Priests, Religious and laypeople of Dhaka archdiocese have welcomed their new coadjutor Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario.
“Dhaka archdiocese is glad to welcome you. It has a vast pastoral
working area comprised of five regions with a large number of
Catholics,” said Archbishop Paulinus Costa of Dhaka Wednesday during
Mass to welcome his successor.
Over 1,000 Catholics along with two archbishops, eight bishops, 95
priests, 20 brothers and 150 nuns attended the welcoming ceremony at St.
Mary’s Cathedral in Dhaka, ucanews.com reports.
The coadjutor of a Church jurisdiction shares episcopal
responsibility with the local Church head and as coadjutor, Archbishop
D’Rozario has the right of succession in the event that Archbishop Costa
no longer holds office.
Dhaka archdiocese is Bangladesh’s only archdiocese and the country’s largest growing Catholic territory.
“Bangladesh is a country of interreligious harmony where we can
practice our faith freely. The Church has been contributing immensely to
various sectors, especially in education and health which need to be
highlighted,” said Promod Mankin, the Catholic state minister for
cultural affairs.
The Garo tribal asked Archbishop D’Rozario to open a “Christian TV”
to strengthen Church media and carry out special plans for tribal
Catholics.
Coadjutor Holy Cross Archbishop D’Rozario said he does not as yet
have any plans for the archdiocese but is ready to meet the pastoral
challenges.
Local Catholics say they expect the new coadjutor archbishop to promote faith, pastoral work and youth’s care and education.
Coadjutor Archbishop D’Rozario was former bishop of Chittagong and Rajshahidioceses. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop D’Rozario as coadjutor archbishop of Dhaka on Nov. 25.
There are about 120,000 Catholics in Dhaka archdiocese including internal migrant workers in industrial hubs near the capital.
SIC: CTH/ASIA