India-Church rejoicing that martyrs now on road to sainthood

An Indian archbishop has expressed delight that the Vatican has opened the cause of canonization of martyrs killed during one of the most violent outbreaks of Christian persecution this century.   The cause has been opened of Catholic catechist Kanteswar Digal and 34 others who died when Hindutva extremists attacked Christians in Kandhamal, Odisha (formerly …

Philippines – Church joyous and dynamic despite challenges

The Philippines is an archipelago in Southeast Asia consisting of 7,641 islands, 2,000 of which are inhabited. The two largest islands, Luzon and Mindanao, account for two thirds of the total surface area and population. The first includes the capital, Manila, and the second is home to most of the Muslim population and has been …