From The States

Odisha Church’s largest holistic laity centre opened

The diocese of Berhampur in Odisha has opened the largest holistic laity centre in the eastern Indian state. Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur inaugurated the “Anugraha Peetho”(centre of grace) on December 27 at Mohana in the Gajapati district. In his address at the inaugural function, Bishop Nayak thanked the Almighty for fulfilling a “long-awaited […]

Worsening situation in Papua sparks church tensions

Intending to visit activists arrested for treason, Fr Pius Cornelius Manu, a priest in Papua’s Merauke Archdiocese, was shouted at by police, in-terrogated and had his bag searched. “I was shocked because I had often visited, arrested activists. Previously, I was not treated that way because many policemen knew me,” said the priest, talking about […]

India’s minorities ‘face increasing intolerance’

India has become increasingly intolerant towards religious minorities, especially the Muslim community, according to a new report. The South Asia State of Minorities Report 2020 noted that the general public has come under attack from federal and state governments for criticizing the administration and institutions. The report looks at the status of access to personal liberties, […]

Fr Laborde: Inspiration behind “City of Joy” dies

Father Francois Laborde, a French Jesuit who spent decades among the poor of Kolkata, was buried on December 28 in a parish in the capital city of West Bengal. Fr Laborde was considered the inspira-tion behind French author Dominique Lapierre’s “City of Joy,” a novel on the slums of Calcutta (now Kolkata). He died of […]

Archaeological Survey begins restoration of Xavier casket

The Archaeological Survey of India has begun the restore the four-century old silver casket that houses the relics of Saint Francis Xavier at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa. The casket, which was last tended to in 1698, has been braving the elements within the basilica, which is part of the UNESCO declared […]

Mamata attends Christmas services at Kolkata Church

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee greeted the people on Christmas after attending services at a church in the city. Banerjee attended Christmas services at the Cathedral of The Most Holy Rosary in Kolkata and interacted with the people. “The beauty of Bengal is that we celebrate all festivals, spreading peace, joy, and happiness. Christmas […]

Spread Christmas joy with utmost caution : Bombay archdiocese

With Christmas just over a week away, Arch-bishop of Bombay Cardinal Oswald Gracias on Dece-mber 15 sounded a note of caution, asking churches and parishioners to follow the guidelines in place in view of the pandemic. Issuing a slew of guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for churches across the diocese for Christmas, Cardinal Gracias […]

Indian priest found with throat cut

A senior Catholic priest found on a railway track with his throat cut in Andhra Pradesh State in southern India was buried in his home parish on Dec. 12 even as mystery shrouds his death. The body of 62-year-old Father Santosh Chepathini, priest of Chinta-kani Parish in Khammam Diocese in Telangana State in southern India, […]

Indian bishops slam terror attack on tourists in India’s Kashmir

No action taken against police who assaulted Catholic priests in India