Dhaka celebrates 50 years of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate

The jubilee of the presence of the Omi missionaries was celebrated by the archbishop of the capital in the presence of 80 priests and nuns and 600 faithful, witnesses of the mark left in the country since 1973. Starting with the dozens of schools open to all. Today there are 33 Oblates from 6 Bangladesh, 6 of whom are on mission abroad.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Celebrating half a century of activity, the mission at the service of evangelisation of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate in Bangladesh. The anniversary was celebrated in the De Mazenod church in the capital by Mgr Bejoy N. D'Cruze, archbishop of Dhaka, together with - among others - Fr Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso, Oblate Superior General, and Fr Ajit Victor Costa, superior of the Bangladesh Oblate Delegation.

The celebration was attended by 80 priests and nuns and 600 faithful, who witnessed the mark left by the 50 years of work in the South Asian country.

Msgr. Bejoy recalled the efforts of all Oblate missionaries in the country, both those who are no longer there and those still in activity: "Without the missionaries, this journey of 50 years would not have been possible. At this time we remember them with respect and admiration for their contribution".

There are currently more than 3500 Oblates serving in 70 countries around the world.

Arrived in 1973, the Omi missionaries made a unique contribution to the Church in Bangladesh and to the preaching of the Gospel: "We started with service among the poor," recalled Fr Ajit Victor Costa, superior of the Bangladesh Oblate Delegation.

Fr Costa cited in particular the work done among migrants in this country and in the two national seminaries. "On 29 July 1973, a group of Oblates arrived in Bangladesh. Besides teaching in the seminary, we work in the parishes. In the Sylhet area there were only two parishes. Today there are five more. That is why Sylhet became a separate diocese on 8 July 2011. We are very happy to have touched the hearts of many people".

There are currently 33 Oblate missionaries in Bangladesh. Among them, six are serving abroad as missionaries. Fifty years after the start of the work in this predominantly Muslim territory, there are 2 Christian high schools, 40 primary schools and 2 seminaries.

Rinku Gomes, a believer who took part in the oblate jubilee celebration, says: "I have always had the perception that oblate priests have so much love and affection for the people in the communities where they serve. They immediately make them feel part of their life and faith project. Their simplicity and sincerity has always attracted me a lot. I would like my son to go to the Oblate seminary so that he can become a missionary".

• Mission