By Purushottam Nayak –
Bishops Aplinar, Sarat, Niranjan with Auxiliary Bishop RabindraKasbasa: The persecuted Christians from the land of martyrs are elated on the ordination of Rabindra Kumar Ranasingh as the Auxiliary Bishop of archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, who hails from remote village, Kasbasa, Kandhamal of eastern Indian state of Odisha.
Thanksgiving mass“A flower can bloom in the hilly mountain if God wishes. Nothing is impossible if God decides it should happen even in harsh, unlikely or difficult conditions like rocky, cold mountain hills where flower normally don’t grow, good things can still happen,” says Bishop Niranjan Sualsingh of Sambalpur diocese in his introduction during thanksgiving mass of Auxiliary Bishop of Rabindra.
“Kasbasa, a remote Catholic village under the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, Bamunigam, surrounded by mountain no proper communication, no proper road at the childhood time of Bishop Rabindra,” continues Bishop Niranjan .
About 3000 faithful including 75 priests and 25 nuns gathered for the thanksgiving mass of new Bishop in his native village Kasbasa in January 19, 2026.
“Jesus asked Peter three times Do you love me? To match Peter’s three denials, to restore him completely, to confirm his love, to reaffirm his mission, to show that love, not perfection, qualifies us for God’s work,” says Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur in his homily.
It is truly apt the motto of Auxiliary Bishop `My grace is sufficient for you’. God’s grace is enough to carry us through what we cannot handle on our own continues Bishop Nayak.
The community including Kasbasa, native village of Auxiliary Bishop Rabindra faced persecution for two consecutive years—the largest attacks on Christians in India in over 300 years—resulting in untold suffering and deep trauma that devastated every sphere of life. Lives were lost, limbs injured, and livelihoods destroyed. 100 above were inhumanly killed during anti-Christian violence. Even after a decade and a half, the scars are yet to be healed: livelihoods remain to be restored, justice to be served, and the social fabric to be fully reconciled describes
Father Purushottam Nayak was appointed by the Archbishop John Barwa, SVD to research and prepare the dossier for the Kandhamal martyrs, a crucial step for their potential sainthood cause, a process initiated by Archbishop and later approved by the Vatican for 35 Catholic victims who were killed for their faith during the 2007-2008 anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal in eastern India.
Rabindra Kumar Ranasingh is ordained an Auxiliary Bishop, marking a significant moment of grace and service for the local Church.
The Episcopal ordination took place at Our Lady of Holy Rosary Parish, Daringbadi, with John Barwa, SVD the Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, serving as the principal consecrator. He was assisted by Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur diocese, Co-Consecrator 1 and Kishor Kumar Kujur of Rourkela diocese, Co-Consecrator 2, in accordance with the Church’s ancient tradition.
Born in Kosbasa, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Bamunigam, Kandhamal of Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, Bishop Ranasingh was ordained a priest on 18 April 2001 at Our Lady of Holy Rosary Parish, Daringbadi and has served in various pastoral and administrative roles, including parish assignments, diocesan roles, or ministries. His appointment as auxiliary bishop was announced by the Holy See on November 22, 2025.
“We are proud of our Bishop brother. We thank the Lord for these special blessings. Since his role belongs to the wider Church we need to be aware. May the Lord guide him to be a good shepherd,” say three of his religious sisters.
His three of five siblings are religious sisters: Sr Basanti Ranasingh ( Sisters of St. Anne of Providence), Sr. Anita Ranasingh (FSI Franciscan sisters of Immaculate), Sr. Rita Ranasingh (CJ) Congratulation of Jesus),