The Catholic community of Kerubadi village, under Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in Daringbadi, Kandhamal district of eastern Indian state of Odisha, celebrated 110 years of Catholic faith with great joy and reverence on May 1.
The celebration coincided with the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, the patron saint of the village.
More than 1,500 faithful gathered for the occasion, including 15 priests and 10 nuns, to honor the journey of faith that began in 1915.
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur.
In his homily, he highlighted the dignity of labor and the significance of St. Joseph as a model of humility, commitment, and devotion.
“All work is valuable and should be respected, no matter its nature. Every job contributes to the well-being of society,” said Nayak.
Quoting 2 Thessalonians 3:10, he reminded the congregation, “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat,” and encouraged everyone to emulate St. Joseph’s dedication to caring for God’s creation.
This milestone anniversary is a moment of gratitude for the Kerubadi Catholic community. “We are grateful to God for His unconditional support, guidance, and accompaniment over the past 110 years of our Christian journey,” said Liberio Nayak, a retired teacher.
He also noted the many blessings the village has received, including vocations to the priesthood and religious life and professionals serving in various sectors such as education, medicine, civil services, and the military.
Reflecting on the growth of faith, Vicar General Pradosh Chandra Nayak of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar said, “In 110 years of Christianity, the belief in Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah has deepened. Christians here strive to live out His teachings through love, service, and faith.”
The celebration featured traditional singing and dancing, expressing the community’s joy and gratitude.
Historically, the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS) were the first to bring Christianity to southern Odisha, including regions like Ganjam, Puri, Asika, and Cuttack, from 1850 to 1922.
In Kerubadi, Hardi Nayak and Bauri Nayak were the first converts to the faith. Today, the village is home to nearly 2,000 Catholics.
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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