The Holy Jubilee of 2025, proclaimed by Pope Francis, together with the 400th anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation of the Mission (C.M.), announced by the Superior General, Very Rev. P. Tomaž Mavrič, C.M., represents for us Vincentian Missionaries a privileged opportunity for renewal in the spirit of Jesus Christ. Celebrating 400 years (1625–2025) since the foundation of the Congregation means reflecting on the charism and the legacy of St. Vincent de Paul and of the Vincentian Family in the world.Founded in 1625 in Paris by St. Vincent de Paul (1581–1660) with the support of Madame de Gondi (Françoise Marguerite de Silly, 1580–1625) and her husband, Philippe Emmanuel de Gondi, the Congregation aimed to evangelize the rural poor and respond to the needs of the most destitute. Indeed, the charism of the C.M. is encapsulated in: “Evangelizare Pauperibus Misit Me – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring good news to the poor” (Lk 4:18). The first mission was sent to Madagascar, where the missionaries faced extremely challenging environmental conditions.The first motherhouse was Bons-Enfants (1625–1632), followed by Saint Lazare (1632–1792), and finally the house at 95 Rue de Sèvres, where the relics of St. Vincent de Paul are preserved today. The Congregation received papal approval from Pope Urban VIII in 1633. In the same year, St. Vincent, together with St. Louise de Marillac (1591–1660), founded the Daughters of Charity, a ponti
Theologians in India are saddened at the passing of a multidimensional contextual theologian and Professor of Theology Fr. Felix Wilfred on January 7, 2025. His unexpected demise leaves a void in the hearts of his students and peers. He was 76 years old. Funeral is scheduled for January 9 at St James Church, Puthenkadai.Born in 1948 in Puthenkadai, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, Felix was the second child of B. Arogyam, a local school headmaster, and Mary Josephine. Completing his schooling at 16, Felix journeyed to Rome in 1965 to undertake his philosophical and theological studies, training to become a Catholic priest.He earned degrees from Pontifical Urban University, studied Italian literature at the University of Perugia, and French philosophy and literature at the University of Caen, France. Even as a student, he won three gold medals for academic excellence. Felix mastered classical languages like Latin and Greek, and several European languages including Italian, Spanish, French, and German.His formative years coincided with the post-Second Vatican Council era. Recalling his arrival in Rome in 1965, Felix witnessed the closing function of Vatican II at St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope Francis invited him as a theological expert to the Synod on Synodality 2024.Upon completing his studies, Felix returned to Tamil Nadu in 1977 as a theological educator at St. Paul’s Major Seminary. There, he began the transformative process of theological education, incor
Manmohan Singh, who pulled India from the brink of bankruptcy and made it one of the fastest growing economies in the world, died on December 26 in New Delhi. Singh, the 13th prime minister of India, died at 9:45 pm in All India Institute of Medical Sciences where he was admitted earlier in the day. He was 92.Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in mourning Singh’s death. Taking to X, the prime minister said: “India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives.”Federal Home Minister Amit Shah noted that Singh had played an important role in the governance of the country. “The news of the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is extremely sad. From being the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to the Finance Minister of the country and as the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh played an important role in the governance of the country. I express my condolences to his family and supporters in this hour of grief. May Waheguru grant peace to his soul and give strength to his family to bear this grief,” Shah said in a post on X.Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi paid
On October 15, the 2024 Global Hunger Index was released ranking India 105 out of 127 countries; India has a level of hunger that is serious. A recent World Bank report stated, “almost 129 million Indians are living in extreme poverty in 2024, on less than US$2.15 (about 181 rupees) a day.”These statistics should not surprise anyone: while India boasts of producing some of the richest persons in the world, the fact is that millions of Indians still do not have access to roti- kapda- makhan (food-clothing-shelter), clean drinking water and the other basic amenities of life.The Universal Church observes on November 17, the VIII World Day of the Poor. The one consideration which must be uppermost in the hearts and minds of every disciple of Jesus is ‘are we responding to the cry of the poor?’Pope Francis has based his message this year on the theme, ‘The prayer of the poor rises up to God’ (cf. Sir 21:5), saying, “The World Day of the Poor has now become a fixture for every ecclesial community. It is a pastoral opportunity not to be underestimated, for it challenges every believer to listen to the prayer of the poor, becoming aware of their presence and needs. It is an opportune occasion to implement initiatives that concretely help the poor.”For him, the cry (their prayer) of the poor, has a message for all of us! Just as God does, we need to listen to their prayer; but God also wants us to respond to them proactively.In January 2023, OXFAM r
Recently, we—24 Jesuit tertians and instructors from St. Stanislaus College, Sitagarha—embarked on a pilgrimage to “Punyabhoomi” (Sacred Ground), the site of Fr. Anchanickal T. Thomas’s martyrdom in Jharkhand’s Karanpura Valley. This mineral-rich valley, long mined by NTPC and now Adani Corporation, is shrouded in coal dust. Visiting this sacred site, I was deeply moved by Fr. A. T. Thomas’s legacy—a Jesuit who sacrificed his life for justice. Fr. Arockia Sasi, S.J., of the Hazaribag province, shared Fr. Thomas’s story: from his humble Kerala roots to the forests of Hazaribag, his unwavering commitment to the marginalized Mahadalit communities reflected his compassionate yet resolute spirit against India’s deep-seated social injustices.Growing up in Kerala, Fr. A. T. witnessed widespread structural inequalities that fuelled his dedication to social justice. Joining the Hazaribag Jesuits, he was drawn to the struggles of the Mahadalit community, who endured cycles of debt and dependency under oppressive landlords and moneylenders. Fr. A. T. and his companions became voices for these marginalized communities, offering legal support to reclaim land, education for their children, and raising awareness of their rights. They inspired the Dalits to assert their dignity and claim their rightful place in society, challenging their bondage as landless laborers subjected to inhumane conditions.As their work gained traction, some of the exploiters found themse
