of a diverse and pluralistic society, ensuring that every citizen enjoys dignity, rights, and opportunities irrespective of religion, caste, or creed.

Constitutional guarantees provided to all sections of society, including religious minorities and other socially vulnerable groups, should be valued and effectively implemented, the CBCI emphasized. The CBCI affirmed that a credible electoral process is at the heart of any democracy. It noted that concerns raised by different sections of the population regarding electoral processes should be addressed. The CBCI called upon the government to take necessary steps to ensure the independence, functional neutrality, and efficacy of democratic institutions. Reaffirming its commitment to uphold the spirit of the Constitution, the CBCI stated that it would continue working for the upliftment of the marginalized, fostering interfaith dialogue, and contributing to the nation’s progress. The CBCI encouraged all citizens to rededicate themselves to the ideals of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. It called for collective efforts to build a more inclusive, compassionate, and progressive India under the guidance of the Constitution.