North East Catholic Research Forum

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Nongstoin Diocese gets a New Bishop

Current Updates | NE Brief | NECARF Rep |

Bishop Elect of Nongstoin Diocese,Rev. Fr. Merwin

According to a press release issued by Rev. Fr (Dr) Stephen Alathara, the Deputy Secretary General of CCBI, Rev. Fr Wilbert Marwein has been appointed as the new Bishop of Nongstoin Diocese. The communiqué also adds that Fr. Wilbert Marwein was born on 1.....

Indian Dalits Still has Miles to go

Opinion | Articles | N.Leo Samuel |

In the last week of December, a few people from Vengaivayal, a village in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu in southern India, were treated for upset stomachs and vomiting at the local government hospital. This continued for a week with more villagers rep.....

Vikas - Vishwas –Vilash – Vinash

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai |

There has been a progression, or rather regression, of Vs over the last week. For those unfamiliar with Hindi, let me first do a literal translation of the 4 Vs in this title – Vikas (Development), Vishwas (Faith), Vilas (Luxury) and Vinash (Destruction)......

CAN Hosts an Impressive Convention at Jakhama

Current Updates | NE Brief | NECARF Rep |

Participants of CAN Convention side the Bishop Abraham Memorial Indoor Stadium

The 39th – year convention of the Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN) was hosted at the St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama, wherein over one thousand participants from 36 Parishes and 21 quasi Parishes took part. The four-day event was graced by Most Rev (D.....

Catholic Community of Sikkim took the tidings of Christmas to CM

Current Updates | NE Brief | NECARF Rep |

Catholic community of Sikkim celebrating Christmas with CM Sikkim

Christmas Carol Choir team of the St. Paul the Apostle Church, Gangtok, Sikkim, had the unique distinction of presenting Christmas Carols at the residence of Prem Singh Tamang (Goley), Chief Minister of Sikkim, on 24th December 2022 at Mintokgang. The rar.....

A Reflection on the Importance of offering Suffrages

Opinion | Articles | Penny Rose Chinir |

According to the Catholic faith, suffrages are intercessory prayers in the form of holy mass and other prayer services, beseeching the repose of the departed souls. For example in the FMA family – a family of over 12,000 nuns across the globe, of which th.....

Moving Back to the Middle Ages

Opinion | Articles | Thomas Menamparampil |

Tagore dreamt of an India where the citizens would have the courage to hold their “heads high”. Martin Luther King dreamt of a homeland that would give equal respect to every citizen. An Iranian composer longs for a civilized culture in her country where.....

Need to Uphold Human Rights in our Homes

Opinion | Articles | Myron J Pereira |

For almost all of human history, most men and women had no rights, only duties. You had to be born rich and powerful, a member of the "right" caste, race, class, sex, or religion to have rights at all. And even then, the whim of a local monarch or the mis.....

Advent Adventure

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai |

The Advent season is upon us. It is a preparation for Christmas, depending on our priorities. The Hindi word for Advent is Aagman. It is the same word used at airports for Arrivals. Advent means just that – the coming or arrival of somebody or thing. .....

UCFNEI Refutes Allegations of Force Conversions

Current Updates | NE Brief | NECARF Rep |

In a meeting held in Guwahati on November 24, 2022, the United Christians Forum of North East India (UCFNEI) expressed strong resentment over allegations of Christians forcibly converting people. In a press release issued after the meeting, the organisati.....

Diocese of Kohima bids Tearful Adieu to Fr. Dominic Selosie

Current Updates | NE Brief | NECARF Rep |

Requiem Mass of late Rev. Fr. Dominic Selosie

Priest, Nuns and the Laity of the Diocese of Kohima gave an emotional farewell to late Rev. Fr. Dominic Selosie, on 26th November 2022 at the St. Joseph Parish Church, Chumoukedima. Late Rev. Dominic Selosie breathed his last on 24.11.2022. The requiem ma.....

