Missionaries of the World

Pope Francis has erected the Diocese of Sultanpet with territory taken from the Dioceses of Coimbatore and Calicut, making it a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Verapoly. The Pope has appointed Rev. Fr. Peter Abir Antonysamy of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry-Cuddalore as the first bishop of the new diocese. The new diocese will be the 31st Roman Catholic diocese in Kerala and it will be the 167th diocese in India.

At least once a year, many Christians become aware of the great diversity of ways of adoring God. Hearts are touched and people realize that their neighbours' ways are not so strange. The event that touches off this special experience is something called the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Pulpits are exchanged and special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services are arranged. The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2014 is "Has Christ been divided?" (1 Cor 1:1-17).

The Christmas celebration all over the World are going on very well. But how about the celebrations at the India's Southernmost district of Kanyakumari?. Few years from now, the people of Kanyakumari celebrate the festival by setting-up Christmas Crib, Christmas Trees and Christmas Stars in their Churches, Streets, homes, works spots, etc. Celebrations has improved every year. Have a look on ten years back? Only make small cribs in their houses. Now, take a look!.

Pope Francis is gearing up for his first Christmas at the Vatican as pontiff. He began by exchanging Christmas wishes with his predecessor, Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI. Pope Francis paid an early Christmas visit to his predecessor, Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI, on Monday in the monastery Mater Ecclesia in the Vatican gardens. The two warmly greeted each other and prayed briefly in Benedict’s chapel. They had a private conversation and exchanged Christmas wishes. Pope Francis also greeted the small staff that cares for his predecessor.

Happy Holidays! Tuesday is Christmas Eve and Google is celebrating the holiday season with a picture on its homepage. The picture shows a fun-filled white winter scene with two kids riding a one horse open sleigh on a snow covered field with three barren trees in the background. Christmas Eve is an integral part of Christmas festivities; people start celebrating Christmas from this day with families, relatives, co-workers and communities gathering for dinner in the evening and churches holding special services including Midnight Mass

Dr. N. Emil Jebasingh, Founder of Vishwa Vani – an indigenous Church Planting ministry and a believers’ movement proclaiming the Gospel in India, passed away on December 19, 2013. He was 73. He founded the ministry Vishwa Vani with a group of fellow believers on May 01, 1980. Dr. N. Emil Jebasingh, a gift to the Nation, whose thirst for perishing souls bombarded many young men to pour their lives for the sake of Gospel. His 45 years of ministry life was the golden period in the history of Indian missions.

Pope Francis signed a decree canonizing one of the earliest Jesuits Blessed Peter Faber (1506-1546) at an audience with the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Angelo Amato. A Frenchman, he was a founding member of the Society of Jesus and the first of St Ignatius Loyola’s fledgling company to be ordained a priest. He was born into a poor family, near Savoy, France, on April 13, 1506. An ardent student, he eventually studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, where he shared a room with Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier.

Prince Charles made the comments during a meeting with leaders of churches. Prince Charles accompanied by Prince Ghazi of Jordan, visited the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in Stevenage and the Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in West London, where he learned more of the escalating violent conflict in the Middle East. Religious minorities are especially vulnerable to attack in the region as extremist Muslim groups have seized power in many areas.

Two Hindu fundamentalist organisations have threatened to launch agitation against Bollywood actors Nagma and Johnny Lever, alleging that they propagate Christianity and proselytizing Hindus. VHP leader Umesh Rane has alleged that large hoarding have come up at Mumbai railway stations and on buses using pictures of Nagma and Johnny Lever propagating and spreading Christianity. He alleged that both Nagma and Johnny Lever were collaborating with Christian missionaries and trying to proselytize Hindus.

The Police arrested several Christians including the Catholic Archbishop of Delhi, who defied prohibitory orders and marched towards the Parliament House demanding reservation for their brethren from dalit groups. Thousands of Christians from various denominations gathered at Jantar Mantar of Delhi in India, before marching to the Parliament House. The march was led among others by Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi. The police stopped the marchers after a short distance on the Parliament Street.

Two Women from Karnataka in India were detained for distributing tracts. The incident happened in the village of Nitte in Udupi District of Karnataka, after a mob of Hindu activists condemned women, accusing them of practicing forced conversions. The mob also threatened to hold a mass protest to punish them under relevant sections. Dr.Sajan George, President of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) said "A shameful attack, as planned nationalist forces step up pressure on Christians at Christmas".

More than 10,000 young people have signed a giant birthday card for Pope Francis, offering their prayers and well-wishes for the Holy Father’s 77th birthday on December 17. “We wanted to give the Pope a gift he would truly appreciate; something he would be proud of,” said Mark Nelson, Founder of Catholic to the Max, the Ohio-based arts and gifts outlet company behind the initiative. The 4 foot-tall card consists of a tri-fold plaque featuring an image and prayer of one of the Holy Father’s favorite Marian devotions, “Mary, Un-doer of Knots.”

A renowned anti-apartheid activist and Nobel peace laureate who served as South Africa’s first black President, Nelson Mandela, 95, passed away on December 05 (Thursday) at his home in Houghton near Johannesburg. Calling Nelson Mandela a leader with hard-won wisdom and maturity unparalleled in our time, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of World Council of Churches (WCC) gave thanks to God for Mandela’s life, which he described as a gift to South Africa and the whole world.

Indian Social Institute (ISI) is organizing the valedictory celebrations of its Golden Jubilee later this week. A national seminar on the theme “Breaking New Paths for Inclusive Development” will be organised on December 05 and 06 in Bangalore and a valedictory function on the evening of December 06 will also be organised. The inaugural Function of the seminar will be presided over by Fr. Edward Muduvassery, provincial of Jesuits, South Asia and the keynote address would be delivered by Mr.Syeda Hameed, member of Planning Commission. About 100 academicians and activists from across the country will take part in the program.

Speaking to crowds of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis said that the day will come when nations will live in peace. He said it will be a great day in which weapons will be dismantled and transformed into instruments of work: “What a great day it will be”. And this – Pope Francis said – is possible. "Let’s put a bet on hope” – he continued – on hope for peace, and peace will be possible. He recalled the passage from the prophet Isaiah who speaks of a time when swords will be broken into plows and nations will live in peace.

Stressing the importance of the religious vocation, Pope Francis announced today that the year 2015 will be dedicated to Consecrated Life. The Union of Superiors General held its 82nd General Assembly in the Salesianum in Rome from 27 to 29 November. Although a brief meeting with the Union was planned, but the Holy Father spent an estimated three hours in a question and answer discussion with participants.