A top Vatican official, currently visiting India, has exhorted the Eastern rite Syro-Malankara Catholics to emu-late the example of Venerable Archbishop Mar Ivanios, who is known as “tireless apostle for unity.”
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, said Venerable Mar Ivanios, who established the Eastern rite Church in 1930, “made immense sacrifices” for Christian unity.
At the July 15th Mass commemorating the 72nd death anniversary of Venerable Ivanios in the Church’s base in Kerala state, Gallagher asked Catholics to emulate the vene-rable one who sought “holiness in everyday life, and to serve others selflessly.”

Church leaders have cautiously welcomed a pro-posed law prescribing harsh punishment for acts of sacri-lege against holy scriptures in the predominantly-Sikh state of Punjab in northern India. The Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025, a first of its kind in the country, was tabled in the state legislative assembly on July 14 after being cleared in a meeting of the council of ministers chaired by Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann. The bill prescribes “a minimum of 10 years’ imprison-ment, extendable to life im-prisonment” for acts of sacrilege against any holy scripture, which are on the rise in the state, particularly against the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, local media reports said. “The proposed bill has come at the right time, as several cases involving sacrilege of religious scriptures were reported lately,” said Father Daniel Gill, vicar-general of Jalandhar diocese. He hoped the bill would soon pass in the state assembly and help the govt to keep a check on incidents of sacrilege.

Several thousand Christians marched on the streets and blocked highways in the eastern Indian state of Odisha to demand justice and protection from increasing attacks against them by Hindu mobs.
Protest rallies, attended by 1,000 to 5,000 Christians, were held in 20 out of 30 district centres in the state on July 1, according to Aravind Kachhap, an orga-nizer and president of the Rashtriya Christian Morcha or National Christian Front. Some 300 people walked through the state’s capital, Bhubaneswar, and blocked a road, said Jugal Ranjit, a Christian leader, who attended the rally. “It was the first time Christians had rallied in such huge numbers and blocked a road in the capital city,” he said. “Normal life was disrupted in many cities and towns, sending a clear message that Christians will not tolerate any more attacks,” said Father Ajay Singh, a social activist from the Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar archdiocese.
Christian leaders at the rallies demand-ed an end to Hindu groups’ oppression, discrimination, and violence against Christians, who belong to indigenous and Dalit (formerly untouchable) communities.

After the resounding success of Jubilate Jesus, Volume 1–launched on New Year’s Day 2025 with vivacious Jubilee Anthem–Tej-Prasarini, Don Bosco Communications, officially released Volume 2 in honour of the 2025 Jubilee of Jesus’ birth, on July 3.
The event held in the auditorium of Don Bosco High School, Matunga was graced by chief guest, Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Savio Fernandes of Mumbai, the Provincial of the Mumbai Province Fr. Savio Silveira and several other dignitaries.
The album opens with Tej-Pra-sarani anthem, You Are the Light of the World, this new volume encapsu-lates the very identity and mission of Tej-Prasarini– “Tej” meaning light, and “Prasarini” meaning to radiate. Staying true to its name, the produ-ction centre continues to spread the Light of Christ through music and media, inviting people of faith and goodwill to walk in His footsteps.
The dual-volume initiative, released within the same Jubilee year, springs from a deep pastoral desire: to keep Jesus at the heart of every thought, word, action, and relationship throughout this spiritual milestone. “These songs are more than melodies–they are medita-tions,” said Director of Tej-Prasarini Salesian Fr. Joyston Machado. “Each track is crafted to help listeners encounter Jesus in a deeply personal and joyful way.”

Rajagiri College of Social Scien-ces (Autonomous), managed by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate congregation in Kerala’s Kochi, has ranked second among 25 best social work institutes in India. The top rank in the list of “India Today Best Colleges 2025” has gone to Mumbai’s Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
The list was published on July 11 to help aspiring social workers to choose the right college for a Master of Social Work course. As many as 11 among the 25 colleges are under Christian management.
“These colleges typically invest in experienced faculty, well-equipped classrooms, and partnerships with NGOs and government bodies to offer practical exposure. Factors such as hands-on training, faculty background, internship opportunities, and campus support services are important when identifying the top private MSW colleges in India,” said the introduction to the list.