Caring Our Mother Earth: Pathways to Conservation

Opinion | Articles | Vincent T Darlong |

When God created the earth “God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:18). After he created man, God has put him in the Garden of Eden to care for it (Genesis 2:15). But today, we seem to be doing just opposite to what God had intended. Instead of caring for t.....

Recapitulating on the emergence of Dioceses in North East India

Opinion | Articles | Penny Rose Chinir |

Cursory glance at the emergence of Northeast India Dioceses The Catholic dioceses of Northeast India have its roots from 1870 when Assam became part of the prefecture apostolic of Krishnagar. Fr Jacob Broy of the Foreign Missions of Milan was the first r.....

Bless me, father

Opinion | Articles | Desmond L. Kharmawphlang |

Bless me, father Lying flat on his back, wild grasses teasing his face, Rimeki stared at the sky. Mesmerized by the theatre of clouds, like tufts of cotton or tula as the fluffy material is called in these parts, stretched in a pattern as far as his eye.....

Editorial

The determination was written on every Indian player’s face

On the intervening night of November 2nd and 3rd, the Indian women’s cricket team created history by winning the ICC Women’s World Cup for the first time at the DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai. They defeated South Africa, a team dubbed by many cricketing.....

Zubeen Garg unites people even in his death

Many ordinary people who are not connected to music and art might not have even heard of Zubeen Garg, despite being an iconic artist and a person who cared for others. However, after his unfortunate and untimely demise on September 19, 2025, social media.....

How serious are educational Institutions about the mental health of young people?

During the monsoon session of the Parliament in July 2025, Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar informed the house that student suicide cases accounted for 7.6 per cent of all suicide cases reported across India in 2022, showing a slight.....

Religious Persecutions in the Land of Vivekananda and Gandhi

The dictionary meaning of ‘persecution’ reads as ‘unfair or cruel treatment based on race, religion, or political belief’. Therefore, persecution can occur through racial discrimination or political exploitation and is not necessarily limited to the relig.....

From a Murderer to a Pilgrim of Faith

Prior to June 27, 2025, not many people in this country and elsewhere would have heard of Chengu@Sudharsan@Chandu Hansda, who at the age of 13 turned into a murderer when he joined the mob that brutally burnt alive an Australian missionary, Graham Stewart.....

Ominous Signs and the Catholic response

India is a country that boasts staggering diversity—a colourful mix few in the world have the privilege of sharing. Since independence and the enactment of the constitution, freedom, liberty, and equality before the law has always been our treasured right.....

The New Pope and His Message

This time, 1.39 billion Catholics across the globe were fortunate to see the white smoke come out of the Sistine Chapel chimney on the second day as Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected by the cardinal conclave in the fourth round of voting, one less than .....

The Pope didn’t Sulk or Shun

The Vatican News released a video of Pope Francis extending Easter greetings to a multitude of people at St. Peter’s Square in Rome, which was one day before his final journey to the eternal world. A close look at that video reveals that the Holy Father w.....

The CBCI blinks yet again

The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), regarded as a father figure by an estimated 23 million Catholics in this country, has yet again shown lack of wisdom while taking decision on crucial matters. While the organization may like to downplay som.....

Persecution as an Opportunity

The history of the church is replete with stories of persecution; the crucifixion of Christ itself being the greatest of all. Rome, where the Vatican, the supreme seat of the Pontiff, stands today, in fact was one of the foremost places where Christian pe.....

Weaving a Christian Relationship

His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, in his book, Toward A True Kinship of Faith, wrote, “I have boundless respect for my Buddhist faith, but to see it within the context of its brother and sister religions has afforded me a vision of the grandeur and exten.....

We hope the Church Hierarchy is listening

According to the media report, the son of a pastor, Ramesh Baghel, has been prevented from burying the dead body of his late father in the village cemetery because some Hindutva activists from his village did not allow the burial to take place. He appeale.....

Previous Articles

Avail Early Bird Discount in Media Studies

Education | College | NECARF Rep

NISCORT, one of the Premier Media Colleges in the National Capital area, announces admission for several graduate and post-graduate level courses in Media studies. Interested students may visit www.niscort.com for details......

