Santosh Digal

The Vincent Seva Sadan was desired by the Diocese of Balasore. It will support, care for and treat of people living with HIV or full-blown AIDS. The Apostolic Nuncio to India gives it his blessing.

A nun, 28, was abducted and raped for a week. One of her cousins is among the attackers. For the archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar, "The perpetrators must be brought to justice [. . .]. What happened is a disgrace".

The National Commission for Minorities gives the priest its Minority Award. To the Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar, the award "has made us all proud of the his hard work, and absolute commitment to the cause of our suffering and persecuted people."

The Bishops' Conference of India sends a message to monsoon victims. Deathly toll of more than 150 victims in Uttharkhand:, at least 50 thousand pilgrims still stranded by landslides. Diocesan Caritas and NGOs alongside state agencies in rescue operations.

Bishop Thomas Thiruthalil reiterates the need for a strong Christian identity in a land that has strong religious and spiritual traditions. The Church must care for everybody, but especially Dalits and tribal people who are among the poorest and most marginalised groups in society. Migration, poverty and unemployment are among the most urgent problems that must be solved.

Some 70 priests, 100 nuns and 5,000 Catholics took part in the ceremony. For Mgr John Barwa SVD, from the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, these new ordinations are a sign that "God has neither left us nor forgotten us" and that "the faith in Kandhamal continues to shine."

In a pastoral letter, the exhortation to priests, religious and laity to bear witness to the Christian faith in society. The invitation to spread the contents of the Gospel to non-believers. The translation of the Catechism, the lives of saints and papal documents in Oriya, the language spoken in Orissa.

In an interview, the archbishop of Cuttak-Bhubaneswar, Mgr John Barwa SVD, a tribal himself, stressed the importance of ecumenism within the Church, especially in the Year of Faith. The power of faith is strong among Orissa's poor and illiterate. He is grateful to early missionaries, the only ones who worked for development among Dalits and tribals.

In Chennai, the St. Joseph's Special Care Home feeds, clothes and educates orphaned, abandoned and abused girls, from 4 to 18 in age. Rashmi is one of them. Sold at the age of six, she was beaten and abused by her employer. The home offers sports, games and singing to complete the girls' education and give them the "best possible future."

Since1981, the religious welcome and treat leprosy and AIDS sufferers in their center, many were forced to beg, because abandoned by their family. Through courses in sewing, painting and crafts, patients find that they are a gift from God and are an active part of society.

A Jesuit, professor at the major seminary in Dhaka, explains the difficulties of the Christians and Catholics, often plagued by extreme poverty. Conversion to Islam for marriage increasingly widespread. In the era of communication and globalization, it is urgent to focus on young people.

With at least 11,228 children reported missing in 2011, West Bengal is the state with the worst record in the country. Because of widespread poverty, rural families often sell their children hoping they would have a better future. However, children usually disappear for good. An underage prostitute can earn up to 80,000 rupees (US$ 1,500) a month.