Santosh Digal

An hour of prayer a day throughout 2012. John XXIII elevated the shrine in Tamil Nadu to basilica, November 3, 1962. During the 2005 tsunami, the "Lourdes of the East" saved the lives of people who were inside.

A priest visits inmates in Balliguda, Khandamal. The district was the scene of anti-Christian violence. A tearful Hindu prisoner says he was lonely and in despair. “Now I know and feel that God is with me and will not abandon me”.

Held in prison for months, the five men were part of a crew of 24 arrested for crossing into Indian territorial waters. The other 19 were released in early October.

24 held for more than two months for having exceeded the limits of territorial waters. Ten freed October 1, nine (five of which are Christians) October 3. Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar: "Look to the future with hope." For the last five prisoners a few more months of waiting.

For 21 years the religious order runs two schools, at Cooch Bihar and Hata Din (Diocese of Jalpaiguri), for a total of almost 500 students and 40 teachers. Sister St. Sebasthiammal, teacher: "Christian education can improve their lives."

Founded in 1992 in Mumbai, the women’s shelter is run by the Jesuits and Sisters Adorers. Since 2006, its religious and lay volunteers have helped more 600 women. We “help women examine their lives through eyes of love, thus helping them regain faith in themselves,” sister Jane said.

In Madhya Pradesh, the Church organised prayer meetings and blood donations to commemorate the victims of Hindu violence three years ago. In Orissa, no prayer service was held. In Kandhamal, Hindu nationalists meet to remember the murder of Lakshmananda Saraswati, whose “martyrdom” unleashed a wave of violence in 2008.

A young teacher and a priest left Orissa for Madrid to take part in the World Youth Day. “If I am lucky, I’ll meet Benedict XVI personally during the WYD,” the teacher said. “I’ll talk to him about Christians in Kandhamal and their faith, which is strong despite the suffering they endured during the pogroms of 2007 and 2008.”

The demonstration led by the Archbishop of Delhi, Vincent Concessao. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, "I am a Dalit, and suffer what you suffer." The request: not to exclude Christians and Muslims Dalits from the benefits of the law that protects the most vulnerable castes.

A report by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights highlights the negligence of the state towards the children affected by the violence of three years ago. Many children have had to move away. Others have had to drop out of school to go to work in dangerous occupations.

A young widow, 16 years old, receives no government subsidies. A young man can not register as unemployed. The Bankingia Catholic community can not build its own church, despite being in possession of the certificate of ownership.

Fr Anand Muttungal, head of public relations for the Bishops’ Conference of Madhya Pradesh, appeals to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, from the BJP, hoping that his request in favour of the separation of state and religion be heard.