New Delhi – New York, Via Newcastle

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai

What’s new? In recent times, a lot. Let me begin with the adage “Don’t carry coal to Newcastle”. This is because Newcastle, in north east England, was known for its industry and coal fields. Hence any attempt to send coal there would be superfluous. Can.....

TODAY, is WORSE than the ‘EMERGENCY!’

Opinion | Articles | Cedric Prakash

TODAY, is WORSE than the ‘EMERGENCY!’ India will and should never forget that infamous night of 25/26 June 1975, when, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had a state of emergency declared all over the country. During that dark chapter of the country.....

Need for Re-skilling and Up-skilling in Post Covid 19

Opinion | Articles | Felix Jajo

The whole world still continues to fight a pandemic and the fight seems to have taken a longer period than expected. But with the vaccines rolling out, there is a ray of hope amongst the people. It has been almost a year since the first nationwide lockdow.....

Will Shishu Bhawan now be Renamed as Shishu Mandir?

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai

Year 2022 dawned bleakly. Not just because of the resurgent Covid, but because of the.....

Student Suicides - A Silent Epidemic

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan

A recent article with the headline: “Suicide of Ashir Nanda in Kerala: A Wake-Up Call for Schools” by Fr Suresh Mathew OFM Cap is an eye-opener. In his article he mentions that the recent suicide of 14-year-old Ashir Nanda, a Class 9 student at St. Do.....

Maturity to Debate

Opinion | Articles | Paul Lelen Haokip

Debate is a form of articulating one’s conviction or standpoint to convince the floor based on facts and ground zero applications. When a society can debate maturely on topics such as Development, Literacy, Majoritarianism, Forest, Tribes, Democracy, Unif.....

FELIX CULPA – DÉJÀ VU

Opinion | Articles | Editorial Team

To Cardinal Oswald Gracias CBCI President & Papal Advisor (diocesebombay@gmail.com) Abp Leopoldo Girelli Apostolic Nuncio to India (nuntius@apostolicnunciatureindia.com) Cardinal Luis Tagle Prefect Congretio pro Gentium Evangelizatione, Vatican.....

Fratelli Tooti

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai

Had I entered a Spelling Bee contest I would have failed miserably, considering that I have mis-spelt the title of Pope Francis’ encyclical “Fratelli Tutti” that he wrote during the Covid pandemic. Unlike previous Popes, he wrote in Italian, not Latin. Se.....

Nation Building is the need of the hour

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan

Today’s socio-economic, religious and political scenario in the country frightens me. The ushering-in of Rama Rajya by constructing Ram temple at Ayodhya, pro-corporate policies of the federal government, using Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcem.....

Fire Frightening Franco: A corollary to Somebody Raped Nobody

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai

In my previous article I dwelt more on the judicial aspects of the judgement in the Franco Mulakkal rape case. The present one is based on the petition that I have submitted to Abp Anil Couto, the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Delhi ecclesiastical region.....

Opinion

Reclaim the Constituion

Articles | Cedric Prakash |

On 26 November, the nation will once again observe ‘Constitution Day’! There will be the usual plethora of speeches (ad nauseam!) of ‘how important the Constitution is for all of us’, ‘why it is important to safeguard it’, the fact that we have the best C.....

A reality check on SIR-driven Reverse-migration and the Internal disquiet

Articles | Isaac Harold Gomes |

Homeward Bangladeshis at the Indo-Bangladesh border

Since my last report of 10th November on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), an unprecedented reverse migration into Bangladesh has begun through Hakimpur, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India-Bangladesh check-post. On 23.11.2025 Anandabazar.com rep.....

The spectral presence of Christians in Indian politics

Articles | John Dayal |

There are hardly any Christian MPs and MLAs in India other than those elected on a political party ticket from Kerala, Andhra, Telangana, West Bengal, Karnataka, Goa, Orissa and the tiny-population north east states of Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunac.....

