A New Village Chapel in Bangladesh  

The Diocese of Sylhet in Bangladesh was established in 2011. There are 20,000 Catholics in the territory, which has a total population of 14 million. Most of these Catholics belong to ethnic minority groups and are extremely poor; they have been pushed to society’s margins.  

This is also the case in the village of Ischachora Punjee. It is about nine miles from the parish center, and 16 of the 36 families living there are Catholic.  

Previously, the Catholics had a modest chapel, which also doubled as the only space for providing instruction to the children and for other Church activities. But in 2019, this chapel was destroyed in violent riots, and since then, the faithful have had nowhere to pray together, celebrate the Mass, or gather for pastoral activities. The nearest village is far away, and the people have to walk there, since there are no proper roads and no public transport. As a result, on various occasions, the liturgy had to be celebrated in private homes.  

Thanks to your generous support of $22,965, they have finally built a new chapel, which is protected by a wall. It was formally consecrated by Bishop Shorot Francis Gomes, with the enthusiastic support of the entire Catholic community. Large numbers of priests, religious sisters, catechists, and a great throng of the ordinary Catholic faithful, including many from the other villages, came to join in the celebrations.  

The construction work was far from easy, and there were many challenges. For example, unexpected downpours hampered the transport of building materials along already dangerous roads. But now, the work is done, and the faithful are delighted with their new chapel. “The chapel is a sign and symbol of their faith, their hope, and their community life,” wrote Father Pater Soroj Leonard Costa to ACN. “On behalf of the Bishop, the whole diocese, and the local parish of Ischachora Punjee, I want to express our heartfelt thanks to you!”  

Code: 342-01-19