Success Story: A parish house for a new parish in Bangladesh

Dinajpur is one of the poorest of the eight Catholic dioceses in Bangladesh. As they do everywhere in this overwhelmingly Muslim country, Catholics represent only a tiny minority of the population. Most of the faithful belong to ethnic minorities and are thus doubly disadvantaged: on account of their Christian faith and because of their ethnic background. They face discrimination and often actual violence in their daily lives. The Church is alone in caring for them and helping them to live a life of dignity. Their Catholic faith is extremely important to them, and they play an active part in the life of the Church.

The Parish of Christ the King in Nijpara will shortly be split into 2, and the present sub-parish, based in Singra will become an independent parish, along with the 20 villages belonging to it. It will have 2 or 3 priests ministering to the faithful, but until recently there was a major problem because there was no suitable house for the priests to live, or for the other activities essential to the work of the parish, such as a parish office and guest accommodation.

Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, we were able to contribute $30,300 so that a dedicated presbytery and parish center could be built. Bishop Sebastian Tudu consecrated the building this past Easter in the presence of a great throng of priests, religious and Catholic faithful. It was a real festival, and there was great rejoicing everywhere.

Father Peter Soreng, the new parish priest has written to thank us: “It is wonderful that the parish now has the possibility of being ministered to from this center.”

“The whole community of the faithful is grateful to you and is praying for you all.”

Aid to the Church in Need commits to invest your funds where they will have the greatest impact for the Church that we serve. Funds donated to Aid to the Church in Need’s projects will be used towards the greatest need in our programs to help keep the Faith alive.

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