The government in eastern India’s Odisha state has released a man serving a life term for the murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons, reportedly considering his “good conduct” in jail. The government, led by the Hindu-leaning Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), released Mahendra Hembram, 51, on April 16 after he had spent 25 years in prison. Keonjhar district prison authorities gave Hembram a cordial farewell and, garlanded him in recognition of his good conduct in jail, reports said. “The Christian community in Odisha is shocked over the news of his pre-mature release,” said Father Ajay Singh, a lawyer and activist belonging the archdiocese of Cuttack–Bhubaneswar in the state. Singh told on April 17 that the release of Hembram, who murdered a missionary and his two sons, “will set a horrible precedent.” Hembram was given life in prison for assisting Dara Singh, the main culprit, who burnt alive Staines and his two minor sons – Philip (aged 10) and Timothy (aged 6) – on Jan. 22, 1999, in the Koenjhar district of eastern Odisha state. The missionary and the children were sleeping inside their vehicle in the remote village.

Catholics in a parish in Kerala in southern India have accused the state’s forest department of “terrorizing” them after officials uprooted a cross and registered charges against their priest and leaders for encroaching on forest land. James Aikkaramattam, parish priest of St. Thomas Church in Idukki district, told on April 21 that the cross was on “parish land that a parishioner donated decades ago.” On April 12, Palm Sunday, forest officials used an earthmover to remove the 3-meter concrete cross, claiming it was illegally occupying forest land. The forest department also registered a case against 18 people, including the parish priest, for violating forest laws by trespassing onto forest land and encroaching upon government property. ”The charges against me and others are false, as we did not trespass onto any protected forest. A parishioner built his house on the land and lived there for five decades before donating it to the parish.

A state court in central Indian Chhattisgarh state has issued a pre-arrest bail to a Catholic nun after police began investigating a complaint that the nun attempted to convert a Hindu student at her nursing college. The move of the Bilaspur High Court, the highest court in the state, saves Sister Bincy Joseph from immediate arrest. The nun is the principal of Holy Cross Nursing College, located in Kunkuri town in the predominantly tribal Jashpur district. “We are relieved and happy,” said Abhinandan Xalxo, president of the Jashpur Catholic Sabha (church), who has been assisting the nun in the case. Xalxo told on April 25 that the court granted anticipatory bail to Joseph on April 24. Police are investigating an April 6 complaint of a student that the nun “attempted to forcibly convert” her. The complaint was sent to the district collector, the top civil official in a district, and the Superintendent of Police, the district’s top police official.

The Missionaries of Charity, founded by St. Mother Teresa of Kolkata, has closed their home for the destitute in Goa, western India, on April 28 amid fears that their landlords pushed them out to reclaim the land. Sister Rosario, the superior of the seven-member community in state capital Panaji, told they have handed over the place to the original owners, Assistência de Goa, a charity organization. “We have received an order from our Kolkata headquarters to leave and go to another place,” she said. The Missionaries of Charity nuns worked in the house for 49 years after Mother Teresa started the home on a 5,000 square meter premises at the invitation of Assistencia de Goa, in a prime location in the state capital.

Students of Don Bosco Tuition Centre Nitika in Tangra, Kolkata extended their Earth Day 2025 celebrations beyond their institution, transforming Radhanath Chowdhury Road, Seal Lane and Tangra into a hub of environmental awareness. This student-led initiative aimed to inspire the local community and spotlight the urgent need for sustainable practices. Earth Day, observed globally on April 22 since 1970, serves as a call to action for preserving the planet. This year too, Don Bosco Nitika students brought this call directly to passersby, engaging them through dances, speeches, slogans, and skits that highlighted pressing issues like pollution, global warming, and water scarcity.

Bishop Ivan Pereira of Jammu-Srinagar on April 23 expressed deep anguish and unequivocal condemnation of what he called horrific terrorist attack on innocent tourists in Kashmir state. Suspected rebels on April 22 killed 27 people in the picturesque tourist resort of Pahalgam. The attack in Kashmir’s southern district of Anantnag came amid the peak tourist season as thousands of tourists were holidaying in the region. Bishop Pereira said the “act of senseless violence” has “cast a dark shadow over our collective conscience.”

