From The States

Dalits refuse to carry bodies, huts torched in Odisha

As many as 30 Dalit houses were set on fire in a village under the Puri district of Odisha, eastern India. According to Bada Khabar, an Odiya news channel, the houses in Brahmapur village were burnt on May 9 as the Dalit families refused to carry dead bodies to the crematoria. A few months ago, […]

Mercy Angels give dignified burials to Indian Covid-19 victims

The Mercy Angels, a 65-member team of volunteers in the Archdiocese of Banga-lore in Karnataka state, help to bury Christians in the Indian Christian Cemetery, a common cemetery for all denominations in Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore). “We have buried more than 250 bodies of Covid-19 patients in less than 15 days in our archdiocese,” said Father Santosh Royan. […]

Pope prays for India’s emergency workers as pandemic surges

As India faces a massive surge in new infections and deaths caused by Covid-19, Pope Francis said he was praying for all those affected by the huge health emergency. With so many in India suffering, “I am writing to convey my heartfelt solidarity and spiritual closeness to all the Indian people, together with the assurance of […]

Goa archdiocese opens renewal centre for people’s self-quarantine

The archdiocese of Goa-Daman plans to open one of its spiritual renewal centers for people who require self-quarantine during this coronavirus pandemic time. Father Savio Fernandes, assistant director Caritas-Goa, says they have sent five nurses to undergo training in Heath-way Hospital to take charge of the service in St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre in […]

Devasahayam, six others approved for canonization

Pope Francis presided at an Ordinary Public Consistory for the Canonization of Ble-sseds on May 3 morning, in the Consistory Hall of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. During a Consistory, the Cardinals “assist the Supreme Pastor of the Church through collegial action” by offering their counsel on matters of particular importance to the whole […]

Pope extends jurisdiction of Melbourne Syro-Malabar eparchy

Pope Francis has brought New Zealand and the countries of Oceania under the jurisdiction of the Melbourne Syro-Malabar eparchy, says a statement from vicar general Monsignor Francis Kolencherry. The decree to expand the eparchy’s boundary was signed on March 29 by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. The eparchy created […]

Indian political leaders mourn senior Mar Thoma bishop

India’s political leaders have joined Christians to express condolences over the death of the popular former head of the Kerala-based Mar Thoma Church. Bishop Philipose Mar Chrysostom was buried in compliance with Covid-19 protocols at his church’s headquarters in Thiruvalla on May 6, a day after his death at the age of 104.

Jailed Indian Jesuit moves high court seeking bail

An elderly Indian Jesuit priest has approached Bombay High Court seeking his release on bail a month after a special court twice turned down his bail plea. Father Stan Swamy’s legal team on April 26 filed a bail application in the high court of Maharashtra state in western India, said Father A. Santhanam, a Jesuit […]

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

No action taken against police who assaulted Catholic priests in India