Nirmala Carvalho

In a new attack in the district of Rayagada, Hindu fundamentalists have devastated the homes of Christians, forcing them to take refuge in the forest. The testimony of Nori Konjaka, one of the victims: "They can destroy our homes, but not our faith in Jesus".

A man who became Christian in the city of Gwalior was prevented by his niece from burying his mother. She filed a complaint with the local police against him for trying to “convert” his mother she was dead. “God knows the truth and he will grant her eternal rest,” said Fr Stephen, a spokesman for the local Catholic Church.

At the Fort of Imphal a joint initiative of Christians, Hindus and Muslims promoted by the local government. For the first day after in months, less than 100,000 new infections are registered. The mobilization of Catholic structures continues: at the Jesuit University of Calcutta offers 40 beds for sick people.

A picture of the president of the Congress Party, which was doctored to include a book titled ‘How to convert India into a Christian nation’, has gone viral on social media. For Sajan K. George (Global Council of Indian Christians), extremists are using conversions “to divert attention from the horrifying” COVID-19 disaster.

Across the country, the Indian Catholic Youth Movement has mobilised to help, from handing out food parcels to helping families bury or cremate their loved ones. Some speak about their experience, and people’s gratitude is hard to describe.

In a shocking statement, the Delhi High Court urged the government to give priority to younger people because 80-year-olds have already “lived their lives” and we must look to the future. For Fr de Sales, “Every life is gift” to be respected, and the court should be concerned “about the weakest of society”.

Pope Francis picked a non-Dalit, Mgr Rayappan, even though most locals are Dalits. In Tamil Nadu, only one bishop out of 17 is a Dalit. Over the past year many rallies raised the issue.

The end of May was marked by prayers streamed live from the Shrine of the Infant Jesus in the Indian state of Maharashtra. “It is the feast of the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth to share the good news that she (Mary) was to be the mother of Jesus,” said Chaplain Fr Errol Fernandes.

The Jesuit priest, accused of “Maoist terrorism” for his commitment to the Jharkhand tribals, was hospitalised with COVID at the Holy Family hospital in Mumbai. ”I am carrying on,” he said, thanks to prayers from all over the world.

To promote their Ayurvedic products, the hugely popular Ramdev and his associate Balkrishna accuse conventional medicine of being used to convert their followers to Christianity. For Father Joseph, it is hard to believe that anyone could express such hate rather than join the fight for a cure.

A mob of 150 armed people ransacked the place of worship in Bodoguda. Already last year 8 Christians had been wounded in an assault in the same village. Sajan K George (Global Council of Indian Christians): "Instead of investigating the perpetrators, the police threaten those who report the crime".

The parents of Saneesh Joseph, who died last week in the sinking of a barge, have donated the compensation money they received to a relief fund and a library in Kerala. For Bishop Vadakumthala of Kannur, they are a great witness of faith.