Fr. Peter Chanel Gomes, a priest of the Archdiocese of Dhaka and professor of liturgy, has been named rector of Holy Spirit Major Seminary in Dhaka, the national institution responsible for the formation of Catholic diocesan priests in Bangladesh.
The appointment was announced on June 30.
In a statement, the seminary welcomed the appointment, saying, "We heartily congratulate and welcome Fr. Peter Chanel Gomes as our new Rector."
The seminary assured him of its prayers as he assumes responsibility for the formation of future priests.
"As he embraces this new mission to form the future priests of the Church in Bangladesh, we surround him with our heartfelt prayers, asking the Holy Spirit to grant him wisdom, strength, and grace in his leadership," the statement said.
Speaking to Radio Veritas Asia, Fr. Gomes said he accepted the appointment with gratitude and humility.
"With a heart filled with gratitude, humility, and trust in God's providence, I receive the appointment as the Rector of our Major Seminary," he said. "This is not a position I have sought, but a mission I embrace with faith, knowing that the Lord never calls anyone without also providing the grace to serve faithfully."
Describing the mission of the seminary, Fr. Gomes said it is "far more than a place of academic learning."
"It is a sacred home where God continues to shape the hearts of those He has chosen to shepherd His people," he said. "To accompany these young men in their journey of discernment and formation is both a privilege and a profound responsibility."
He pledged to work closely with the seminary's formators, faculty, and staff to promote holistic priestly formation.
"Together with the dedicated formators, staff, and the entire seminary community, I hope to foster an environment where faith is deepened, wisdom is cultivated, character is strengthened, and love for Christ and His Church grows ever stronger," he said.
He expressed the hope that the seminary would continue to form "priests who are men of prayer, integrity, compassion, and joyful service—shepherds after the Heart of Christ, ready to bring His light and hope to the world."
Fr. Gomes currently serves as the national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Bangladesh, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Liturgy and Prayer, and master of ceremonies of the Archdiocese of Dhaka.
Born in 1981 in Shonabazu village of Archdiocese of Dhaka, he earned a bachelor's degree in English from Notre Dame College under the National University of Bangladesh before completing his Bachelor of Theology at Holy Spirit Major Seminary, which is affiliated with the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome.
Ordained a priest on May 20, 2011, he has served in parish ministry and priestly formation, including as assistant parish priest and vice rector of St. Joseph Seminary in Dhaka. From 2017 to 2020, he pursued advanced studies at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of Sant'Anselmo in Rome, earning a licentiate in liturgy.
Since September 2021, he has served as a resident formator and professor at Holy Spirit Major Seminary, where he now assumes leadership as rector. His appointment comes as the Catholic Church in Bangladesh continues to strengthen the formation of priests to serve its growing local Church.
