Salesian Father Zephyrinus Baxla, a trailblazer in Adivasi cultural revival and education, died on July 7 due to kidney ailments. Father Baxla would have turned 75 in August. Father Augustine Tirkey, a companion of Father Baxla, said his confrere “was a man of quiet conviction. He never raised his voice, but his presence commanded respect,” said. “I remember him spending hours listening to villagers, never rushing, always attentive. His pastoral heart was his greatest gift.” Born in August 1950 into a humble tribal family, Father Baxla’s early life was shaped by cultural rootedness, simple piety, and an innate call to serve, Salesian Shillong provincial Father John Zosiama said. Drawn to the Salesian charism, he entered formation and was ordained a priest when the Church in eastern India was taking bold steps in grassroots evangelization and social transformation, the provincial recalled. A professor of Scripture at Sacred Heart Theological College Shillong, over the decades, Father Baxla’s ministry spanned remote missions, parishes, formation houses, and educational initiatives. In every assignment, he embodied the heart of a true pastor – faithful, unassuming, and wholly dedicated to walking with his people. Father Baxla’s contribution to Adivasi education and cultural revival was particularly profound. During his time in Kurukh-speaking regions, Father Baxla championed the Tolong Siki script, not merely as a linguistic tool, but as a symbol of identity and dignity, the provincial said.
Spanish bishops speak out after leaks of their meeting with Leo XIV
The executive committee of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, (CEE, by its Spanish acronym) meeting in Madrid this week, issued an official statement regarding the leaks
