From The States

Film on Blessed Rani Maria released on TV

A feature film on Blessed Rani Maria Vattalil was premiered May 27 on Atmadarshan TV, a popular religious channel of the diocese of Indore, central India. Bishop Chacko Thottumarickal of Indore, who addressed the function in Indore, recalled Blessed Rani Maria’s struggle to organize poor tribals against the exploitation of moneylenders. She was among the […]

Indian awarded for training maximum addiction professionals

Thomas Scaria, a renowned expert in addiction management, training and consultancy, has become the first Indian to receive “International Awa-rd for Excellence in Training Provision.” Scaria, who heads the Mangaluru-based Ecolink Institu-te of Well-being, received the award May 14 at a function in Abu Dhabi. The award is instituted by the International Society for Substance […]

Father Subhash Anand’s sudden death mourned

Father Subhash Anand, a renowned philosophy professor who challenged Catholics in India to become Christ’s authentic disciples, died of a massive heart attack May 23 in Udaipur, Rajasthan. He was 78. Bishop Devprasad Ganawa of Udaipur has informed that the funeral begins at 10 am on May 24. Father Anand, a priest of the diocese […]

Sri Lankan court imposes travel ban on protesting priest

A Sri Lankan court has ordered a travel ban on a Catholic priest for being part of the “GotaGoGama” protests demanding President Gotabaya Rajpaksha’s resignation over the nation’s worsening economic situation. Officials from the Criminal Investigation Department in-formed Father Amila Jeewantha Pieris about the travel ban on May 23. The activist priest has been involved […]

Church grows in North Korea despite persecution: Korean archbishop

One of South Korea’s most senior clergymen says he believes Catholic Church in communist North Korea is growing although Catholics live in hiding and endure persecution. Archbishop Victorinus Yoon Kong-hi, the former head of the Archdiocese of Gwangju in South Korea, has made the remarks in a recently published book on the history of the […]

Faith, fortitude, martyrdom, miracles: Pope canonizes Devasahayam Pillai and 9 more new saints

After a long pandemic pause, Pope Francis is scheduled to celebrate a Mass May 15 for the canonization of Blessed Devasahayam Pillai and 9 men and women: Five from Italy, three from France, one from India and one from the Nether-lands. Blessed Devasahayam Pillai an Indian layman and father who was born to an upper-caste […]

Synodal symphony on journeying together

Since its launch in all dioceses worldwide in October 2021, the synod 2021-2023 entitled ‘For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission’ has evoked mixed responses ranging from excitement and optimism to indifference and cynicism. The Synod inaugurations in the Indian dioceses of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI, Latin rite) were followed by […]

Christians surprised as High Court admits forced conversion petition

Christians in Tamil Nadu have expressed surprise that the state’s high court has admitted a public interest litigation to stop forcible conversion of students in schools. The bench of Justices R. Madhavan and S. Ananthi of the Madras High Court on May 6 admitted the petition and posted the matter to a regular bench on […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica