Christmas in Bangladesh, a faith that grows without being overcome by dejection
Dinajpur (AsiaNews) - We publish below a Christmas letter from Fr Franco Cagnasso, regional superior of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) in Bangladesh (translated by AsiaNews).
Dear Friends, a friendly greeting from Bangladesh!
Do you remember Snehanir? It is the "House of tenderness", a community that educates boys and girls with physical disabilities, along with able-bodied but poor pupils. It helps them find their way in life by developing their skills and educating them to share, serve, and be self-confident.
One thing will change soon. In January, 20 more girls and children will join the community. They are blind or deaf, and range in age between 6 and 12 years. Going from 28 to 48 boys and girls will be a challenge, partly because they have very different physical problems.
We are confident that the regional Caritas in Rajshahi will support us. They have made the kids our responsibility and will fund their care. We are especially confident in our nuns and kids who have always shown a great capacity to welcome others. We trust that our new little brothers and sisters will find friendship and consideration.
After good news about something that is opening, good news about something that is closing. For some years, we have provide help to six Santal girls so that they could leave behind a harsh life in the city. Now the one in charge of them graduated from university, whilst the others have passed their exams and can continue their studies on their won. This was achieved thanks to aid provided by the Liceo Mascheroni, in Bergamo (Italy).
Still, as the current "economic crisis" continues, less aid is understandably forthcoming. Hence, I had to tell Dino and Rotna that I would have to cut the financial aid I provide every month. This way they can provide them with a daily meal, which allows the kids to go to school on a full stomach and not have to beg or scrounge.
They told me that they are doing their best to continue the programme. In fact, they recently rented a new, somewhat bigger house, to provide more space for their pupils who are hungry for food and knowledge.
Dino and Rotna are not the only ones to be busy. Local kids taught us that if the cake gest smaller, so do the slices, so that there is something for everyone. It is not easy at times, but like them, many among you share what you have.
A special thought goes to our Italian friends (from Milan, Lecco, Rome, etc.) who, through tenacity and dedication, continue to increase our visibility and send us substantial help by organising Bangla handicrafts exhibitions. Thank you all.
We helped several hundred students, at least 150, who live in the hostels. Let me mention two of them, as an example.
Mithun, ninth grade, has had to change plans because his mother had heart problems. Doctors inserted three stents in her (many thanks to those who sent us special help for this emergency). However, she can no longer do factory work. Mithun's father left them, and now he cannot continue his studies. I suggested he should he go to our school for mechanics, so that in two years he could find a job with a decent salary. He is disappointed but he has come to realise and accept his new responsibilities.
Ashis, after countless delays caused by strikes, finished college. Now that he has his degree, he is working in the fields. After years away from home, he wants to stay with his folks for a few months, to help his old mother and father. Then, after a period of prayer with the brothers at Taizé, he will choose whether to become a PIME missionary with the, or start a family.
We helped many ill people, either directly, or through our service centres in Dhaka and Rajshahi. In the latter case, some 3,000 people were treated in 2013. These included several hundred patients suffering from tuberculosis who stayed at the centre for at least two months and received the necessary care and were fed in a quiet and restful setting.
After a year and a half, I saw again my Marma friends in Bandarban (on the Burmese border). Some of them have graduated, finishing grade ten. But many more arrived. Now we have 120 people ranging in age between 6 and 18.
A great celebration was held on 14 November to inaugurate the brick dormitory (pictured), which now houses girls who until then had to live like sardines in a small cabin. Thank you very much.
The hostel is doing fine, which is filled with joy, harmony and hope. Several former students, who are now studying or working elsewhere, have stayed in contact.
We continue to cooperate with the village and local Buddhist monks. The rubber plantation is growing; the orchard offers great bananas and papayas!
The situation in Bangladesh has been relatively calm, with some recent flare-up caused by death sentences imposed on some criminals, for atrocities they committed during the 1971 war. As a result of this, the Islamic party has called for protest strikes; others have celebrated . . .
What a year it has been for you and for us? Many send me messages indicating great concern, even bitterness and anguish. Let us hope that we will not allow dejection to win. Let us open our eyes on what is beautiful and good. Let us find the meaning of the celebration of the approaching Christmas, a light in the darkness of the night, a visit of wise distant friends despite Herod's cruel hypocrisy, a tenaciously persevering act in doing good. We can all take part in it. For this, I pray.
Merry Christmas!
* Missionary with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) in Bangladesh
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07/02/2019 17:28
