North East Catholic Research Forum

The North East Catholic Research Forum intends to publish a book, compiling articles by different writers on the broad theme of "Christian contribution to nation-building." Interested contributors may please contact editor@necarf.org

Latest from us

Ntheo Louis Yanthan: A Pastor, a Catechist and a Pioneer Catholic

Opinion | Articles | Benjamin Chang |

Lt. Catechist Ntheo Louis Yanthan of Lakhuti Village was a Baptist Pastor, who later embraced Catholic Faith and became one of the longest serving Catechist in the Diocese of Kohima, Nagaland. He served as a Baptist Pastor and Catholic Catechist for 35 (t.....

Silent Slaves

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan |

Last week an NGO Director in Tamil Nadu sent me a news clipping. It said that in just one-day three young girls were missing in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. The report mentions about the network of human traffickers, including bus drivers and co.....

Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave’s open letter to Prime Minister Modi

Current Updates | Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave’s open letter to Prime Minister Modi Dear Prime Minister, These path-breaking messages have rightly been described by you, Sir, as inspirations and not merely slogans. You have described this broadly as Secularism in action.....

Jesus and the Rolling Stones

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai |

Most of us would have heard of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1970 musical “Jesus Christ Superstar”. It was an attempt to re-present Christ in a modern day idiom. Nobody will have heard of Jesus and The Rolling Stones, the jazz group Mick Jagger founded in 1962. R.....

God of love or God of punishment?

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan |

I watched this video. I found that the focus of this video is on the “punishments” that God seems to have given to those who “desecrated church buildings.” Maybe, some of those who desecrated the church might have repented and an inner conversion took pla.....

Synodal Church: A Need to Walk the Talk

Opinion | Articles | Joseph M Thohrii |

Pope Francis has declared that Synodality is what God expects of the Church in the 21st Century. He has put his own transformative stamp on the meaning and conduct of synods, saying that a synod involves mutual listening in which everyone has something to.....

India Cries for Justice

Opinion | Articles | Cedric Prakash |

In India, the cries for justice, are becoming louder and longer! They come from different segments of society and particularly from those who continue to be exploited and excluded! These cries are heart-rending: anyone with an iota of conscience will hear.....

Bad Apples, Sad Couples, Glad Tidings

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai |

Fortunately I belong to a small parish where just a handful of people come for the Sunday evening Mass. It is therefore a time of quiet reflection for me. These reflections then are based on the first two readings of the first Sunday of Lent. The first.....

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.....

Catholic Church Tithes and Collections

Opinion | Articles | Benjamin Chang |

Catholic Church is a Universal Church and the Indulgence (collection of money) was practiced in some parts of Germany. Thanks to Martin Luther, a Catholic monk for going against the Catholic Church. It was his protests that led to Counter Reformation in t.....

War between Flying and Walking Creatures: A Mizo folk tale

Current Updates | Culture | Luke Sangkima |

(Chungleng Leh Hnuaileng Indo) Once upon a time, a tortoise kept watch over the nest of a serpent. One day a barking deer came and challenged the tortoise to compete for jumping over the nest. The tortoise declined the offer saying he cannot risk destroy.....

The Season of Lent

Opinion | Articles | Benjamin Chang |

Ash Wednesday marks the onset of the Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and abstinence. Ash Wednesday is so called because of the imposition of ashes on the foreheads of the faithful, marked with the shape of a cross, which serve as a reminder of the call.....

Politically religious or religiously political?

Opinion | People's Edit | G.L. Khing |

Human beings are political and religious by nature. The combination of both enables the smooth functioning of the State. The sharp contrast between the two brings chaos, fear and violence. As the trumpet of election blows, there emerges a contrasting soun.....

The Church and Family

Opinion | People's Edit | Joseph M Thohrii |

The Catholic vision describes the family as a community of life and love. Family life is sacred and its activities are holy because God’s love is revealed and communicated through these activities. As a result, families can come to believe that God dwells.....

Editorial

The Twin Pillars of the Catholic Church

Dealing with the differences between the laity and clergy, the two pillars of the church, is a perpetual problem for the Catholic Church. Though the problem is real and sometimes threatens to tear apart the cohesiveness of the synodal church, it has alway.....

It is time Christians learn to read things between the lines

The recent statement from the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, proposing a regulatory body to oversee church properties akin to temple boards and waqf boards for Hindus and Muslims, undoubtedly raises concerns. However, given the number of controve.....

Look within, before gazing afar

Pope Francis has already announced the names of 21 new Cardinals who will officially assume the new role on December 8th, 2024. Following their appointment as cardinal-elects, the Holy Father wrote a short but powerful letter to all these men, who would s.....

