ASIA/BANGLADESH - Erection of the Diocese of Barisal and appointment of the first Bishop

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On December 29, 2015 the Holy Father erected the new diocese of Barisal, Bangladesh, with territory taken from the Diocese of Chittagong, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan see of Dhaka. The Holy Father appointed His Exc. Mgr. Subroto Lawrence Howlader, C.S.C., until now Auxiliary Bishop of Chittagong, as the first Bishop of Barisal.
The first Bishop of Barisal was born on September 11, 1965 in Noborgram, district of Barisal, in the diocese of Chittagong. After having studied at the Minor Seminary of Goumadi in Barisal, he entered the novitiate of the Congregation of the Holy Cross in 1987. He studied at Notre Dame College and at the Major Seminary in Dhaka. He professed his final vows on August 6, 1993 and was ordained a priest on 31 December 1994.
Since his ordination he has served the following pastoral and academic roles: 1994-1995: Assistant priest in Mariamnagar, in the diocese of Mymensingh; 1996-1998: Rector of the Minor Seminary in Jalchatra, in the diocese of Mymensingh; 1998-1999: Assistant priest in Pirgacha, in the diocese of Mymensingh; 2000: Assistant priest in Mariamnagar in the diocese of Mymensingh; 2000-2004: Studies for a Licentiate in Psychology in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University; 2005-2009: Master at the Novitiate of the Holy Cross in Barisal; 2008-2009: Regional Chaplain of Caritas in Barisal. In 2006 he was also elected member of the Provincial Council of his Institute.
On May 7, 2009 he was elected titular Bishop of Afufenia and appointed Auxiliary in Chittagong. He received his episcopal ordination on July 3 of that year. In the Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB) he is President of the Commission for the Clergy and Religious.
The new diocese of Barisal will border to the east with the mother diocese of Chittagong and west with the Diocese of Khulna. The Cathedral will be the church of San Pietro in Barisal and St. Peter the Apostle will be the Patron of the new diocese. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 29/12/2015)

Share: