From The States

Abp. Felix Anthony Machado of Vasai Retires

His Holi-ness Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Archbishop Felix An-thony Machado (76) from the pastoral governance of the diocese of Vasai on June 6, 2024. He was the bishop of Nashik (2008-2009) and Vasai (2009-2024). He was the Secretary General of the CBCI (2020-2024). Archbishop Felix Anthony Machado was born on June 6, 1948, […]

Indian Youth Elected as International Secretary General of IYCS

Adv. Roshan Melwyn Lobo from the diocese of Mangalore has been elected as Secretary General of the International Young Catholic Stu-dents (IYCS), a global Catholic action movement recognised by the Holy See and the United Nations. He will operate from IYCS headquarters in Paris. He was elected as the Secretary General in the 17th IYCS […]

Activists refute Indian tribal people conversion claims

Catholic activists have refuted a claim by a leading pro-Hindu party leader that large-scale religious conversions are taking place in an eastern Indian state known for its tribal population. “I am one hundred percent sure that there has been no religious conversion from Hinduism or any other religions to Christianity,” said Ratan Tirkey, a former […]

Indian Church-run schools face action for charging excess fees

Twenty persons, including principals of Church-run schools, have been arrested by police in a central Indian state for allegedly charging exorbitant fees to students, in what Christian leaders called a targeted action. The arrested are among the 51 persons connected to 11 private schools charged with flouting the Madhya Pradesh government’s guidelines on fees to […]

Church opposes Indian state diluting liquor laws

Indian Church bodies have opposed the communist-led government’s plan to boost the availability of liquor in IT parks to target youths in southern Kerala state. The Kerala government is planning to allow “unrestricted flow of liquor to benefit the liquor lobby at the cost of public health,” warned Father Antony Vadakkekara, spokesperson of Kerala-based Syro-Malabar […]

Church group initiates peace talks in India’s Manipur

Led by a Church group, warring tribal Christians and Hindus in India’s northeastern Manipur have met for the first time to end the one-year-old sectarian strife that claimed over 220 lives. “We had seven representatives each” from both the communities, said a Church official associated with the meeting held in the neighboring Assam state on May 17. […]

Antioch Patriarch’s Church in India faces threat of split

An India-based Church group under the Patriarch of Antioch, the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, faces the threat of a split after the patriarch suspended one of its archbishops for alleged disobedience. Christians in the Church’s archdiocese based in Kottayam district in southern Kerala state are divided after Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Aprem-II suspended their Archbishop […]

Mount Carmel Church, Munnar Declared as Basilica

Mount Carmel Church in Munnar was elevated to the status of Minor Basilica during the Eucharistic celebration held on Saturday 25 May 2024. The declaration was solemnly announced by Most Rev. Sebastian Thekethecheril, Bishop of Vijayapuram, marking a historic milestone, as the first basilica in the high ranges of Kerala in the Western Ghats. The […]

Eviction-facing Indian Catholics to fight Muslim charity’s claims

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica