Nirmala Carvalho

Fr. Joseph Nguyễn Văn Hội, superior of the community in the Vietnamese capital, issued an appeal for prayer and solidarity with the congregation after the district administration began renovation work without asking permission from the fathers, who are in retreat with the clergy of the archdiocese. The Redemptorists have long been demanding the return of the building.

Organ donations reflect an imbalance with four men getting organ transplants for every woman. Men are more likely to be dead donors than women. Women are subjected to greater "pressure" to "sacrifice" themselves for husbands, children, siblings. For Indian doctor, “Cultural and societal norms” reflect the “mindset” of a “patriarchal society”.

Last week, more than 5,000 signatures were collected from local residents, including several politicians and clerics, who oppose the construction of a luxury resort in Old Goa because it encroaches on protected areas near the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount. This is not the first project of this kind undermining the local cultural heritage.

Sister Seli Thomas received the Common Good Award, while Sister. Francoise Jiranonda, from Thailand, and Sister Patricia Ebegbulem, from Nigeria, were honoured with two other important awards for their work against human trafficking. The awards ceremony was held in London late last month at the inaugural Sisters Anti-Trafficking Awards (SATA), which celebrated the contribution of Catholic nuns to the anti-trafficking movement.

Since May, the deaths and clashes between the Maitei Hindu community, close to Modi's government, and that of the Kuki Protestant Christian minority in the north-eastern Indian state have not stopped. The Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Thrissur in nearby Kerala denounces the silence and connivance of the government party's politics with the Maitei community.

The province’s Human Rights Commission issued a ruling that recognises caste as a protected category; this will allow people disadvantaged by their caste status to go to court in case of caste discrimination. Fr Raj, a former secretary of the Office of Scheduled Castes-Backward Classes of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, welcomes the decision.

The attack yesterday morning also wounded scores of people, with some having life-threatening injuries. Meanwhile, the police arrested the alleged perpetrator, who took responsibility for the attack on a Facebook video. He says he is a former member, but Jehovah's Witnesses deny the claim.

Superior General of the Apostolic Carmelite Congregation participates in the Synod, bringing the voice of India's 130,000 women religious. "We are seeking leadership that goes beyond the emphasis on the question of roles, to rediscover that these are services to be performed with humility". "In the face of harassment, silent suffering no longer makes sense".

The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints has formally authorised the opening of the cause of beatification for Christians killed by Hindu nationalists in 2008. The canonical process will involve Kanteshwar Digal, a lay catechist and a family man, and 34 companions. For Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, knowing that “our own brothers and sisters” have not been forgotten as witnesses of faith “is something great”.

The arrival of the first missionaries among tea plantation workers was remembered with the presence of PIME’s Superior General Fr Brambillasca and Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Girelli. The “first seed is bearing fruit today, even far away,” Fr Brambillasca said, thanks to Indian missionaries “currently working in different parts of the world”.

The commitment of the Archdiocese of Mumbai to its mission, in an area of Maharashtra where more than 11% of the population belongs to aboriginal groups, traditionally on the margins of society. P. Malu: "We meet people in their situation, often walking on dirt roads, uphill to get involved in their lives". Crad. Gracias: "We proclaim the message of the Gospel with our lives".

After the deaths from the explosion at the hospital, there is also great concern at the convent of the Missionaries of Charity, which is not far away and has taken in 600 people who no longer have a home. "In our homes there are disabled children and bed-ridden elderly people". In Jerusalem, the Indian Commissioner of the Holy Land celebrated Mass at the Sepulchre praying to "the Prince of Peace" for them.