by William Gomes

The archbishop of the capital Mgr. Paulinus Costa underlines the enormous importance "for us all” of the year that has just ended. Fr. Emil Moraes says he gave it all up to receive in return “5 thousand children."

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - The Year for Priests was an opportunity to "reveal a hidden treasure for the people and the Church". So says Mgr. Paulinus Costa, Archbishop of Dhaka, who stresses the importance the past year proclaimed by Pope "for the Church and for us all"

Bangladesh’s pastors shared their experience, while rediscovering the beauty of "taking part in the love of Christ as God's chosen ministers." Several meetings and seminars organized for the Year allowed them to address the issues of priestly formation.

Fr. Emil Moraes tells AsiaNews that "it was an opportunity to share my experience as a father with everyone. In one of my frequent journeys around the country", he said," I met many Muslims who asked me how many children I had. I answered I have more than 5 thousand and they were amazed".  Summing up the thinking of hundreds of priests, he continued: "I gave away everything that was mine, and I accepted those who were not mine and now they are my people. I am their shepherd because I am a minister of God. "

Anthony, a young Catholic, said he was really surprised to see how "the priests love us and work for us, giving us everything they have. I also want to hear God's call and hope to become a priest in the future. I'm praying for this".

The Year for Priests ended June 18 in Dhaka with mass in the Church of the Holy Rosary and a meeting with the "priesthood and missionary work”, which was attended by hundreds of priests, 50 nuns and more than 500 faithful.

• bangladesh
• year
• for
• priests
• ministry
• vocation
• catholic
• church