Bangladesh Diocesan Priests hold Seminar on "Christian Religion's Teaching" at their annual convention

Bangladesh Diocesan Priests’ Fraternity (BDPF) held a seminar on "Christian Religion's Teaching" at their annual gathering at Holy Spirit Major Seminary in Dhaka from July 11 to 14.

Bishop Gervas Rozario, the seminar's keynote speaker, spoke about bishops and priests as the church's primary catechists and reminded them that their primary pastoral duty is "to teach the religion."

"In the church, we Priests and Nuns do various pastoral services, but our first and foremost work is to give religious teaching, so we should be more aware of this," said Bishop Rozario.

About 200 Diocesan Priests from different parts of the country participated in this year's seminar. Bishop of Mymensingh Ponen Paul Kubi, Bishop Gervas Rozario of Rajshahi, Bishop James Romen Boiragi of Khulna, Bishop Sebastian Tudu of Dinajpur, and Bishop Emmanuel Rozario of Barisal were present at the seminar.

The aims and objectives of BDPF's establishment are to encourage and collaborate with the diocesan Priests' Fraternity in all dioceses across the nation to promote fraternity, unity, and solidarity among the diocesan priests.

Father Elias Mondal, a member of the priests’ fraternity for 25 years, shared his priestly life experience by saying, "Priesthood is the special call or vocation of God’s love in my life."  And "Priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. And with this loving heart, a pastor must listen to his Church".

"I thanked our loving God for his calling and serving the Church as a priest, and I am enjoying my priestly ministry to serve the people of God," said Father Mondal.

Father Mannuel Hembrom of Dinajpur diocese, after 8 years of priestly life, said, personally, he has benefited from this seminar because he realized that this assembly is the "sign of the Synodal Church" that we all the diocesan priests are "sharing our lives and we are walking together."

Father Udoy Mondal of Khulna diocese, a young priest, said the BDPF is first and foremost a great helping hand in his priestly life because he gets inspiration from the priests to work together and to help each other.

 In his sermon, Bishop of Barisal Emmanuel Rozario said, "This annual meeting of the fraternity is very important for our priest’s brothers because through this gathering we are united together."

"However, our brother's relationship is not a blood relationship but this relationship is the relationship of our heart and soul which can never be broken," said Bishop Rozario.

The four-day annual seminar concluded with open discussion, evaluation, and planning for the next year.

At the end of the seminar and annual gathering, Father Mintu L. Palma, the president of BDPF, thanked all for their active participation and cooperation, especially the Rector and Staff of the Holy Spirit Major Seminary. - Nikhil Gomes