Bangladesh s churches struggle to serve as Covid-19 rages
As the pandemic spreads and causes economic hardship, churches have no income to help hard-hit people
Churches in Bangladesh have been closed for a long time due to the deteriorating Covid-19 situation. (Photo: Stephan Uttom/UCA News)
Churches in Bangladesh are struggling to provide the faithful with spiritual and pastoral care and to assist marginalized communities amid a drop in donations during the worsening Covid-19 situation.
A deadly third wave of the pandemic hit the country in June as the more contagious Delta variant caused a massive spike in infections and deaths.
New Bangladeshi archbishop seeks prayer, cooperation
Archbishop Howlader takes the helm in Chittagong, one of the oldest Catholic strongholds in the country
Holy Cross Archbishop Lawrence Subrato Howlader of Chittagong was installed at a simple ceremony on May 22. (Photo: Chittagong Archdiocese)
The new archbishop of Chittagong Archdiocese of Bangladesh has urged clergy, religious and laypeople to pray for him and cooperate as he plans to focus on fraternity, faith formation and development of the local Church.
“I have been called to serve God’s people through acts of sanctification, promotion of faith and guidance. I need your prayer and cooperation as I move on,” said Holy Cross Archbishop Lawrence Subrato Howlader.
Selfless catechists lead Church s pastoral mission in Bangladesh
Volunteers spread the Catholic faith in remote areas to be rewarded by more than mere money
Shilpi Das’ life has been divided into two segments for more than 10 years now.
The 33-year-old Catholic mother of two from a village under Queen of Fatima Church in Bangladesh s Thakurgaon district looks after her family with her husband. She is also a catechist who travels to remote villages near the Indian border.
Dinajpur Diocese has about 100 full-time and volunteer catechists. Shilpi became one of them against the will of her farmer husband. She gets only travel costs as an honorary monthly payment for a host of services she renders as a volunteer catechist.
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Bangladeshi Christians seek to improve ecumenical unity
Christian Unity Octave program aims to strengthen bonds among the various denominations
An ecumenical prayer meeting is held at the Church of Bangladesh in Rajshahi city in which 30 Catholic and Protestant leaders participated on Jan. 18. (Photo supplied)
Catholics and Protestants have been attending prayer meetings and dialogue programs in Bangladesh to strengthen unity among members of various churches during Christian Unity Octave from Jan. 18-25.
Bangladesh’s eight Catholic archdioceses and dioceses have arranged ecumenical prayers and discussions with Protestant bodies acros the country.
On Jan. 18, an ecumenical prayer meeting was held in Rajshahi city with about 30 Catholic and Protestant leaders.