National

Xavier casket to undergo restoration job in Italy

The silver casket that houses the relics of Saint Francis Xavier is set to go to Italy for restoration. However, an impasse has arisen over the responsibility to conduct the restoration. The Church authorities want to over-see the work, which was disputed by the Archaeological Society of India that manages the Bom Jesu Basilica in […]

Cardinal decries migrant deaths, industrial accidents in India

Cardinal Oswald Gracias said his “heart wept” upon hearing the news that 15 migrant workers were crushed to death on May 8 after falling asleep on railway tracks in Aurangabad, which is in India’s Maharashtra State. One more person was hospitalized in the incident, and four others were treated for shock. The police said the […]

Imphal Archdiocese reaches out with relief aid

The Diocesan Social Service Society (DSSS), a developmental wing of the Archdiocese of Imphal, distributed dry rations to 2898 families in 42 villages within seven districts of Manipur. Father Biju Luckose, director of DSSS, Father Thohrii Joseph, assistant director and Father Dale Joseph, financial administrator of the Archdiocese of Imphal and the staff of DSSS […]

Jharkhand minister thanks Church for Covid-19 relief

Jharkhand’s Minister for Finance and Public distribution Rameshwar Oraon on May 5 made a surprise visit to the Ranchi Archbishop’s House to thank the Catholic Church’s works among those affected by the nationwide lockdown. The minister met Jesuit Archbishop Felix Toppo of Ranchi and his Auxiliary Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas and hailed the Church’s “tremendous and […]

Communal Virus, The Other Dreadful Challenge

Locked down in my daughter’s home in Mumbai, I get to know what people are thinking and talking about when I speak to them on the telephone or by e-mail. And what they say is not pleasing to an old man’s ears! My friends, both Hindu and Muslim, admit that no one’s God has been […]

Pay Workers Full Salaries For March-April: Cardinal Gracias

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, has urged his priests to pay full salaries of March and April to those working in archdiocesan institutions. “After consulting our bishops and the Finance Office, I am directing that the March and April salaries be paid in full even though our workers have not been coming due to […]

Indian Nuns Spark In Covid-19 Darkness

A large number religious women is in the forefront of the Catholic Church’s humanitarian works among those affected by the nationwide lockdown. Amrat Talitha Kum India, or just Amrat, is one of the largest networks of women religious engaged in anti-human trafficking activities. It has members from 76 women religious congregations working in various parts […]

US religious freedom commission highlights India in annual report

Abuse of Muslims, Christians, and other minorities in India drew the attention of a federal religious freedom watchdog in its annual report released on April 28 by U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). USCIRF is a bipartisan federal commission that studies religious persecution and adverse circumstances facing religious minorities around the world, and makes […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica