India: Four new priests ordained amid echoes of past persecution in Kandhaml district of Odisha
In a powerful witness of faith rising from persecution, four new Catholic priests were ordained in the Kandhamal district of Odisha state—the region once scarred by India’s worst anti-Christian violence—on May 6.
The ordination ceremony, held at Maa Maria Capuchin Parish under the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, was attended by nearly 2,000 faithful, including over 100 priests and 50 nuns.
Archbishop John Barwa, who presided over the ordination, reminded the candidates of their divine calling to be messengers of peace, love, and service, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Among those ordained was Capuchin Deacon Isaac Parichha, along with three diocesan deacons—Litu Pradhan, Saraj Nayak, and Michael Behera—all natives of Kandhamal.
Their vocations emerge as signs of hope and resilience in a region still healing from the brutal 2008 anti-Christian communal violence that saw nearly 100 Christians martyred, over 395 churches destroyed, and more than 56,000 people displaced.
“This is the fruit of unwavering faith,” said Meghanath Pradhan, father of one of the new priests, recalling the suffering endured by Christian families during the 2007–2008 persecution.
The ordination marks a renewed commitment to healing and reconciliation in a land once ravaged by hatred.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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