Sujata Jena

"The true spirit of singing the Easter Exsultet in Indian churches is found in achieving equality and liberation for Dalits, the Indigenous and minorities," writes Sr. Sujata Jena.

In 2023, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted an unprecedented Christmas celebration, with guests including Mumbai's cardinal and Delhi's archbishop. Why has the event evoked outrage among Christians?

What resonates in everyone's heart is how ordinary people manifest unwavering religious convictions, standing by their faith, facing death, alienation from their family and village, and enduring the loss of land, property and comfort alike.

For such a scale of heinous violence as we've seen in Manipur, India — especially the recent brutal attack on two women — even one day of silence on the part of the government is too long.

Horizons - I attended the zonal assembly of my religious community, the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. What kept me contemplating during the assembly was the theme: "Together be bread for the world."

Realizing it had been a year since the Ukraine-Russia war broke out, I intensified my prayers for its end. I also researched the war's global impact: I was surprised how much the war has affected so many people in India.

Horizons - Since the start of Advent, I have been reflecting on the mystery of God becoming human — the first Christmas. The feast of Christmas invites us to become vulnerable, to join with the vulnerable.

Horizons - Recently, my congregation invited me to address sisters who were preparing for final vows. I decided to reflect with them on the parable of the good Samaritan as the road map for carrying out our mission.

It is the responsibility of every citizen, every baptized Christian, to save democracy. The more the church isolates itself and goes away from people, the further it moves from the teaching of Christ.

Synodality gives voice to the unheard and to the periphery. Discussion of abuse and misuse of power in religious communities comes amid these churchwide reflections.

Horizons – A parish priest in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu has been washing the feet of the marginalized for nearly three decades before Pope Francis decreed that women's feet could be washed on Holy Thursday.

My happiness does not depend on what I possess — as I used to think — and that happiness never ends. Simplicity is bliss. Poverty is necessary to live our vocation meaningfully and authentically.

On our India Republic Day, I think about how our constitution came into effect. The Indian Constitution gives freedom of religion, but there has been an ongoing violation through countless attacks on Muslims and Christians.

The real tribute to Father Stan should not necessarily be to put him on a pedestal and honor him as a saint, as an extraordinary person who we cannot follow — but to share in his vision of being part of the struggles of the poor and the outcast, the fundamental mission of the church.

Horizons - My vocation comes along with an abundance of God's unconditional love and blessings, as I share the gift of my life, especially with the poor and vulnerable ones whom God is calling me to care for.

Horizons - Apart from the frontline medical workers, who else effectively combats the pandemic in India? Among the many unseen warriors, I think the Sikh community turned out to be the country's good Samaritans.

Horizons - Almost everyone I know is affected by the second wave of COVID-19 in India in one way or the other. I and most sisters in my community had the virus the first week of April, and we had to isolate ourselves immediately.

About 110 million farmers have been striking on the outskirts of Delhi for over two months in a peaceful protest against the three new agricultural laws that were passed last September. But politicians and celebrities here say non-Indians can't have an opinion on this internal matter.

India's nationwide lockdown forced migrants to attempt a return to their homes. Many ended up stranded mid-journey. I managed to help several migrants by networking with government officials.

In Manila, the Philippines: I meet the homeless along the street, begging at doors, camping under the bridge, stopping vehicles on the road asking for coins, lying on the sidewalks — so frail and exposed to rain and sun.