Joyshita’s story: from Hinduism to Christianity and church building in his village

Joyshita Roy Augustian works in Gazipur district, where he moved with his wife six years ago. For a time, the porch of his house was used to celebrate Mass. When he arrived in the village of Malibara, there were about 12 Christian families; today there are 60 Catholic, plus 60 Protestant families.

Gazipur (AsiaNews) – Joyshita Roy Augustian was born a Hindu but became Christian after he married Smrity Murmu, a Catholic. Now he wants to build of a church in his village on the outskirts of Dhaka, which is home mostly to immigrants who moved to the capital in search of work.

Last year, he and 40 other people of different faiths, were baptised – including his two children – thus joining the wider Christian family.

"After I got married, I started going to church and I liked what the priest preached,” he said to AsiaNews to explain his conversion. “I liked the sermons and the way of praying, which I could not find in my Hindu faith. On the contrary, I never liked Hindu prayers. So I decided to become a Christian."

Joyshita hails from Pirganj, a town in Thakurgaon district, northwestern Bangladesh on the border with India. This is where he met his future wife. After a civic marriage in 2007, they moved to Malibara in Gazipur district, in search of fortune.

"There were no jobs in my village,” he explained. “For a better life, we ​​moved. And now I work in a medical company."

When he arrived in Malibara there were 12 Christian families, from other parts of the country. There was no church in which to pray, he said. “We celebrated Mass in the porch of my house." Five years ago, the nearby parish of Faucal, 50 km away, rented a house for liturgical services.

"Today the house operates as a church, St Joseph’s, and is used by 60 Catholic families and 60 Protestant families. The latter have no place of their own, so they often come to our church. We have good relations."

Priests and nuns play a crucial role, he said, in the life of the community. "Every Friday priests come to our church to celebrate Mass because Friday is our day off."

Last Friday, all the Christians of the village celebrated Palm Sunday. The liturgy was officiated by Fr Kajol Purifucation, parish priest in Faucal.

"People in Malibari have a deep desire for spiritual care. We preach the Gospel and many receive Jesus Christ as their saviour."

What the community lacks is a real church. Joyshita’s wife Smrity Murmu thinks that is going to change.

"Even though my husband is a convert, he is very active in the Church, and is planning to build a church in Malibari,” she said. For this, “we pray the Rosary every day. Please, pray for his intention."

• bangladesh
• gazipur
• hindu convert
• joyshita roy augustian