Thursday, December 17, 2009

In troubled Kandhamal, Indian Christians rebuild churches

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    • Simonbadi, India
    • In the presence of more than 3000 faithful, Roman Catholic Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Bhubaneswar has blessed a new church building in the troubled district of Kandhamal in eastern India, the scene of anti-Christian violence in recent years.

      "We are very proud that we have a beautiful and spacious church," Bhidhar Digal, an elderly parishioner, told Ecumenical News International, when asked whether such elegant churches were required in impoverished Kandhamal.
    • Digal said parishioners needed such a spacious church to replace the dilapidated and cramped building where many could not find space on Sundays.
    • Reddy said that a former parish priest had collected the four million rupees (US$85 000) needed to build the church from the Persian Gulf, where he is now serving, while local Catholics had contributed their labour free of charge.

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