Odisha Church hosts seminar on nation-building through synodal church

A seminar on hope-filled nation-building from a synodal church perspective was held in Bhubaneswar capital of the eastern Indian state of Odisha. The May 18 event was organized by the Odisha Region Catholic Religious of India (CRI) in collabo-ration with church leaders and human rights activists. As many as 85 religious clergy, church leaders, advocates, and human rights activists from various dioceses attended. The seminar started with a keynote address by Sr Helen Saldana, the director of Streevani (the voice of women), Pune. She emphasized the significant role that faith communities can play in nation-building by shaping the moral and ethical framework of society. Sister Saldana’s address set the tone for the day’s discussions, highlighting the intersection of faith, ethics, and civic responsibility. The main resource per-sons for the seminar were Jesuit Fr Prakash Louis and civil and human rights activist Dhirendra Panda.