The Yellow Card

Articles | Chhotebhai |

There are two reasons why I remember the Yellow Card. The first dates back to boarding school more than 60 years ago. We had monthly tests for which we got cards – Gold for excellence, Blue for good work, Yellow for average marks and Pink for failure. Dur.....

The Poor are with Us!

Articles | Cedric Prakash |

The Catholic Church, will observe the ‘World Day of the Poor’, on 16 November 2025. The day has a special significance this year, since it comes in the wake of Pope Leo XIV’s first major papal document: An Apostolic Exhortation addressed “to all Christian.....

Youth: A Time to be Educated

People's Edit | Capt. Eddie Viegas |

“‘Tis Education that forms the common mind: Just as the twig is bent, the tree’s inclined.” (Alexander Pope) Indeed, if you ask any of the youngster in schools or colleges, “What is education?” You will get a plethora of replies ranging from getting a.....

Education

Job Fair in Don Bosco Kohima

College | NECARF Rep |

Job Fair Notice

For kind attention of young boys and girls who are interested in getting recruited in different Comnpaies......

Step in to the World of Journalism and Mass Media

College | NECARF Rep |

Niscort Media College

For those who aspire for the world of Mass media.....

Avail Early Bird Discount in Media Studies

College | NECARF Rep |

Admission Notice

NISCORT, one of the Premier Media Colleges in the National Capital area, announces admission for several graduate and post-graduate level courses in Media studies. Interested students may visit www.niscort.com for details......

NISCORT Announces three different courses in Journalism and Mass Communication

College | NECARF Rep |

aa

For those Interested in Journalism studies, the above affordable courses comes as a boon.....

NICORT Media College Announces Short Courses in Media fields

College | NECARF Rep |

Annoucment

NICORT Media College Announces Short Courses in Media fields.....

For those interested to make a Career in Mass Media and Journalism, NISCORT provides the opportunity

College | NECARF Rep |

NISCORT opens Admissions for Course in Mass Media and Journalism

NISCORT opens Admissions for Course in Mass Media and Journalism.....

Current Updates

Attacks aginst Christians increased by 500% since 2014: Rights Groups

Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

Attacks Against Christians Increased by 500% Since 2014: Rights Groups New Delhi: On November 4, Christian rights activists assembled at the Press Club of India to release a report about an alarming and sustained annual surge in incidents of violence a.....

An MSMHC Nun from Mizoram did the North East Proud

NE Brief | NECARF Rep |

Sr Rose Paite

October 14, 2025: Sr Rose Paite, an MSMHC nun from Mizoram, received the prestigious National Award from the Catholic Mental Health Ministry (CMHM) at the World Mental Health Day Conference in Kerala. The prestigious award was handed over to the recipie.....

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez’s address

Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

Synodality: Why No, and Why Yes Some have hoped that our new pope would ease up a little on this matter of synodality. Instead, Pope Leo has expressed a strong desire to continue along the path of synodality. For example: “Synodality becomes a mindset, .....

North East Catholic Community of Delhi puts up a Glittering show

NE Brief | NECARF Rep |

Mr Lalduhoma and Archbishop Anil J T Couto, with other dignataries

The North East Catholic Committee of Delhi (NECCOD) accorded a warm welcome to their new members who had joined them in the Delhi NCR region with spiritual and a social gathering worthy of the colours mix of the region they come from. This was the 33rd oc.....

NEIRBC Gets a new Education Commission Team

Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

Guwahati, June 25, 2025 – The Northeast Bishops Council’s Commission for Education has appointed a new leadership team, with Fr. Dr. Paul Pudussery, a Holy Cross priest, taking the helm. This transition marks the third leadership handover since the commis.....

Francis’s Bottle Craft: Miniature Homes in Glasses

Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

The Miniature Artist of Sikkim

In a quiet corner of Sikkim’s Lingzey, Gairigaon, an artist has been creating entire worlds inside bottles—one intricate house at a time. Meet Mr Francis Rai, the man behind Francis Bottle Crafts, whose passion for miniature architecture has turned into b.....

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