Santosh Digal

Three years after the December 2007 pogrom, Christmas still brings fear of violence to Christians in Kandhamal. Mgr Cheenath, archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, urges the faithful as well as men and women religious to be an example of peace in order to remove the climate of hatred against Christians. “Let us greet not only our Christian brethren, but also our brothers and sisters of other faiths since our Heavenly Father wants all to be saved,” he said.

Corporate groups threaten the lives of thousands of Adivasis, forcing them off their land and into a life of poverty. Jesuit missionaries set up an organisation that provides free education and legal assistance to the Adivasis to help them fight for their rights.

This message is the result of a meeting of bishops and seminary rectors held in recent days in Bhubaneswar. For priests and prelates future priests should be able to face their vocation beginning with the challenges arising that have emerged from the 2008 anti-Christian pogroms in Kandhamal.

Because of the economic crisis every year more than 7 thousand women flee to India where they are often victims of sexual abuse and exploitation in prostitution. Sister Jaya and her sisters are visiting villages in the Terai region bordering India and offer hospitality, education and spiritual support to women.

A young teacher of Arunachal Pradesh travels through forests to bring Christ to his peers. He has formed a group of friends to do the same job. "I am happy to be a missionary. I try to encourage young people to love and accept Jesus. "

Children and parents work on the land for a few rupees a day, fearing hunger. Over 500 children helped by the Diocese of Jalpaiguri with educational programs and financial support.

About 500 people demonstrate in front of the site of the old Union carbide plant to commemorate the victims of the 2 December 1984 gas leak that killed 20,000 people. No one has yet paid for the crime.

St. Vincent’s Home in Kerala cares for men, women and children living with AIDS and HIV-AIDS. It is one of the many Catholic institutions involved in this field. “We are happy to serve AIDS patients without looking at their differences of caste, creed or language. For us, they are as suffering members of Christ,” one nun said.

The release on bail of Hindu Manoy Pradhan, previously convicted for murder, marks a blow for the trial against the perpetrators of anti-Christian pogrom of 2008. Judges accused of being biased and ignoring Christians’ cry for justice who announce appeal to the High Court.

"We live in times of rapid economic and social change, which has an impact on lifestyle and in the spiritual dimension of people," said Sister Elizabeth George, secretary of the North Eastern Education Commission (NEEC). For this reason, it is important that the Catholic schools of the northeast create adequate space for the Catechism of the young.

Founded in 1987 by Jesuit Father Sebastian Painadath sj, the center of Indian spirituality Sameeksha organizes seminars open to the faithful of every religion and caste. Here, people meet, as companions on a spiritual pilgrimage that crosses the boundaries of the individual to cultivate shared dialogue.

The archbishop of Bhopal slams the waste of surplus food due to poor storage management. More than 90 per cent of reserves set aside in the last few months can now only be used as fertiliser.