“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)
The vandalized statues of Mother Mary and Infant Jesus in the diocese of Rourkela, Sundhargarh district in Odisha creates fear-filled concern among the faithful in the state. Grotto statues were broken in Salangabahal parish and a room was set on fire in Bihabandh parish in the night of April 1, 2018, by some unidentified perpetrators. Odisha has been facing serious religious persecutions since decades, especially the brutal persecutions against the Christians in the state has been a threat to the entire community and to the whole mankind itself since ages.
At Bihabandh, the sacristy window of the old Church has been burnt. The Church authorities have filed a police complaint in this case though no one is arrested so far. The Catholics in the region are instructed to maintain peace and follow the attitude of forgiveness, by the parish. It is claimed that the purpose behind this vandalism is to create communal tensions so that the tribal people are divided among themselves in the name of religion and to stop them from fighting for their rights.
Let us pray for the diocese of Rourkela and ask the Lord Almighty to provide them with the strength and faith to endure all these persecutions in the name of Jesus Christ, the Living Lord.
