Sathyadeepam Weekly – Page 26

Diocese ‘hires’ AI fundraising staffer inpilot program Meet ‘Maria’

Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Bridgeport has introduced an innovative pilot program featuring an AI Virtual Engagement Officer named “Maria” to explore how artificial intelligence can support deeper connections and accompaniment within the Church. Describing the digital world as a vital “mission field,” the Bishop emphasizes that technology, when applied with wisdom, serves as a […]

Indonesia’s religious freedom: survey draws criticism

A recent nationwide survey claiming a whopping 97 percent of respondents believe they enjoy freedom to practice their faith has raised eyebrows in Indonesia, with critics saying the findings are far removed from reality. Lingkaran Survei Indonesia, a survey and political consultancy institution, released the results of its “Public Evaluation and Commitment to Pancasila” survey […]

Filipinos honour miraculous Lady of Manaoagat centuries-old shrine

The devotion to Our Lady of Manaoag, spanning over four centuries, represents one of the most profound spiritual and cultural legacies in the Philippines, Asia’s largest Catholic-majority nation. Rooted in a 1610 apparition where a humble farmer reportedly heard a heavenly “call” to build a sanctuary on a hilltop, the event defined the town’s identity […]

Technology makes Theology teaching deeply human

The mystery of the Incarnation, where the eternal Word enters human vulnerability, serves as a foundational reminder that God bridges the infinite gap to humanity through tangible presence and relationships. In our tech-saturated era, the central mission is to explore how artificial intelligence can enhance this teaching without eroding its deeply human core. Far from […]

Catholic Maritime Ministries urge Prayer for Seafarers Stranded at Hormuz

Stella Maris, the Catholic maritime apostolate, is calling for urgent prayer and advocacy for approximately 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the U.S. and Iran conflict. As the Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded, these innocent workers face extreme mental fatigue and physical danger. Under the guidance of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting […]

Kerala High Court: Adult Woman’s Choice to Join Religious Order Cannot Be Challenged by Parents

Kerala High Court has ruled that parents cannot challenge an adult woman’s decision to join a religious congregation simply because they disagree with it. The judgment was delivered on April 27 by a Division Bench of Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Jobin Sebastian in Ernakulam. The court dismissed a petition filed by three parents […]

Kerala Fish Workers Forum Demands Urgent Policy Changes to Protect Livelihoods

The Kerala Fish Workers Forum has urged the govern-ment to take immediate action to protect the livelihoods of fish workers across the state. The demand was raised during the forum’s State Annual Conference held in Kollam on April 25, 2026. Leaders expressed serious concern over growing econo-mic problems affecting both coastal and inland fishing communities. […]

Church Leader Urges Simple Feasts and Help for the Poor in Kerala

Baselios Marthoma Mathews III has called on people in Kerala to avoid costly and extravagant Church feasts and instead use that money to support the poor. The head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church made this appeal after a tragic firecracker factory blast in Thrissur on April 21, which killed 14 people and injured around […]

Pope Leo calls Uruguay “a Country of Young People Who have Faith”

Mortal remains of prominent Church leaders Return to Timor-Leste