Our Provincial visited us

BANGLADESH

Fr. Ajit Victor Costa, OMI (Delegation Superior)

Three Oblate Delegations, namely Bangladesh, Pakistan and Japan-Korea are under Colombo Province and it is customary that the provincial visits these countries during his term of office.

Similarly, Fr. Roshan SILVA, the Provincial of Colombo Province, visited the Delegation of Bangladesh from May 30 to June 16, 2022. Fr. Shivantha WAAS, one of his councillors, joined him halfway through, when he arrived on June 8.

Firstly, Fr. Roshan visited the Oblate missions in Rajshahi Diocese. In St. Paul’s Parish, Katadnaga, he visited its two villages Bondupara and Dayolia, Boys and Girls Hostels and Salesian Sisters Convent, and met Most Rev. Gervas Rozario, the Prelate of Rajshah Diocese. Then he visited Queen Assumed into Heaven Parish, Gopalpur and its 3 villages Gopalpur, Alimoddin and Marmi.

The 2^nd phase of their visit (from June 4 to 16) started in Dhaka. It consisted of preaching the annual OMI retreat, meeting with our Juniorists and Scholastics, meeting with Most Rev. Bejoy D’Cruze, OMI, Archbishop of Dhaka, Mass and meeting with the Sri Lankan Community in Dhaka. Then they also visited several Oblate parish communities in the Diocese of Sylhet: De Mazenod Parish, Khadim, Divine Mercy Parish, Borlekha and  Immaculate Conception Parish, Lokhipur. Fathers Roshan and Shivantha also had the opportunity to meet with Most Rev. Shorot Francis Gomes, the Prelate of Sylhet.

Undoubtedly, the Delegation of Bangladesh was highly enriched by the visit of their Provincial. The annual retreat, the animation programme, personal consultations, dialoguing with OMI formandi, listening to and encountering the people and their leaders in poor villages, visiting tea gardens and punjees (clustered villages), visiting the partners of our missions including Rev. Sisters and meeting hostel boys and girls under the care of the Oblates were all highly appreciated.

Both Fr. Provincial and Fr. Shivantha were deeply impressed by the tireless work of the Oblates having seeing with their own eyes the challenges and opportunities of the Oblates’ evangelizing mission in Bangladesh. Fr. Provincial encouraged us to further expand our missions with the same spirit and charism of St. Eugene.

“Faith formation and educating children are to be continued among indigenous people and internal migrants with an Oblate spirit. Oblates must usher new dreams among the people as pilgrims” he said. He promised us his full support and cooperation in days to come.