Christian leaders have expressed concerns over curbs on religious freedom after the government in India’s second-most populous Maharashtra state announced plans to enact a law to tackle alleged conversions. The reactions came after the state’s Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told the state legislature on July 9 about the plan for introducing a stringent anti-conversion law.
“A strict law to prevent religious conversions will be enacted in the state,” Bawankule from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reportedly told fellow lawmakers. He said the move came following allegations of Christians converting poor Hindus and tribal people in the state.
The minister said he would speak to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on how to bring about an anti-conversion law with stringent provisions, but did not elaborate on a timeline. If the law is enacted, Maharashtra would become the 13th state in India to enforce the anti-conversion law. Most of these states are ruled by the BJP and its allies.

About 7,000 Christians marched on the streets of India’s commercial hub Mumbai, demanding the arrest and punishment of a pro-Hindu lawmaker who recently declared huge bounties for attacking and killing pastors and missionaries. The marchers chanted slogans and displayed banners during the July 11 rally at Azad Maidan grounds in Mumbai, the capital of the western Indian state of Maha-rashtra, asking authorities to slap criminal charges against Gopich and Padalkar from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The rally was organized by the ecumenical group, Sakal Christi Samj Maharashtra (All Maharashtra Christian Coali-tion), and joined by members of various Christian organiza-tions, said Cyril Dara, the coalition’s convener.
During the demonstration, Christian leaders condemned Padalkar for disregarding the law and inciting violence agai-nst the Christian community. “Padalkar publicly announced the bounties a fortnight ago, which has outraged and deeply hurt our religious sentiments,” Dara told on July 11.
He said the protesting Christians also demanded the expulsion of the legislator from the party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “This action will help curb future atrocities on the Christian community, like the vandalism of churches and attacks on religious leaders. The community needs protection from the government and action against the culprit,” the coali-tion said in a statement.

BREADS Bangalore con-vened a state-level strategic meeting on July 3, 2025 to launch its pioneering “Sport for Change” initiative–an ambi-tious youth empowerment pro-gramme operating across seven locations in five districts of Kerala. Rooted in a dynamic anti-drug campaign, the initiative leverages the unifying and transformative power of sports to steer young people away from substance abuse and anti-social influences, fostering instead a culture of discipline, purpose, and resilience.
BREADS stands for Banga-lore Rural Educational and Development Society. It’s the official development wing of the Salesian Province of Bangalore, working primarily in Karnataka and Kerala to uplift margina-lized communities–especially children, youth, and women. The gathering brought together an inspiring constellation of stakeholders committed to youth development through sport.
BREADS Executive Director, Fr George P. S., remarked, “Sport is not just a game–it’s a gateway to transformation. When young people are given the right environment, they discover their strength, discipline, and dignity.”

The Holy Father Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Antonysamy Savarimuthu, until now Bishop of Palayamkottai and the Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Canon Law as the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Madurai on July 5, 2025. Bishop Antony-samy Savarimuthu was born on 8 December 1960 in Vadakku Vandanam, in the District of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. He was ordained a priest on 26 April 1987, for the Diocese of Pala-yamkottai. On 20 November 2019, he was appointed Bishop of Palayamkottai and ordained bishop on 15 December. Since 2024, he has served as Apostolic Administrator of Madurai

Salesian Father Zephyrinus Baxla, a trailblazer in Adivasi cultural revival and education, died on July 7 due to kidney ailments. Father Baxla would have turned 75 in August. Father Augustine Tirkey, a companion of Father Baxla, said his confrere “was a man of quiet conviction. He never raised his voice, but his presence commanded respect,” said. “I remember him spending hours listening to villagers, never rushing, always attentive. His pastoral heart was his greatest gift.” Born in August 1950 into a humble tribal family, Father Baxla’s early life was shaped by cultural rootedness, simple piety, and an innate call to serve, Salesian Shillong provincial Father John Zosiama said. Drawn to the Salesian charism, he entered formation and was ordained a priest when the Church in eastern India was taking bold steps in grassroots evangelization and social transformation, the provincial recalled. A professor of Scripture at Sacred Heart Theological College Shillong, over the decades, Father Baxla’s ministry spanned remote missions, parishes, formation houses, and educational initiatives. In every assignment, he embodied the heart of a true pastor – faithful, unassuming, and wholly dedicated to walking with his people. Father Baxla’s contribution to Adivasi education and cultural revival was particularly profound. During his time in Kurukh-speaking regions, Father Baxla championed the Tolong Siki script, not merely as a linguistic tool, but as a symbol of identity and dignity, the provincial said.