The life of Fr Stan Swamy celebrated in Rome
In remembrance and gratitude
for Fr Stan Swamy, for his life of service to the poor and marginalised,
especially the adivasis (indigenous)
in India, a Eucharist was celebrated by Fr General, Arturo Sosa, at the General
Curia on Saturday 10 July along with many other religious and faithful.
We recall that Father Stan died on 5 July 2021 in custody, imprisoned for nine months, since 8 October 2020. He was imprisoned on false and fabricated charges of sedition and anti-national activitiesunder the ‘Unlawful Activities Prevention Act’ (UAPA). Fifteen others are still in custody as undertrials, some of them for more than 3 years, on the same charges of sedition. This group is commonly known as the Bhima Koregaon 16.
In his homily, Fr Xavier
Jeyaraj, Secretary of the Society for Social Justice and Ecology, said, “Let us
celebrate [Father Stan]; let us celebrate his birth in heaven. His death is not
the end. His death has raised many voices, loud and clear. He planted the seed
of hope for so many people when he said, ‘A caged bird can still sing’.”
See below some photos from
the event and watch the short video of the celebration.
Related Posts:
Sudan, located in north-eastern Africa, has been a hotbed for a deepening socio-political crisis since fighting broke out in the country last year. So far, international organizations estimate that about 25.6 million people – more than half of Sudan’s population – face acute hunger...
An interview with a Jesuit who put science in the hands of the poor.
A reflection arising from the experience of the Coordinator for Ecology of the South Asian Jesuit Conference.
The word “Magis” holds a profound and emotional connection for us Jesuits. Perhaps no other term in Ignatian jargon is as popular as Magis. Also, no other Ignatian term has accumulated as many interpretations over the years...
Wayanad is a rural district in Kerala, southwest India. It is a popular area with beautiful landscapes and tropical forests, hillocks and plainlands, with paddy fields and other vegetation. Hectares of lands are converted into coffee estates...
Here is an example of a Jesuit missionary involvement that has important bearing on the future of rural development in India. But what sustains this project are the links that its founder was able to establish between the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and evangelical values.