The AICU needs to explore beyond its current boundaries.

The All India Catholic Union, which is the apex body of lay Catholics in India, was born well ahead of India's independence. It is a union with inclusive representation, upholding the Catholic faithful's mandate from all three rites of the Catholic family.....

Wayanad: Another wakeup calls for Mankind

Wayanad in Kerala is considered to be one of the rural districts in the state that has many attractions: a wildlife sanctuary, lush green forest cover, high altitude comfort, home to animals including Asian elephants, tigers, and leopards, and mesmerizing.....

Democracy has finally triumphed

The Parliamentary Elections 2024 have been one hell of an epic exercise, not because they were conducted in a country known as the world’s largest democracy, but simply because of the manner in which the entire exercise was carried out. Between the first.....

Unleashing Unity: A Synodal Mandate for the Catholic Church in Northeast India

As India engages herself in a general election since April 19th and braces for results on June 4, 2024, the air is thick with anxiety. The potential return of the Modi-led BJP, with its fascist undertones and anti-minority stance, threatens the very fabri.....

Is the CBCI admitting that Catholic Schools are indeed converting people?

Provoked by series of wild allegations on Christian institutes converting students from other religions, the NECARF Review ran an editorial as early as October 2022 under the caption “Forced Conversions: Christian Response to the Allegations." The editori.....

The Silence is deafening

The year 2023 ended somewhat on an unpleasant note for the Catholic Church, as there was a huge controversy over Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops attending a Christmas gathering on an invitation extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Ch.....

A clarion call to Consecrated Men and Women

Since 1997, the Catholic Church has commemorated World Day for Consecrated Life on every 2nd of February, an observation instituted by Saint Paul John II. On this day, the Church prays and encourages the world’s religious men and women to always be open t.....

Upholding Democracy to safeguard SC and ST Interest in the region

The question today is, ‘How can we strategically leverage community engagement, media partnerships, and national and international solidarities and alliances to elevate the visibility of the Supreme Court directive on SC and ST representation in the North.....

Francis does it again

In a papacy that spans a little less than a decade, Pope Francis has created some history by doing away with some of the Vatican’s pomp and privilege, at times at the cost of severe criticism from the conservatives who believe that the Catholic Church des.....

Previous Articles

Silent Slaves

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan

Last week an NGO Director in Tamil Nadu sent me a news clipping. It said that in just one-day three young girls were missing in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. The report mentions about the network of human traffickers, including bus drivers and co.....

Entrepreneurs: The Wealthy Unemployed

Opinion | People's Edit | Kh.Siile Anthony

An entrepreneur is a person who can take calculative risks with innovative ideas for profit. To be an entrepreneur is a dream that many professionals aspire, but those with real guts achieve it. Getting entrepreneurship ideas is not a hard thing but to co.....

Bad Apples, Sad Couples, Glad Tidings

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai

Fortunately I belong to a small parish where just a handful of people come for the Sunday evening Mass. It is therefore a time of quiet reflection for me. These reflections then are based on the first two readings of the first Sunday of Lent. The first.....

As The Pandemic Scourges on - Musings In The Times Of Covid-19

Opinion | Articles | Philip Lyngdoh

Pandemic life has been tough and we all need a fresh start. Especially as Covid now posits a mortal threat not just for people beyond 45 and with co-morbidities but also for younger people. All this while many - rather most, - liked to brush away Covid a.....

Thomas Ngaihte to Lead a Sixteen Member NECCOD Executive Council

Current Updates | NE Brief | NECARF Rep

In an election conducted by the Election Commission of the North East Catholic Community of Delhi (NECCOD) on Dec. 5, 2021, a sixteen member Executive Council was declared elected, with Thomas Ngaihte, as the President. Ngaihte presently is an Additional .....

Archdiocese of Imphal bids Tearful Farewell to Rev. Fr. Albert Khartu

Current Updates | NE Brief | NECARF Rep

The Catholic community of the Archdiocese of Imphal bid emotional Farewell to late Rev. Fr. Albert Khartu, by partaking in Requiem Mass, with Most Rev. Dominic Lumon, DD, Archbishop of Imphal, as the main Celebrant at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Mantripuk.....

Our Culture and the Gospel Encounter

Opinion | People's Edit | Joseph M Thohrii

Introduction Since early human civilisations, there has always been feeling of awe towards the supernatural being, and human beings had always been curious and interested to understand this phenomenon and wanted to relate life to this reality or being. I.....

Folklore and Folktales of the Mao Tribe

Opinion | Articles | A. Kazhiini Mao

Introduction Every race, tribe or community has a set of beliefs, tales, legend, myth, proverb or sayings which plays a significant role in indicating the uniqueness of their group and their social cultural identity. The Mao, one of the major tribes of t.....

