A group of Catholic women from Kerala who spent five days in Kandhamal say the faith of Odisha’s persecuted Christians has deepened their belief in Christ. “The Christians of Kandhamal have manifested a deep-rooted faith in Christ by facing the worst religious persecution in modern India,” said Sister Josia Padinjaradathu, a member of the 11-member team representing the Women Commission of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council. “I am deeply touched and moved by listening to the survivors of Kandhamal,” she told Matters India.

The June 26-30 visit was a part of the Women Council of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India’s national reach out program in Kandhamal.

Sister Talisha Nadukudiyil, secretary of the council who arranged the visit, noted that Kandhamal was the epicentre of anti-Christian persecution in Odisha in 2007 and 2008. At least 100 people, mostly Christians, were killed and more than 56,000 people were rendered home-less. Hundreds of churches and houses were also destroyed in the mayhem that lasted for months.