Pope Francis has appointed Father Sahaya Thatheus Thomas (54), Rector of Holy Trinity Major Seminary, Jalandhar, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Simla-Chandigarh. The announcement was made on Saturday, 12 April 2025. At the same time, the Holy Father accepted the resignation of Bishop Ignatius Loyola Ivan Mascarenhas (75), who has led the diocese since 2009.
Father Thadeus was born on 6 November 1971 in Chinnavilai, Tamil Nadu, in the Diocese of Kottar. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Simla-Chandigarh on 13 May 2001. Father Thadeus holds two Master’s degrees: one in Journalism and Mass Communication from Punjabi University, Patiala (2006–2008), and another in Human Rights from the Indian Institute of Human Rights, New Delhi (2007–2009). He also studied German at the Uni-versity of Vienna before completing a Licentiate in Theology (2010–2013) and a Doctorate in Sacred Scripture (2013–2016) from the University of Vienna, Austria. His pastoral ministry began as Parish Assistant at Little Flower Parish, Panchkula (2001–2004), where he also served as Priest-in-Charge. He then took on responsibilities as Vice-Rector of the Diocesan Minor Seminary, Kauli (2004–2009), while also serving as Director of the Diocesan Commission for Media and the Bible Enquiry Center. The Diocese of Simla-Chandigarh, which covers parts of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana, now welcomes its new shepherd, a man deeply rooted in pastoral care, academic excellence, and missionary zeal.

Bangalore: Bi-shop Ignatius Loyo-la Ivan Mascarenhas (75), Bishop of Si-mla-Chandigarh, retired on 12 April 2025, marking the end of a 16-year episcopal ministry that began on April 3, 2009. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Simla-Chandigarh on February 10, 2009. He was ordained on April 3, 2009. Over the next 16 years, he led the diocese with dedication, fostering evangelization, education, and community life. Bishop Ignatius also served as President of the Simla-Chandigarh Educational Society and remained actively involved in dioce-san development through various pastoral and educational initiatives. Nationally he led the CCBI Commi-ssion for Basic Ecclesial Communities from 2019 to 2023. He was also Se-cretary of the Regional Bishops of the North until 2017.

Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Sonatan Kisku, aged 56, as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Du-mka in Jharkhand. The announcement was made on Satur-day, 12 April 2025. Fr. Kisku is currently serving as the Vicar General of Dumka and the Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Church, Dumka.
Fr. Sonatan Kisku was born on 15 May 1969 in the village of Kaudia, under Kalhajor Parish in the Dumka Diocese. He was ordained a priest on 15 April 2002. In 2004, Fr. Kisku was sent to Rome to pursue higher studies in Canon Law. He earned his Licen-tiate in Canon Law in 2007 and return-ed to serve his dio-cese in various capacities. That same year, he was appointed Director of Candidates at the diocesan vocation centre. From 2008 to 2013, he served as Diocesan Treasurer, Chance-llor, and Minister at the Bi-shop’s House. He was also appointed Father-in-charge of Gopikandor from 2012 to 2014.

The Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council has created history by appointing two laypeople to head its co-mmission for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes. Arch-bishop Peter Machado of Ban-galore, the council president, on April 7 announced the appointment of Isabella Selvaraj Xavier as the commi-ssion’s joint secretary, the first woman to hold the post. The council has also promoted the current joint secretary Alphonse G Kennedy as the commission secre-tary. Kennedy is the first layperson to serve as secretary of the commission. Fr. Yagappa, the outgoing secretary, hailed Kennedy’s promotion as a “a significant and well-de-served recognition” of his dedication and commit-ment. “We extend our warmest congratulations to him on this important role. We are confi-dent that his expertise and passion will greatly benefit the interests and welfare” of those under the commission.