A group of pilgrims from the southern Indian state of Kerala made a faith-filled journey to the Kandhamal district of the eastern Indian state of Odisha—revered as the land of Christian martyrs—to honor the sacrifices of those who gave their lives for Christ on April 9.
The 14-member group, led by Fr. Sebastian Vadakkumpadan, parish priest of St. Joseph Church in Karukunnu, Ernakulam, included catechism students, three Catholic nuns from the SABS and Holy Family congregations, and lay leaders.
Fr. Vadakkumpadan, who previously served as Secretary to the Prison Ministry of India under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) for 14 years, shared the pilgrimage's heartfelt theme: “Kandhamal is not far away when there is love.”
The group visited the Tiangia Martyrs Memorial, where they paid tribute to Servant of God Kantheswar Digal and his 34 companions—victims of the 2007–2008 anti-Christian violence that shook the region.
The memorial at Tiangia holds special significance, as it marks the site where seven martyrs were killed—the highest number from any single village.
Vadakkumpadan underscored their spiritual unity by stating, "We have not wasted the seeds of Catholic faith with 35 Servants of God." We light a lamp every day in Kerala for the Odisha mission. You are not alone—we are with you in your suffering, pain, and witness to Christ.”
Ansiya Maria Siju Chakkiyath, a student leader, reflected on the inspiration she drew from Kandhamal’s Christian community: “Their lives are models of strong faith. The more challenges they face, the deeper their faith grows. This pilgrimage has enriched my faith journey.”
Another student leader, Amos Kunjmon, expressed his desire to return to Kandhamal after completing his studies to support the mission and its people.
The local faithful welcomed the pilgrims warmly. Anakleta Nayak, a survivor of the 2008 violence, said, “Seeing pilgrims from Kerala strengthens our spirit and encourages us to deepen our faith each day.”
Fr. Manoj Kumar Nayak, parish priest of Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church in Mondasore (Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar), offered a message of gratitude: “We are thankful to the missionaries from Kerala and beyond who stood with us in our darkest times and offered unwavering commitment.”
This pilgrimage marks a powerful expression of interregional solidarity, where the faithful from Kerala and Kandhamal together celebrate the legacy of martyrdom, hope, and unwavering faith.
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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