Purushottam Nayak

On Good Friday, police stopped Mass and prevented worshippers from carrying the cross up a hill. Previously they had torn down statues and crosses on a slope. Meanwhile, the other side of the hill is invaded by Hindu temples.

The first apparition of Our Lady took place on 13 May 1917, followed by four others until 13 October of the same year. The Indian archdiocese is organising special celebrations for the centenary, particularly on the five dates of the apparitions. The message of Fatima is still relevant. Penance remains important to sanctify the Christian life.

The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue issued a message for the Jain festival of Mahavir Jayanti, which marks the 2,615th anniversary of the birth of the Tirthankar Mahāvīra. In India Jains number 4,5 million or 0.4 per cent of the population.

Prison Ministry India has worked with detainees for over 30 years. Now it is running a recruitment campaign to bring relief to 1,382 in Indian jails. "Nearly 400 thousand people languish without love, hope and help." Membership is open to all; training will last two weeks from May 8 to 23.

The spiritual exercises were held in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Cuttack. Participants rediscover "the value of prayer and grace of God." The retreat was led by Fr. Anil Dev, head of an ashram dedicated to the Virgin in Varanasi. The center is an example of coexistence between Christians and Hindus.

The website will be inaugurated on 15 March. it will collect data on those who seek work in another Indian state or abroad. The Labour Office of the Bishops’ Conference and the Workers India Federation are behind the initiative.

The shrine opened on 11 February 1917 on the initiative of the local population that survived an outbreak of cholera and smallpox in 1866. The Missionaries of St Francis de Sales d’Annecy were the first to bring relief. The faithful give thanks for miraculous healings.

Today the Church marks the 25th World Day of the Sick established by John Paul II. For Mgr Mallavarapu, it is critical to fulfil the mission and "serve the poor, the sick, the suffering, the exiled and marginalised." On the occasion, the CBCI is promoting initiatives in hospitals, nursing homes, and parishes.

French missionaries founded the place of worship in 1917 to meet the wishes of local people convinced that the Virgin’s intercession would protect them from hunger and pestilence. Each year attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over India. The anniversary will be preceded by a novena of prayer.

It is a historic event for the Indian state, scene of past antichristian pogroms. Hindu sectarian violence raised the profile of Christianity. The authorities protected the faithful in Kandhamal district. The Missionaries of Charity provided lunch to the poor, orphans and needy.

Ordained on Monday, Fr Munib Pradhan celebrated his first Mass yesterday. In 2004 he saw the desecration of his parish; in 2008, he experienced the persecution of Christians in Kandhamal.

The celebration is one of the most important in India. Usually, Christians come from all over the country, but this year, the rupee recall created problems. A procession with candles made its way through the streets of Berhampur in memory of Mary’s apparition to Saint Catherine Labouré.