Jawan film conveys Zabardast message

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan

Jawan film conveys Zabardast message Jawan film has become the talk of the town all over the country these days. Akash Banerjee of The Desh Bhakt YouTube channel reproduced the pertinent questions asked by Shah Rukh Khan, the hero of the film, as given b.....

NECCOD celebrates 30th Anniversary

Current Updates | NE Brief | NECARF Rep

The North East Catholic Community of Delhi, on December 6th 2020, celebrated the 30th year of their existence in the National capital at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, New Delhi. The occasion was combined with the usual Pre-Christmas celebration the organisa.....

The Hug of a Humbug!

Opinion | Articles | Cedric Prakash

Few will not remember Judas Iscariot and the role he played in the betrayal of Jesus! For those who don’t know or don’t remember, these passages from Sacred Scripture will help put things in perspective: And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I .....

Opinion

Corporate Greed is not Nation building

Articles | M L Satyan |

Today two industrialists have become the talk among the social media, both in India and in abroad. One person is Mr. N.R. Narayana Murthy of Infosys and the other person is Mr. S.N. Subrahmanyan of Larsen & Toubro (L&T). Months after Infosys co-founder N.....

The heat is now on Christians in Northeast India

Articles | John Dayal |

India’s bishops, as much as its civil society, possibly missed an ominous warning in a report in the Kathmandu-based portal Himal Southasian about the growing support within tribal communities in the northeastern states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh for .....

School drop-out rate is a serious concern

Articles | M L Satyan |

I had an opportunity to work with Functional Vocational Training and Research Society (FVTRS) from 2008 to 2014. The focus group of FVTRS was always school dropout students. Local NGOs became partners of FVTRS to provide skill training to school dropout s.....

"Celebrating 50 Years of Fr. Niphot’s Walk with Indigenous Wisdom"

Articles | James Pochury |

For five decades, Fr. Niphot Thianwihan of Chiang Mai, Thailand, has walked side by side with the Indigenous Karen people, learning and living their profound wisdom. His journey resonates deeply with the realities of the tribes and Indigenous peoples of N.....

True Spirit of Christmas is to Give, Unite, and Hope

Articles | Peter F Borges |

What does Christmas mean to you? Is it the sparkle of lights that adorn every street, the joyful hum of carols in the air, or the warm aroma of freshly baked cakes and sweets wafting through your home? Is it the excitement of unwrapping presents, the laug.....

The Twin Pillars of the Catholic Church

Editorial | John S. Shilshi |

Dealing with the differences between the laity and clergy, the two pillars of the church, is a perpetual problem for the Catholic Church. Though the problem is real and sometimes threatens to tear apart the cohesiveness of the synodal church, it has alway.....

Current Updates

Statement of Concerned Catholics

Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

On Thursday 4 April 2024, Pope Francis in a very incisive message to the participants in the First Colloquium between the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in the Vatican said, “We n.....

Pope Francis says he is frightened by escalation in war

Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

Pope Francis in an interview

In an interview on an Italian TV program, Pope Francis laments the risk of escalation in war, says he has no plans to resign, announces Apostolic Journeys to Polynesia and to Argentina, and reflects on ‘Fiducia supplicans’, saying “the Lord blesses everyo.....

Our Baptism made us children of God: Pope Francis

Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

Pope Francis during Sunday Angelus

During his Sunday Angelus on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Pope Francis reminds faithful that the day they were baptized, we became children of God forever, and this date of great grace must be remembered and celebrated. At our Baptism, we became.....

Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil receives World Peace Award 2023

NE Brief | NECARF Rep |

Archbishop Menamparampil receiving the award

Archbishop Emeritus Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati, whose name is synonymous with a crusader of ‘Peace and Reconciliation’, has been awarded the prestigious Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam World Peace Award 2023 on the occasion of the United Nations International H.....

Synodal myopia in the light of Synodality in the family and apostolates

Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

Recent statements by prominent ecclesiastics raise important questions about certain assumptions that isolate synodality from theological, ecclesiological, canonical, and practical realities.(The Catholic World Report) This essay is occasioned by (1) the.....

Indian Catholic Forum organised a meeting

Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

A one-day meeting was organised by the Indian Catholic Forum in Bengaluru on October 28, 2023. It was held at Nava Spoorthi Kendra. The theme of the meeting was Synodal Church and Secular Society. This was a follow up of the national meeting held in V.....

Education

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 |

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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.....

NISCORT Online Course

College | NECARF Rep |

Online Media Course Details

NISCORT is conducting an Online Certificate Course in Media for Grauates. Those interested to join may contact the Institute.....

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