Twenty-eight years ago, a frightened five-year-old boy was found alone at Shoranur railway station. He had no memory of his parents or a family to return to. Today, that same child, Father Vivek Martin, has become a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Jhansi. His life is a powerful story of compassion, education, faith and vocation.

The boy, then known as Annamalai, was found by Jesus Youth member Rexy D’Cruz. The child expressed a simple wish: he wanted to study. Moved by his situation, Rexy and a group of friends took responsibility for his care after completing the necessary legal procedures.

The friends opened their homes to children in difficult circumstances. Vivek spent several years with Patrick and his wife Manu. He studied well and became a school leader in Class 10.

After completing Class 10, Vivek expressed his desire to become a priest and join a seminary. He was initially asked to wait and complete his higher secondary education. After finishing school, he again expressed the same desire, and eventually entered the seminary of the Diocese of Jhansi.

Before entering the seminary, Vivek also served as an ambulance driver and caregiver at Sneha Theeram in Aluva, which works with people affected by HIV. This experience helped him understand suffering, compassion and service more deeply.

Bishop Wilfred Moras ordained him a priest on August 16. On August 24, Father Vivek celebrated his first Holy Mass at Infant Jesus Church, Thundathinkadavu, in the Archdiocese of Verapoly. His journey shows how one act of kindness can change a child’s entire future. The child once alone on a railway platform now stands at the altar, preparing to serve others

The Allahabad High Court has ruled that wearing the hijab is not an “essential religious practice” of Islam and upheld a school’s decision to enforce its dress code. The judgment came while hearing a petition filed by a Muslim student challenging restrictions on wearing the hijab at a private school in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

The student argued that wearing the hijab was connected to her religious faith and that the school should allow her to wear it. The school, however, maintained that its uniform policy applied equally to all students and that religious clothing could not be permitted when it conflicted with the prescribed dress code.

The court examined whether wearing the hijab was an essential part of Islamic religious practice and concluded that it did not meet that legal standard. The ruling therefore allowed the school to continue enforcing its uniform requirements.

The decision comes against the background of continuing debates in India about religious freedom, educational institutions and dress codes. Questions concerning religious clothing have attracted considerable public attention, particularly in schools and colleges.

The court’s ruling does not mean that wearing the hijab is prohibited throughout India. Rather, the judgment concerns the particular school dress-code dispute and the legal question of whether the practice is constitutionally protected as an essential religious practice in that context.

The case has again raised questions about how courts should balance individual religious expression with institutional rules. Supporters of the judgment stress the importance of common school uniforms, while critics argue that students should have greater freedom to express their religious identity. The ruling is likely to remain part of the wider national discussion on religious freedom and educational regulations.

A unique initiative led by Catholic Carmelite nuns is helping taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers in Kerala receive financial, emotional and social support. The initiative, known as Sarathi Helpline for Drivers, brings together drivers from different religious communities.

The program began in 2016 in Thiruvambady, Kozhikode district. It was started after a nun noticed the important but often overlooked role played by taxi drivers in society. Drivers frequently work long hours, earn irregular incomes and have limited social security.

One driver, Sudheesh V. Sreeram, experienced this difficulty when he became seriously ill after working as a driver for 25 years. Doctors advised him to undergo a pacemaker implantation, but he had no savings to meet the medical expenses. Members of Sarathi visited his home and helped him through an interest-free loan.

Today, Sarathi has more than 100 members in eight units in Kozhikode and Malappuram. The organization also has units in other parts of India. It encourages drivers to save money, support one another and live responsibly.

Members meet regularly, contribute small amounts to a common fund and help one another during emergencies. The program also provides counseling, awareness classes, family gatherings and other activities.

The initiative does not distinguish between Christians, Hindus and Muslims. Its main goal is the welfare of drivers and their families.

The nuns also encourage drivers to become more responsible citizens by participating in activities such as cleaning public spaces, visiting palliative-care centers and planting trees. For many members, the greatest benefit is not financial assistance but the feeling that someone will stand with them during difficult times

India’s education system is facing serious challenges, with a large number of government and government-aided schools reportedly closing in recent years. The issue has raised concerns about access to education, school infrastructure and the future of millions of children.

According to figures discussed in a recent report, around 84,000 government or government-aided schools have closed since 2018-19. This means an average of about 12,000 schools every year. Around 15 million students have reportedly left these schools during the same period.

Several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, have experienced significant declines. At the same time, states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Punjab and Gujarat have performed comparatively better in retaining students in government schools.

The condition of school buildings is another major concern. In Rajasthan, government data reportedly showed that hundreds of schools did not have their own buildings, while thousands lacked toilets or proper drinking-water facilities.

The condition became particularly serious after seven schoolchildren died in a building collapse in Jhalawar district. Following the tragedy, the Rajasthan High Court took suo motu notice of the condition of government school buildings. A state survey reportedly identified thousands of damaged school buildings and toilets.

The situation highlights the need for greater attention to public education. Schools require safe buildings, clean toilets, drinking water, adequate teachers and proper learning facilities. Education is not simply a government service. It is an investment in children and in the future of the country. The present situation calls for stronger public attention and urgent action to ensure that every child receives safe and quality education

Catholic dioceses in Bengal and Sikkim are planning to establish Migrant Resource Centers to support migrant workers across the region. The decision was taken during a two-day regional workshop held in Burdwan on August 24 and 25.

Around 50 participants from eight dioceses attended the workshop. They included priests, religious sisters, lay people and representatives of Church-based social organizations. The meeting focused on the theme of walking together with migrants and finding practical ways to protect their rights and dignity.

The proposed centers will help migrants understand their legal rights, access government welfare schemes and receive assistance during emergencies. Participants also discussed the problems faced by workers who leave their homes in search of employment in other parts of India.

The workshop highlighted the importance of awareness about labour laws, wages, working conditions and social security. Participants were also encouraged to help migrant workers register on the e-Shram portal of the Government of India.

The Church also plans to improve cooperation between dioceses. Migrants moving to a new place could receive a contact number of the local diocese so that they can seek help when facing difficulties.

The initiative is being supported by the CCBI Commission for Migrants. Bishop Paul Simmick of Bagdogra encouraged dioceses to establish resource centers and strengthen pastoral care for migrants and their families. The initiative follows the approach promoted by Pope Francis: welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants. The Church hopes that cooperation among dioceses, religious congregations, parishes and social organizations will make migrant workers feel safer and more supported wherever they live and work.

The Syro-Malabar Church has elected Father Thomas Animoottil as the new auxiliary bishop of the Archeparchy of Kottayam. The election was made by the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church with the prior assent of Pope Leo XIV. His appointment was officially announced on August 27, 2026.

Bishop-elect Thomas Animoottil is 64 years old and was born on January 13, 1962, in Payyavoor, Kerala. He completed his early education in Kerala and later pursued higher studies in Mysore. He entered St. Stanislaus Minor Seminary in Kottayam and continued his philosophical and theological studies at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Mangalore.

He was ordained a priest on April 13, 1989. Later, he obtained a licentiate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome in 1993.

During his priestly ministry, Father Animoottil served in several important pastoral and administrative positions. He worked as parish priest of Pulinjal and also served as secretary to the eparchial bishop, eparchial chancellor, pastoral council secretary and vicar forane. Between 2003 and 2008, he carried out pastoral ministry in the United States.

Since 2025, he has been serving as pro-protosyncellus of the Archeparchy of Kottayam.

His election is expected to strengthen the pastoral and administrative ministry of the Archeparchy. The faithful of Kottayam and the wider Syro-Malabar community are now looking forward to his episcopal ministry and leadership.