NEW DELHI
Demand for Judicial Enquiry / CBI probe into Murder of Sr Valsa John
A fact-finding team that went to the Pachwara coal mines in Jharkhand leased by the Punjab State Electricity Board has demanded a Judicial Enquiry or a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the murder of Catholic Nun Sr Valsa John on November 15, 2011. There must also be a comprehensive investigation into the scenario of violence in the area which has in recent times seen more than three violent deaths, police firing and deep-rooted unrest amongst the Santhal Tribals.
BANGALORE
Abp Hon Tai Fai Visits St Mary’s Basilica
It was a memorable day in the annals of St Mary’s Basilica that two dignitaries, Most Rev. Dr Savio Hon Tai Fai, Secretary for the Evangelisation of the Peoples and Archbishop of Salvatore and Most Rev. Dr Salavatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio to India, along with Most Rev. Dr Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore visited the Basilica on February 9, 2012. They arrived at 7 pm and were taken to Our Lady’s Shrine for a short prayer. Archbishop Moras explained the importance of the Shrine and the Miraculous Statue of Blessed Mother Mary. Mother Mary is draped every day in a saree offered by the devotees. After singing Ave Maria in Latin, they proceeded to the main church. They were welcomed by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr A.S. Anthony Swamy; he explained the history of the church. Rev. Fr L. Arulappa, Rector of the Basilica and Secretary for Proclamation and Evangelisation Commission of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, gave a brief report of the activities in the archdiocese of Bangalore, including the Year of Proclamation and Evangelisation, which was inaugurated by His Grace.
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS
Pastoral Visit of the Nuncio
January 17, 2012 marked a great day of celebration for the Catholics of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, when His Excellency Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolic Nuncio to India, along with the Counsellor to the Apostolic Nunciature, Monsignor Gianfranco Gallone, stepped onto the shores of the Emerald Islands. Most Rev. Alex Dias, sfx, the Bishop of Port Blair, along with other Committee members and the Reception Committee received them at the airport. Delayed by three hours, due to the foggy weather, the team headed straight to the Northern parishes.
VARANASI
Gospel on Small Screen
A Christian renewal programme aired on television is attracting many viewers, even as soap operas rule the tube. Nutan Dhara (A New Spring), the only Hindi Catholic programme telecast all over India, is getting strong viewership.The programme, which started five years ago, seeks to make the Word of God known to more and more Indians. Indian Missionary Society’s Fr Anildev, who is also the head of Matridham Ashram in Varanasi, anchors the programme. “We get calls from Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra etc, which is indicative of its popularity outside the Hindi belt,” said Fr Anildev.The programme is directed by the IMS priest and produced by Fr Ranjeet, with special assistance from Mukhteshwar Misra, Rajesh Srivastava and Fr Anand Mathew of Vishwa Jyoti Communications.
MANGALORE
Nuns to Save Girl Child
Catholic nuns working as doctors in India have launched a campaign to protect the country’s girl children. More than 200 members of the Sisters Doctors Forum of India (SDFI) met in Mangalore to announce various programmes to help the girl child survive in the country. It chose “Let the Girl Child Live” as its theme.Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi, chairperson of the Indian Bishops’ Commission for Health, who opened the meeting, said selective abortion and discrimination have made the girl child an endangered species in the country.“Catholic religious doctors have a special responsibility to respond to the poorest of the poor,” the prelate said. Sr Lucian, president of the 650-member forum, said the nun doctors started the campaign because they are worried that India’s declining sex ratio would lead to an unbalanced society with increased criminality.
