Bangladesh has ten new deacons, ready “to serve" (photos)

by Sumon Corraya

Mgr Gervas Rozario, bishop of Rajshahi, led the ordination Mass. Probal Rozario and Ashis Runia, attracted to priests and nuns from childhood, tell their stories. Overall male vocations are up but female vocations are down.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) – Bangladesh has ten new deacons, ready to serve the Church in the priesthood.

A group of young men, from various dioceses, were ordained last Saturday in the presence of Mgr Gervas Rozario, bishop of Rajshahi, and vice-president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB).

In his homily the bishop noted: "Your goal as deacons is not to be served, but to serve. Do not expect to receive honours, but honour others as servants of God. "

Four of the ten deacons hail from the Rajshahi diocese. One of them is Probal Rozario. "During my childhood I saw priests and sisters visit my home,” he told AsiaNews. “Their lifestyle greatly attracted me. My dream of becoming a priest was born from this."

At home, "We always recited the Rosary,” he added. “My parents and grandparents encouraged me to follow the vocation. "

Deacon Ashis Runia, from Dinajpur diocese, remembers his on experience. "I attended church regularly. The sacred and ideal model of life of priests inspired me.”

"I know that religious life is not always comfortable,” he added, “but I love Jesus Christ. From the Almighty God I received the call to the priestly life, which I have put into practice during my seminary training. I thank God for blessing me with this 'religious calling.' Although there are many temptations in today's world, I will overcome them with the love for Jesus Christ as his follower. Preaching the Gospel is the main goal in my religious life."

Before the end of the year, the deacons will receive their priestly ordination. Across the country, there will 16 new priests, including five Holy Cross seminarians and one Oblate of the Immaculate Conception who are getting ready for their consecration.

In predominantly Muslim Bangladesh, Catholics number nearly 400,000 (out of a total population of 160 million). Recently, the number of male vocations increased, whilst that of female vocations decreased.

Overall, the country has 380 priests, 107 men religious and 1,070 nuns led by Card Patrick D'Rozario, an archbishop and eight bishops.