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Nepali Christians did not want to come out in the open in the past for fear of persecution. Now, after the cuontry delcared secular, they seem to be unafraid to practice their religion. Even Pope seems confident about their security. Weclome Jesus Christ!!

Here is the link to North Point, where sharma was a rector: http://sursumcorda.org/index.php

People who studied and study at St. Xavier's and St. Mary's in KTM now understand how much the Catholics have done for Nepal. Finally, the Catholic community in Nepal has been raised to the level of an apostolic prefecture by the Pope himself. The Catholics have served Nepalis for many decades and now they may feel recognized a bit.

The official Pointifical words read thus:

"- Elevated the apostolic prefecture of Nepal (area 147,181, population 23,700,000, Catholics 6,681, priests 51, religious 112), Nepal to the rank of apostolic vicariate, with the same name and territorial boundaries. He appointed Fr. Anthony Francis Sharma S.J., apostolic prefect of Nepal, as the first apostolic vicar of the new apostolic vicariate, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of bishop. The bishop-elect was born in Kathmandu, Nepal in 1937 and ordained a priest in 1968."

URL is: http://212.77.1.245/news_services/press/vis/dinamiche/a3_en.htm

Holy See press office link: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/index.htm

Sharma has big plans for Nepal and the Maoists will help him in that:

Mgr Anthony Sharma, apostolic prefect to Nepal, said in his opening speech. “I have always tried to follow the Jesuit tradition and move where we are invited by locals. Now that the political situation has changed we can plan for our faithful”.

The prelate was referring to the transfer of power from the king to civilians and the cease-fire between the new democratic government and Maoist rebels who had been fighting royal hegemony for many years.

“My vision for Nepal is to see crosses planted on hilltops to bring about fullness and understanding in the lives of the people,” he further said.

“Preaching has to be done in the context of dialogue with people of other cultures and faiths. . . . [But] we must bear witness to how a Christian can be both Christian and Nepali,” said Jesuit Father John Locke, who is a naturalised Nepalese citizen.

At the end of the meeting a pastoral statement was released titled “Rooted in Christ, fully human and vibrant towards fullness of life for all people of Nepal”.
More here: http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=7920&geo=36&size=A

And here is the link to the Catholics in Nepal: http://www.catholic.org.np/

Some historical stuff provides much spotlight on the growth of this community:

The history of the service of the Catholic Church to the people of Nepal is short in the context of the 2000-year long history of the Church. As far as is known today, the first Catholic priest to enter Nepal was the Portuguese Jesuit Father Juan Cabral who passed through the Kathmandu valley in the spring of 1628 and was received graciously by the king of that time, probably King Lakshminarasimha Malla of Kathmandu. He was just passing through, however, on his journey from Shigatse to Hugli in India.

More: http://www.catholic.org.np/history.htm