Thomas Scaria

Although the country nationalized private schools in 1960, "We have full freedom and dignity," said Apostolic Carmel provincial Sr. Mary Nilanthi. 

Women religious leaders and Catholic bishops in India have expressed solidarity with the people of earthquake-hit Myanmar and Thailand.

"The women religious in India have faced gender discrimination and sexual abuses that have caused mental health challenges for many, driving some to suicide," said Sr. Molly Mathew, who coordinates the program to revise formation curricula.

Missionary Sister of the Queen of Apostles Ajita Mathew Vettikuzhakunnela started a farming company in September 2023, owned and governed by rural women in northern India. 

Sr. Princy Fernandopulle has helped develop two child care centers in Sri Lanka. She spoke to GSR about the process of deinstitutionalizing child care centers and placing children back in their families and communities.

Women religious congregations are assisting church groups in the second phase of rehabilitation of the landslide survivors in the Wayanad district of Kerala, India, providing them shelter and livelihood.

"In the past few decades, we have handed over most of our hospitals to local dioceses or other women's congregations as part of the shift in our focus," said Sr. Lilly Joseph, head of the South India province of the Medical Mission Sisters.

Hundreds of people have been on a hunger strike since Oct. 11 to save Munambam from eviction by the Waqf Board, a Muslim body that has termed the properties as "the land belonging to Allah, the almighty." 

A national body of Catholic religious working for justice and peace in India has vowed to protect mother earth from "merciless invasions" that create ecological imbalances and climate change. 

In 1981, Sr. Maria Goretti founded the Dharma Jyothi (Light of Righteousness) Social Centre in Mangaluru and built about 750 homes for migrant laborers. 

More than 200 nuns from around 100 congregations joined a blind walk through the streets of Bengaluru, India, as part of their campaign to promote eye donation and protect eyesight, especially among children and youth.

More than 300 nuns from 12 congregations are on a faith renewal mission among Catholic families to help the Palai Diocese in southwestern India celebrate its platinum jubilee.

Catholic sisters in India have enhanced their youth ministry, with the aim to bring young people closer to the church, "understanding and accepting them as they are with their dreams, weaknesses and strengths."

In the wake of the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor on duty in Kolkata, Catholic nuns have joined widespread calls for urgent steps to prevent increasing cases of sexual violence against women in India.

After July 30 landslides swept away villages and a town in Wayanad, Kerala, India, Catholic sisters joined efforts to organize relief camps, offering school buildings, collecting aid and providing counseling.

Twelve women religious congregations in Sri Lanka have come together to address human trafficking, unsafe migration and exploitation of women and children in the island nation.

"My first appointment was in a conflict area, so you could say my religious journey was among war victims on the battlefield. I lived my religious life in the war zones for 26 years and even after the war."

Behind every cup of Ceylon tea, there is a story of exploitation and bonded labor, says Apostolic Carmel Sr. Maria Amali, whose congregation has worked among Sri Lanka's tea plantation workers for almost 100 years.

The island nation now has around 100 members of Lay Salvatorians, a laity group in the Salvatorian family involved in caring for the sick, poor and homeless. 

Kuzhinapurathu spoke to Global Sisters Report about various challenges faced by the religious congregations in India — dwindling vocations, aging members and the culture of working together.