Events
Mount Carmel Guru Mandir Blessed And Inaugurated At Guruguta

GURUGUNTA, RAICHUR, DEC. 8, 2014: Newly built presbytery which is named Guru Mandir was blessed and inaugurated by Bishop Henry D'Souza, Bishop of Bellary at Gurugunta, Raichur on December 8, the solemnity of Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary.

Recalling the simple dwelling place of Blessed Virgin Mary in Nazareth which became the "tabernacle of God with us", Bishop urged all to be "living temples" of divine presence.

"All Holy God has chosen a people to be a holy nation and a royal priesthood", which demands that all live a life of holiness", reminded the Bishop.

Bishop thanked and congratulated Fr. Sunder Raj for courageously taking up the new mission of Gurugunta. He complimented him for rejuvenating the local community, for starting and school and for building the priest's residence. He also appreciated fostering of a harmonious relationship with the people around.

The presbytery has been constructed with the financial support of Propaganda Fide and other donors.

Many priests, religious of the diocese of Bellary and Gulbarga and the neighbouring Catholics were present at the occasion.

The golden jubilarian Fr. Thomas D'Souza and silver jubilarians Frs. Leo Michael and Arogyanathan were honoured at the occasion.

Students of Mount Carmel School presented an impressive march fast and a colourful cultural programme.

Fr. Sunder Raj thanked all the donors and well-wishers. The function ended with a fellowship meal.

Church in Delhi Gutted: Archbishop Urges PM To Order Judicial Probe

NEW DELHI, DEC. 01: Delhi Archbishop Most Rev. Anil Couto, has in a memorandum to Prime Minister of India and Union Home Minister, called on them to urgently order a judicial enquiry into the burning of the St. Sebastian's Church in Dilshad Garden in the national Capital, New Delhi early this morning. The entire interior, including the Altar, the Holy Bible and Cross were reduced to ashes.

On the complaint of Church priest Fr. Anthony Francis, the police have registered an FIR against unknown outsiders for causing the fire with malicious intent. Senior officers of Delhi police, the Special Branch and the Forensic Crime unit came to the spot after many hours, and once the agitated members of the Catholic community blocked the roads in the area. Samples were retrieved from the inside of the church, which was still smelling of fuel oil.

Till late in the evening, police could not say they had made any progress in their investigations.

Addressing the media, Archbishop Couto said apart from the judicial enquiry, the government must repair the building before Christmas, ensure that policemen guilty of dereliction of duty are punished, and special police investigation teams are set up to trace the guilty.

Te Christian community cutting across denominations and civil society have decided to protest at the offices of the Police Commissioner of Delhi on Tuesday morning to focus attention on the attempts to polarise the people in Delhi state which goes to the polls soon, and the continued persecution of Christians in Madhya Pradesh, Chhatishgarh and other tribal and rural areas.

On Sunday, 30th November 21014, two house churches in Annupur district of Madhya Pradesh were attacked. Earlier in November, catholic priests in the Bastar region in Chhatisgarh were told all their schools were to install statues of Goddess Saraswati and they would not be allowed to be called "Father". the usual honorific, by the students, but would be called "Acharya". In other districts of Chhartisgarh, village panchayats under political influence have passed regulations banning non-Hindu religious persons from organising prayers or opening places of worship in their territory.

Archbishop Couto said the arson in St. Sebastian's church was condemnable not just because it was an act of sacrilege and hate against the community and its faith, but that it could happen in the national Capital which is just recovering from a series of communal incidents. Also distressing is the sense of police impunity. Long hours were lost, and possible evidence destroyed, before the police finally came.

St. Sebastian's church was constructed in 2001 and is among the biggest churches in East Delhi. The church was active till Sundaynight because of religious ceremonies for catholic children receiving their first Holy Communion.

The night watchman had handed over charge to the day watchman at 5 am. The Parish Priest, Fr. Francis, was informed by the day watchman of the fire. The fire was still raging when Fr. Francis informed the Fire brigade and the police.

The community soon collected at the police station to impress on the officers to call in forensic experts. When the police failed to come, roads were blocked for some time. Those who visited the church included archbishops Anil Couto, Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas , several Members of Parliament, Mr. Arvind Kejriwal and former MLAs of the area.

Released to the media for publication, telecast and broadcast by Fr. Savarimuthu on behalf of the Archdiocese of Delhi. For further details, please contact Fr. Savarimuthu, 09968006616, frsankar@gmail.com, Dr. John Dayal, 09811021072, john.dayal@gmail.com and Fr. Stanley 09910504011, frstanley@gmail.com

Christians and Hindus - Together to foster a Culture of Inclusion: Vatican

VATICAN CITY, OCT 20, 2014 (VIS): "Christians and Hindus: together to foster a culture of inclusion" is the theme of the message addressed to followers of Hinduism by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, on the occasion of Deepavali, the festival of lights, to be celebrated on 23 October this year. The following is the full text:

"It is true that globalisation has opened many new frontiers and provided fresh opportunities to develop, among other things, better educational and healthcare facilities", according to the text. "It has ushered in a greater awareness of democracy and social justice in the world, and our planet has truly become a 'global village' due in large part to modern means of communication and transportation. It can also be said, however, that globalisation has not achieved its primary objective of integrating local peoples into the global community. Rather, globalisation has contributed significantly to many peoples losing their sociocultural, economic and political identities".

"The negative effects of globalisation have also had an impact on religious communities throughout the world since they are intimately related to surrounding cultures. In fact, globalisation has contributed to the fragmentation of society and to an increase in relativism and syncretism in religious matters, as well as bringing about a privatisation of religion. Religious fundamentalism and ethnic, tribal and sectarian violence in different parts of the world today are largely manifestations of the discontent, uncertainty and insecurity among peoples, particularly the poor and marginalised who have been excluded from the benefits of globalisation".

"The negative consequences of globalisation, such as widespread materialism and consumerism, moreover, have made people more self-absorbed, power-hungry and indifferent to the rights, needs and sufferings of others. This, in the words of Pope Francis, has led to a globalisation of indifference which makes us slowly inured to the suffering of others and closed in on ourselves. Such indifference gives rise to a 'culture of exclusion' in which the poor, marginalised and vulnerable are denied their rights, as well as the opportunities and resources that are available to other members of society. They are treated as insignificant, dispensable, burdensome, unnecessary, to be used and even discarded like objects. In various ways, the exploitation of children and women, the neglect of the elderly, sick, differently-abled, migrants and refugees, and the persecution of minorities are sure indicators of this culture of exclusion".

"Nurturing a culture of inclusion thus becomes a common call and a shared responsibility, which must be urgently undertaken. It is a project involving those who care for the health and survival of the human family here on earth and which needs to be carried out amidst, and in spite of, the forces that perpetuate the culture of exclusion". "As people grounded in our own respective religious traditions and with shared convictions, may we, Hindus and Christians, join together with followers of other religions and with people of good will to foster a culture of inclusion for a just and peaceful society".