Bharananganam: A wave of compassion and solidarity surges through the heart of Kerala’s Christian community as the Diocese of Pala gathers in thousands this evening to intercede for two imprisoned Malayali nuns in Chhattisgarh. As the clock strikes 6:00 PM, the quiet town of Bharananganam transforms into a solemn sea of candles and prayer, as faithful from across the region converge at the Venerable Alphonsa Pilgrimage Church to join a Rosary procession that winds through the parish grounds.
The event, initiated by the Diocese as an expression of spiritual unity and protest, responds to the deeply troubling incarceration of Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preethi Mary consecrated women whose missionary commitment has been unjustly criminalized under the pretense of religious conversion. Their arrest has sparked widespread outrage among the faithful, and tonight’s procession marks a powerful spiritual resistance to what many see as growing intolerance and suppression of religious freedom.
Clergy, religious, and laity walk shoulder to shoulder, their prayers rising with each bead of the Rosary, weaving a tapestry of hope and resilience in the gathering dusk. As the five mysteries are recited, the crowd circles the parish church with a deep silence punctuated only by the rhythmic murmurs of Hail Marys and the faint toll of bells. The candlelit procession is not merely symbolic it is a call to conscience for the nation, an appeal to those in authority to uphold the ideals of justice, compassion, and the Constitution.
Following the completion of the Rosary, participants assemble at the cloister of the Forona Church, where a powerful message is delivered, emphasizing the moral and spiritual crisis that the incident in Chhattisgarh represents. The message underscores that those who dedicate their lives to service and evangelization must not be vilified or treated as criminals. The gathering then resumes the prayer march to the pilgrimage church, where a final blessing is bestowed, sealing the collective plea for truth and justice with divine hope.
Priests, nuns, and the faithful young and old respond with unwavering commitment. Vicars and assistant vicars have brought parishioners in large numbers, and heads of institutions ensure maximum participation. Tonight, Bharananganam stands not just as a spiritual hub, but as a beacon of justice and fraternity. The voices of the procession echo not only through the church courtyards but across the conscience of a nation grappling with questions of religious freedom and human dignity.
This prayerful vigil reminds India that the path of peace begins not in retaliation, but in unity and that the chains unjustly placed upon our sisters in Chhattisgarh cannot silence the unbreakable bond of faith and love shared by their spiritual family.