ASIA/BANGLADESH - Cardinal Filoni in Rajshahi for the XXV of the diocese: a Church in mission among the adivasis

Tuesday, 8 September 2015

Rajshahi (Agenzia Fides) - "Our community is small and young (it has been a diocese since 1990) but with missionary zeal. The Catholic population of about 64 thousand souls out of 18 million inhabitants, 65% is composed by the adivasis, the poorest tribals, who often live on the margins of society or in the rural areas, while 35% are Bengalese": this is how Fr. Dilip Costa, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Bangladesh, a priest of the diocese of Rajshahi, presents the local Church to Agenzia Fides, on the eve of the visit of Cardinal Fernando Filoni. The Prefect of the Vatican Congregation of Propaganda Fide will be in Bangladesh on a pastoral visit from September 9 to 13, as part of a pastoral visit to Asia that will also touch India and Nepal (see Fides 07/09/2015). In Bangladesh, the Cardinal will preside the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Rajshashi, and will meet with Bishops, priests, religious, laity, seminarians.
Fr. Costa expresses joy and gratitude on behalf of the entire Church of Bangladesh and, in particular, that of Rajshashi, for the visit of Cardinal Filoni, and remembers: "The first baptisms in the local community in this part of Bengal, bordering India, were the work of PIME missionaries in the early 900. Our diocese was officially created on May 21, 1990".
In Rajshahi, Bangladesh's fourth largest city after Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna, the first presence of Catholics was less than 40 years ago. The local priests recall the testimony of a nun, Sister Silvia Gallina, superior of the Sisters of Maria Bambina in Andarkhota, who was going to Rajshahi to take care of the aid and the sick. Then she settled on the spot with two sisters, planting the first seeds of faith, in a rather hostile context.
Since then the church has grown and is characterized above all for the mission among the Adivasi tribals who live in the slums or in rural areas, mostly animists. Today, the diocese has 19 parishes and Fr. Costa operates in the church dedicated to St. Rita.
The priest told Fides: "Every parish has its own primary school: the whole Church is involved in the work of education. Primary schools are attended mostly by Christian children, secondary schools also welcome Muslims and of other religions without discrimination",
Education and human development "are an essential part of the work of evangelization and are a priority for the Church of Rajshahi". In fact microcredit initiatives are also thriving, promoted and managed by churches, religious congregations and Catholic associations. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 08/09/2015)


Share: